Customer Reviews

ESPN International Track & Field PS2 COMPLETE

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I'm going to start this off with a bang: I LOVE THIS GAME. Why do I love this odd game where you cause bodily harm to yourself in order to "go faster"? Easy, because it's fun. There are some that have critisized the graphics of this game. I do not see where they could possibly be bashing the games graphics. I feel that the graphics of both the characters and the things going on around them were done superbly. From the people warming up on the track behind you in the Long Jump, to the look up at the display in the 100m to find out youve broken the world record, all the graphical elements in the game are great. This also gives the game a very high rating in the presentation area, as menus are fairly easy to navigate. As for sound, the games sound effects are definitely on par, although the actual music does become somewhat bland and repetitive. Control is right on. Formulating better methods for alternating X and O , or hitting any of the other power buttons are a key element. Also right now I would like to take a cheap shot... anyone that has been complaining in the reviews about how hard it is to figure out what you are doing, or how hard this game is to play, you obviously are pretty dumb and maybe you should go back and play Seasame Street ABC. Enough of that bashing though. Now your all wondering why exactly it is I love this game. Sure single player is fun, you go after your own records and whatnot... but the true fun of this game is Multiplayer. Get yourself another controller, or better yet, pick up a multitap and jam 4 controllers in for a great time with your friends. Smacktalk your way through every event and actually feel heated competition. I guarentee you have not been as nervous as you will be when you know you have to win an event to whip your friend and back up your trashtalking. Just last night, me and about 7 other friends took turns at the PS2 with only one thought in our heads for at least 6 hours straight... I feel the need to woop my friends. And its Fun. Very Fun. Guarenteed there aren't many multiplayer games out there that can top that (perhaps Goldeneye 007, one of the greatest games ever). Now also this would not be a fair review if I did not post the lower points of the game. One obvious point is.... the 1 player game is short. Very short. You'll find in no time that you have recieved gold in every event. Another lower point of this game tends to be the music, although this is tolerable. 3rdly this is not a real problem, but rather a technical one. Only 5 of the events are Track and Field Events while the other 5 are Olympic type events. This was not a real problem for me, but alas is may raise some eyebrows when people look at the title of the game and then actually play it. I hope this editorial is benificial for the "real" gamers out there. I hope Ive made it clear exactly what your getting into when you buy this game.... The bottom line is... Fun.... and a blast Multiplayer, with only very few minor letdowns overall. Go buy it!

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Konami's coin-op Track and Field game at the arcades. I remember tapping those buttons as fast as I can, having to press and hold down the jump button, then releasing it at the right moment to get the correct angle. (Sometimes I cheated though, using an electric toothbrush to get the fastest speed possible!). This game is VERY similar to that original version made over 13+ years ago. Of course the graphics are far more superior. I was hesitant to purchase this game at first, since it is an ESPN game. Then I figured it might be like the original, and how could I pass it up for $24.99!!

The game has 10 events- 100 meter dash, 110 hurdles, long jump, javalin, swimming, trap shooting, rhythmic gymnastics, horizontal bar, weight lifting and high jump. Each of them are very challenging. Some are easy to learn, while others took a little more time. More then half of the events require multiple tapping of buttons while using another button during the course of the event. Just like the original Track and Field. The rest of the events require speed and coordination to mimic the buttons on the screen. One of my favorite events is Rhythmic Gymnastics. It brings the style of Dance Dance Revolution to the game (Konami game also), where it shows the direction arrows on top, and the arrows come from below and move upward, and you have to coordinate it by pressing the buttons the same time it meets each other. There's 4 different types of music/speed to choose from. It's pretty cool. All the other events are pretty fun also. The hardest is probably swimming, where you have to press L1 and R1 simultaniously. That event can make you sweat!!

This game is extremely fun when utilizing a multi tape. We used 2 PSX2 controlers and YES 2 original Playstation controllers (with no analog). Don't buy into it when these retailers tell you that you can't use Playstation controllers on PSX2. They have the slightest idea what they're talking about! This is one of my favorite games on PSX2, and I'm very glad I purchased it! You need speed and coordination for this game.

