ESPN International Track & Field

"Throw a Javelin at this game!!!"

Oh no, the second flop in my PS2 marathon (besides Armored Core 2). This is slightly better than Armored Crap 2 but not good enough. This is one crappy sports game;(.

Story N/A: I´m not reviewing this section because no sports game like this needs a story. You´re an athlete and must win. Thats all.

Gameplay 3/10: This is the major neckbreaker for this game. You can either take the trial mode for practicing or go into the championship mode for the ultimate challenge. You want to get into trial first for trying the different disciplines. But, MOST OF THEM ARE UTTER CRAP!!! The only good one were the bar and the shooting. Disciplines like Hurdle Jump, 100 Meter Dash, Pole Vault, and Long Jump consist of simple button-mashing and push the L1 button at the right time. But whatever you do, the damn L1 button does respond very rarely and even then you are screwed. The computer in the running competions is way too fast, while you mash your buttons and push that damn L1. Other disciplines consist of pressing the right button when its shown. While at the bar it is fun to do so, the rhythmical gymnastics are so damn hard, its impossible even on easy mode, because if you´re one millimetre late, you lose that button. YUCK!!! Sure, you get a tutorial at the beginning but it doesn´t help you that much. I never tried the Champin mode, which would get even worse.

Audio/Video 7/10: The foreground objects and characters lok good and detailed, but the crowd is so damn pixelated, it looks like an N64 game. The music is cool, but you won´t remember anything special.

Replayablity 2/10: No, you´ll get disgusted at the button-mashing and throw it óut the window.

Buy or rent?: Don´t do any. You waste your money on both ways and there are so many other good sports games.

Overall 3/10: I´ll give this game a 3 because the bar and the shooting, but otherwise its pure crap. If you´re looking for a sports game, get Ridge Racer V. Or one of the older games of the PS1, they are a lot better than this sorry excuse for a game. Heck, even the old Track and Field for the NES was better than THIS. I hope this will be a good warning for you, when I say that such an old game is superior to THIS!!

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 08/27/01, Updated 08/27/01