Sydney Olympics 2000

by Eidos

Product Features

• 32 countries represented in 12 events including 100M Sprint, 110M Hurdles, Hammer, Javelin, Triple Jump, High Jump, 100M Freestyle Swimming, 10M Platform Diving, Kayak K1 Slalom, Super Heavyweight Weight Lifting, Olympic Sprint Cycling, and Skeet Shooting
• Motion-captured animation includes realistic facial expressions and variable breathing rates
• Over 600 camera positions based on actual host broadcast TV feeds with commentary by Olympic champions Dwight Stones and Marty Liquori
• Experience 6 authentic venues from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
• Multiple modes of play include Olympic, Arcade, Head-to-Head, or Coaching

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004U8K8
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1.5 inches ; 1.5 pounds
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: August 25, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,591 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The official computer game of the 2000 Olympics, Sydney 2000 resorts to the gameplay of the 1983 arcade game Track and Field. Players "power" their virtual athletes by hammering on two keys in an alternating sequence as fast as possible, with the manipulation of a third key required at certain times to perform a particular action. Unfortunately, the novelty here wears off pretty darn quick, especially considering that Summer Games and Summer Games 2 (Commodore 64 games from the mid 1980s) had more events and deeper gameplay.

While not all of Sydney 2000's 12 events use this tedious control system, the few that don't feature similarly shallow-as-a-puddle gameplay. What's worse, in order to make it to the Games in Olympic mode, players must "train" their team in a series of tiresome Virtual Gym exercises, which involve--you guessed it--lots and lots of keyboard-mashing. Thankfully, Sydney 2000's arcade and coaching modes allow players to jump right into any event. You won't get to experience the game's Olympic fanfare, but you'll probably save yourself from a repetitive stress injury. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Makes for an easy-to-pick-up multiplayer game
• TV-style coverage includes replays shown from multiple camera angles

Cons:

• Shallow gameplay involves little more than mindless keyboard mashing
• Not much fun as a single-player gaming experience

Product Description

Sydney Olympics 2000 (PC CD-ROM), Product #21696

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Button Mashing for Sydney 2000, August 28, 2000

By 

Paul Arellano "Last Days on Earth" (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sydney Olympics 2000 (CD-ROM)

It's been awhile since we saw an Olympics game for the PC. Thelast one I remember was Bruce Jenner's Decathlon from Interactive Magic. Now it's the year 2000 and we now have this new Olympics game for the PC- Sydney 2000. Lets go then to our review:

Graphics: Spectacular. Almost real, life-life character animation. Works well with any video card since the graphics engine they used for this game is generic. However, that doesnt mean the graphics are lousy. Computers with average graphics power should not have any problems.

AI: Nothing much on the AI here since the game doesnt really need a lot strategy to beat the AI which then leads me to my next criteria for review which is Gameplay.

Gameplay: I thought that this game was going to be like Bruce Jenners Decathlon where there was a bit of strategy involved to beat the game. However, with Sydney 2000 it all boils down to one thing: how fast can you mash your buttons. To make things even worse, you need to mash two buttons alternately. If your thumbs are in steroids then you can beat this game just by tapping and mashing the buttons to death. This simply spoiled everything since it is a battle of thumbs rather than a battle of minds and strategy. Forget about playing this game multiplayer because the guy who's got his thumbs on steroids wins the match. Forget about training your athletes cuz a puny athlete can easily beat it if the player has his rhythm in button mashing. The game only represents 32 countries. Also, the mens and womens events are all mixed up. Platform diving and swimming are represented by women, the rest are men. They should've put an option where one can play mens or womens events.

My two-cents: Got the power to mash a button? Grab this game. But if you're looking for something more mind powered, avoid this game. END

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dissopointing but Multiplayer mode saves it., September 13, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Reading) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sydney Olympics 2000 (CD-ROM)

In a nut shell this game has the gameplay of the ZX81 and Spectrum Olympic games with Y2K 3d graphics.

Every event is similar and in one player mode you will probaby get fed up VERY soon.

Instead of trying something different, its the old button hitting techniques for EVERY event. Sometimes you use a third button to jump a hurdle or throw a hammer but dont expect major advances in this genre.

The graphics are lovery as is the commentry but how much fun can you have hitting 2 buttons?? The training modes is utter dire but strangely this game is saved by getting your mates round and playing against eachother. One of the miracles in gaming? You wouldn't think it from playing it for the first few times single player, but this is quite a good laugh with friends. You will get bored of the single player mode though

Having said that, I haven't bashed my keyboard around in years!! took me right back to the old days!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good game, April 9, 2003

By 

Logan Smith (Mason City, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sydney Olympics 2000 (CD-ROM)

The game is pretty easy and fun. If you are into track and field this game can be really exciting. The one thing I would change about the game is that it is wayyy too easy. They need to make you not do phenominal in all the events. For example, in the 100 meter dash I ran an 8.80 in arcade mode. That is just wayy too easy. Other than that I think the game is pretty fun.

Here's a list of my PR's, to go fast, use one hand and 2 fingers and hit both of them on the keypad at the same time.
100 8.80
110H 11.68
High Jump 2.56m
Triple Jump 19.73m
Skeet Shooting 25
Weight Lifting 270.00kg
Javelin 81.86m
Hammer Throw 86.87m
100 Freestyle 53.40
Diving 420.3pts
Kayaking 169.332
Biking 40.60