I personally liked the game. I echo some of the other reviewers when they say that it is like the old games. Maybe that's why I like it. It's good fun for us older gammers who aren't into killing other beings. The graphics are great. Much better than the old comador 64 which was my first track and field experience. If you're having friends over it's great to sit back and see who still has the eye hand thing down. We enjoy it but also get frustrated with the difficulty of the floor excersize :(

I'm not sure when that became a track and field event. So if you're looking for something that doesn't take a lot of game experience this is for you. Maybe if nothing else it's a good way to get mom and dad playing with you. More ammunition with the grandparents :)

I totally love this game, but now i keep hearing about different versions with some completely different events on them. So far, my research has turned up at least two versions, one with a gray/silver cover and one with a blue cover. One has 10 events, the other has 12. Then I recently saw a third cover with what looked like an 80's nostalgia graphic. I have the one with the gray cover, and I really enjoy it. The ten events on mine are 100m dash, 110m hurdles, long jump, pole vault, javelin, 100m freestyle, weight lifting, horizontal bar, trap shooting, and rhythmic gymnastics. The other versions may not have all of these, but may have triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus, and vault. Maybe there are others? There are no hidden events on mine, but there are little extras along the way. It is a terrific game and there is a strategy to all the button-pushing (i wont reveal that here). Once you learn it, it's easy!! Whoever doesnt like this game has NOT learned the strategy I can assure you. No matter how well you do, you always want to keep challenging yourself, and pushing yourself, and keep playing to beat your old records.

The title says it all. The game has amazing graphics which leave you staring at the screen for ages. You'll spend more time watching the replays than bashing the buttons. Graphics aside the game is nothing new. An outdated control system which leaves blisters on your hands isn't ideal but it does its job. But the worste thing is the lack of events, although each event is good enough there are far too few. Spend your money on this game and it'll keep you playing for just about long enough to buy another game.

This game has little excitement and gets very old very fast. I made the mistake of buying it for a launch title, (its strictly rental material). Graphics are great but theres very little to the game itself. Stick with Madden 2001, Timesplitters, and SSX for great launch games.

ESPN Track & Field was the first game I bought when I got my PS2. At first, it seems really fun: shooting discs, running, jumping, and all the stuff a track & field fan would want. Note: If you are a real track & field fan, I recommend this game to you along with Athens Olympics 2004.
It is also very fun to compete with your friends in racing games and shooting games, although the speed tapping and swimming controls are very hard to master. Your fingers must snap ultra-fast if you want to beat the CPU.
It's always fun to go back once in a while and play the game, try to beat the pre-set world records, and earn the bonus "noises" and star interviews that the game offers.
The graphics are very sharp although you might want to check with other reviews as to if the list of events meets your guidelines for a good track-and-field game.
peaceout-mini

ESPN International Track & Field is a fun game to play. Everything about it is great. But don't bother buying the game, really, you'd be better off renting it.

(about 4 hours of playing is peak)

If you're alone then this would be great once through.

If you're with friends, then this would be great twice through.

But anything after that will more than likely bore you.

Espn International Track and Field, really captures the true challenge of Track, itself. This game is a slight demonstration of true victory and true loss. This sport in its entirety, is my favorie. And now my family and I have the chance to witness Track and field in another clean and healthy way!

The game I think is great. The graphics are amazing, and life like. The shots of the arena, with the crowd, and other particiapants, are incredible. Not only are the graphics a good enough reaon to buy the game, also, there is very little load time. Very little. After picking an event, the game displays what event you chose, then you play. Thats it. No more than 10 seconds. But, in order to get the game goin, it does require a lot of button mashing with the x and o buttons. in some games, while mashing the x and o, you have to hold down the down arrow on the D-pad, or the L1 button. You will need at least 3 hands for some events.