New International Track and Field (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

If you happen to be 'of a certain age' you'll no doubt recall the original Track and Field for home computers. You'll probably also recall broken keyboards, endless arguments and the kind of pain in your fingers, which should have warranted heavy doses of medication, but what did you do? Kept on playing! It was this 'one more go' quality that made the game an instant hit and now, years later, Konami have dusted it down and given the whole thing a make over so instead of a keyboard we have a touch screen. There's no escaping the fact that this has been released to coincide with the Olympics but will it win the Gold or should you team up with one of the many other offerings?

Gameplay

This new version of International Track and Field consists of 24 separate events with numerous athletes to choose from and a handful of ways in which to actually attack the events themselves. The single player must initially choose Career Mode, which takes you though a series of mini-games (consisting of four events) with medals awarded for high scores. This is your only real option to begin with but once you've started to gain awards other modes such as the Single Events will open up. These provide an opportunity to fully practice the games you may be struggling with. The events themselves range from the classic 100-meter dash to shooting, gymnastics and even shooting. Progress even further and you'll open up the Challenge Mode, which promises a whole host of unlockables and unlike other games of this type absolutely all the games are enjoyable and you never get the impression that the developer has just padded the game out.

Multiplayer is where Track and Field really excels though, for a start you can enjoy a group session with only a single copy of the game. In addition you can indulge in games online with other DS athletes you've never even met although in our experience you may be better to keep to the simpler games. Finally, worldwide athletics events would be nothing without the ability to see everyone's scores, not only can you upload your times and distances to a leader board but if you choose to stay connected you will receive alerts and you can constantly update your scores. It's these extras that really separate this title from the rest of the pack and, while there may not be any licensed athletes or characters, the quality of the gameplay is far more important in terms of longevity.

Controls

While there are some occasions where you may use the traditional control systems, take our advice and stick with your stylus.

Graphics

Visually, Sumo have not deviated too much from the originals style and while most of the characters appear to be in 2D, there is a wonderfully fluid 3D engine making the whole thing come to life. This results in some wonderfully animated characters who all appear to have their own personality, especially during the various 'victory dances'. Elsewhere the overall presentation is both vibrant and easy to navigate which is essential given just how many options are available.

Sound

The sound effects and music are very good indeed and while you only get simple mutterings from the various athletes you are treated to a reworking of the classic Chariots of Fire theme which will no doubt see you running in slow motion as soon as you hear it.

Dual screen

As we mentioned in the introduction, this is all about the touch screen. Each event is preceded by a handful of instructional screens explaining how to actually do the event. Most are reasonably simple but you may have a little problem with the more complicated events such as the triple jump. Fortunately you can practice these in the 'single event' menu until you get them just right and you'll be pleased to know that the problem is generally with your own timing as the control system is incredibly tight and focused.

Final comments

The gaming world is full of remakes and sequels at the moment of varying quality but this new version of an old classic works perfectly. Obviously the biggest enhancement is the fact that the touch screen has now replaced simply banging down on alternate keys and this alone makes it a more satisfying game. The game's true genius is its simplicity and it is this which has allowed it to be released for a new generation with only a graphical makeover and a new control system, but the core games are the same as all those years ago, allowing you to, once again, play the same event repeatedly just to better your score. This version has also increased longevity, thanks to the Multiplayer and worldwide rankings, meaning you'll still be running and jumping long after they've turned the lights out in Beijing.

Pro: Looks and Sounds Great, Touch Screen Interface, Loads of Gameplay.
Con: Some Events can be Very Tricky.
Final score: 8.5

Share on Twitter or Facebook

Comments