Sydney Olympics 2000 Review
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
Sydney Olympics 2000 Feature
- 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
Sydney Olympics 2000 Overview
Sydney Olympics 2000 (PC CD-ROM), Product #21696
Sydney Olympics 2000 Specifications
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
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Customer Reviews
Not satisfied – –
This game did not meet my expectations. The graphics are fairly detailed, although the people can look awkward at times, and they never show any expression, plus the team uniforms look nothing like they’re supposed to. Doing repeated exercises can get tiring, and I didn’t like that you have to lose your morale if you mess up on one thing. I tried to enter diving without any morale – big mistake. I got second place, and did not qualify, while second placers usually qualify. I know that in games and real life, the commentators’ jobs are to comment on the athlete, but they seem extremely rude at times. This may be because the game I got was .00 and was used, but the game sometimes freezes the computer up, and then we have to restart the whole computer. Most of the game seems like it is just hitting the buttons over and over – I did swimming and my fingers are really sore. Overall, it’s an okay game.
Athens 2004 could be better? – Jo-Ryan Salazar – Long Beach, CA
I managed to buy a used copy of Sydney 2000, and I was pleased and disappointed at the same time. This game has some good sides, but a lot, and I mean, A LOT of bad sides to it.
First, the bad sides. Start with the soundtrack to this. Where is the Olympic Fanfare and Theme!? Where is it? I couldn’t even hear the Fanfare and Theme. Instead, you’ve got this trumpet fanfare that sounds like a corny hymn from a cheesy royal comedy! I only laugh at that, not because it’s hilarious, but because it’s ridiculous. Then you’ve got another hymn that sounds just as cheesy, when the flame is lit. Speaking of the flame, at this opening ceremony, it is not lit in the right place, let alone the right style. The flame was lit in the center of the upper seats, and then, as if by magic, was at the back of the stadium! And it was lit in the conventional way, not a la standing in the center, and lighting around you, and watching the cauldron rise out of a water fountain (think: Cathy Freeman.)
Next, the people. First, the facial features don’t show any emotion. They’re not even smiling! It seemed as if the torch-bearer didn’t even want to light the torch! Can you believe that!? Not surprising, since this was Eidos’s first go at the Olympics, but it didn’t look right. Next the skin tones for some of the players was, how should I say it, mercenary-like? You have blacks representing countries like New Zealand, Singapore, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and some other countries where the skin tone is predominantly white. Heck, at the Opening Ceremony, there are even some black athletes from China! WTF!?
Not stopping there, the jerseys for the athletes seemed rather out-of-place. You even have New Zealand’s jersey matching the Netherlands. Shouldn’t the New Zealand jersey be solid black? Or the Dutch jersey be orange and blue? Canada’s and the USA’s jerseys don’t seem right, either. Basically, the only jersey that was appropriate was Australia’s, though it may pass for Jamaica’s…
And you can’t forget the button mashing. Even though I don’t mind it, after a while, it can seem frustrating. Athens 2004 had better divert from the button-mashing, though an alternate sense of mine suggests that this may not change (*cries, sobs, sniffs*). As of this writing, my fingers got fatigued from it.
Finally, the commentary seems read out of a script. Not any natural emotion, and it repeats! And there’s a third announcer named “Neal”!!? Isn’t he supposed to be Marty? I’m confused. If this “Neal” guy is going to be announcing in the game, he is obligated to be mentioned in the credits, period. Also, having to put three initials as your name is annoying, too. In Athens 2004, they’ll probably replace that with your name.
Now for the good sides, if there are any. First, the scenery. I would give this a 3.9 out of 5. It is good, but it could be better. Stadium Australia seems well simulated. (Though those annoying commentators call it the “Sydney Olympic Stadium” instead of “Stadium Australia”…) The Athens Olympic Stadium may be better simulated in Athens 2004. The gameplay, overlooking the button-mashing, is good. With 12 sports, and 32 countries, you have a lot of options to do there. Add some gym training to boot your strength, skill, and morale, and it will make it easier. Throw in an Arcade mode in which you jump into the action, and also a Coaching mode, where you try out the event, and you have a plethora of options.
