Button-mashers unite.
User Rating: 8.4 | ESPN International Track & Field PS2
Konami's ESPN International Track and Field was released in October 2000. It contained ten different events you would find in the Olympics, and succeeded in making a great button-mashing game. Don't like button-mashing or the Olympics? Then I suggest you stay away from this game, unless you're willing to have two painful hands when you're done playing. The gameplay is simple, mash X and O and hit L1 a few times in the process. It's so easy that it's fun. This hasn't changed since the original track and field arcade game, and I can only hope it won't change anytime soon. The best, and most simple event in the game is 100 metre dash. Hitting X and O alternately for 10 seconds, racing a friend, is just plain entertaining. Another great event is the rhythmic gymnastics, which uses a Dance Dance Revolution style arrow-system. The worst event by far is the 100 metre freestyle swim. Hitting L1 and R1 simultaneously seems literally impossible. You'll find yourself in the lead on the turn, but run out of finger energy after that, and fall to last. The problem with all these events is the difficulty. Playing against a bunch of computer opponents is child's play, even in the first time playing. I beat every world record within a few weeks of buying the game. That takes me to the key great component of the game, multiplayer. That is where this game is meant to shine, and it does nothing but. Gathering a few friends and going through the Olympics is the best part of this game. You will be disappointed however, with the lack of any kind of story mode. There is only two modes of play, trial (practicing one event at a time), and championship (playing all events and attempting to get the highest score). Either can be played with multiple players, which makes up a tiny bit for the exclusion of a story mode. The graphics are good for the most part, with nice-looking stadiums and atmospheres. The downside is the athletes, who for the most part look very similar and generic in every event. The sound is a bit lacking, with not much but the noise of the athletes grunting and moaning, in events like weightlifting. This isn't a horrible thing, as the noises sound mostly realistic, but the fan noise could've created a better overall atmosphere. This game was the first track and field game to appear on the Playstation 2, and it more often that not succeeds in it's attempt at an enjoyable game. This game isn't very deep feature-wise, but the gameplay more than makes up for it. Konami does a great job in an important compartment of gaming, fun. Playing this game with two to four people is great fun, and shouldn't be missed by anyone with that opportunity. 
