Sydney 2000 (Eidos, PC)

* * *

Eidos, PC

$99.95, all ages

Review: Peter Eley

Sydney 2000 is topical, looks good, but won't win a gaming gold.

Many sports games are comprehensive simulations, with lifelike gameplay and almost encyclopedic information.

But the sheer scope of the Olympics doesn't lend itself to this treatment.

And anyway, who would play a game featuring synchronised swimming and dressage?

Sydney 2000 sensibly limits itself to 12 sports, including the 100m, diving, javelin and clay pigeon shooting, all of which lend themselves to a computer game.

The lack of major events isn't a problem but the stilted gameplay and complexity of the game is.

You have to go through three or four pre-qualifying races before you can compete for a medal and boredom sets in before gold is in sight.

And as the computer athletes get better after each event, you have to train between stages to keep up.

Remember the Konami Olympics arcade game from the mid 80s?

Sydney 2000 uses a similar control interface. Basically, you push a couple of buttons as fast as you can.

That was okay for a five-minute arcade game, but not a computer game, which you might want to play for a couple of hours or more.

That's the crux of it really. Sydney 2000 is a console game in disguise, a PlayStation title that has not come over to the PC with any real medal prospects.

peter_eley@herald.co.nz