I’ve only tried a few events so far, but my favorite has to be the 100M Sprint, since that’s the easiest. When you do the training, I suggest that your morale builds up to 100%, and stays there, so in case you falter on a workout, you are only down to 99%, then 98%, and so on. Once you master that exercise, your lost points should be restored. Additionally, the Event Arena option has you building your personal best, and while beating the qualifying score, your skill and morale increase. Once all your levels are at 100%, the qualifying should be a breeze, pending your button-mashing technique is mastered. Then the Olympic event begins (the only options are the ones in which you qualifies in). After the corny Opening Ceremony, you select the events you qualified for. Take for example, my 100M Sprint. Apparently, when I began the race, I somehow, through rapid, yet steady button-mashing, managed to destroy the competition, even get to 9.52 in one race. And I finished 4 or 5 lengths ahead of the pack! I don’t know if there’s a bug in the program, or if the AI gave up, but if all your meters are at 100%, it should be a piece of ice cream torte. But I wonder, can a 9.52 actually be run at Athens? Hmm, we’ll wait and see…
In all, the experience is good, but a grip of improvements must be made for Athens 2004. I give this 3 out of 5 stars. If you really want a game like this, but better, wait till next year, and try out Athens 2004. Hopefully they’ll improve on it, and add the Olympic Fanfare and Theme. I plan to put that on my wish list. Beware though, button mashing may be back…
Hopefully, Athens 2004 will be much better… – Jo-Ryan Salazar – Long Beach, CA
I managed to buy a used copy of Sydney 2000, and I was pleased and disappointed at the same time. This game has some good sides, but a lot, and I mean, A LOT of bad sides to it.
First, the bad sides. Start with the soundtrack to this. Where is the Olympic Fanfare and Theme!? Where is it? I couldn’t even hear the Fanfare and Theme. Instead, you’ve got this trumpet fanfare that sounds like a corny hymn from a cheesy royal comedy! I only laugh at that, not because it’s hilarious, but because it’s ridiculous. Then you’ve got another hymn that sounds just as cheesy, when the flame is lit. Speaking of the flame, at this opening ceremony, it is not lit in the right place, let alone the right style. The flame was lit in the center of the upper seats, and then, as if by magic, was at the back of the stadium! And it was lit in the conventional way, not a la standing in the center, and lighting around you, and watching the cauldron rise out of a water fountain (think: Cathy Freeman.)
Next, the people. First, the facial features don’t show any emotion. They’re not even smiling! Not surprising, since this was Eidos’s first go at the Olympics, but it didn’t look right. Next the skin tones for some of the players was, how should I say it, mercenary-like? You have blacks representing countries like New Zealand, Singapore, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and some other countries where the skin tone is predominantly white. Heck, at the Opening Ceremony, there are even some black athletes from China! WTF!?
Not stopping there, the jerseys for the athletes seemed rather out-of-place. You even have New Zealand’s jersey matching the Netherlands. Shouldn’t the New Zealand jersey be solid black? Canada’s and the USA’s jersey’s don’t seem right, either. Basically, the only jersey that was appropriate was Australia’s, though it may pass for Jamaica’s…And you can’t forget the button mashing. Even though I don’t mind it, after a while, it can seem frustrating. Athens 2004 had better divert from the button-mashing, though an alternate sense of mine suggests that this may not change (*cries, sobs, sniffs*).
Finally, the commentary seems read out of a script. Not any natural emotion, and it repeats! And there’s a third announcer named “Neal”!!? Isn’t he supposed to be Marty? I’m confused. If this “Neal” guy is going to be announcing in the game, he is obligated to be mentioned in the credits, period. Also, having to put three initials as your name is annoying, too. In Athens 2004, they’ll probably replace that with your name.
Now for the good sides, if there are any. First, the scenery. I would give this a 3.9 out of 5. It is good, but it could be better. Stadium Australia seems well simulated. (Though those annoying commentators call it the “Sydney Olympic Stadium” instead of “Stadium Australia”…) The Athens Olympic Stadium may be better simulated in Athens 2004. The gameplay, overlooking the button-mashing, is good. With 12 sports, and 32 countries, you have a lot of options to do there. Add some gym training to boot your strength, skill, and morale, and it will make it easier. Throw in an Arcade mode in which you jump into the action, and also a Coaching mode, where you try out the event, and you have a plethora of options.
I’ve only tried a few events so far, but my favorite has to be the 100M Sprint, since that’s the easiest. When you do the training, I suggest that your morale builds up to 100%, and stays there, so in case you falter on a workout, you are only down to 99%, then 98%, and so on. Once you master that exercise, your lost points should be restored. Additionally, the Event Arena option has you building your personal best, and while beating the qualifying score, your skill and morale increase. Once all your levels are at 100%, the qualifying should be a breeze, pending your button-mashing technique is mastered. Then the Olympic event begins (the only options are the ones in which you qualifies in). After the corny Opening Ceremony, you select the events you qualified for. Take for example, my 100M Sprint. Apparently, when I began the race, I somehow, through rapid, yet steady button-mashing, managed to destroy the competition, even get to 9.52 in one race. And I finished 4 or 5 lengths ahead of the pack. I don’t know if there’s a bug in the program, or if the AI gave up, but if all your meters are at 100%, it should be a piece of ice cream torte. But I wonder, can a 9.52 actually be run at Athens? Hmm, we’ll wait and see…
In all, the experience is good, but a grip of improvements must be made for Athens 2004. I give this 3 out of 5 stars. If you really want a game like this, but better, wait till next year, and try out Athens 2004. Hopefully they’ll improve on it, and add the Olympic Fanfare and Theme. I plan to put that on my wish list. Beware though, button mashing may be back…
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