...
THE GAME
Well It's Athens 2004, so yeah it's an Olympics game.... Not all events are included in Athens 2004, so that's a downside but the main events are there.
CONTROLS
The controls are not simple, but once you have played for a while, they do come more naturally. For most events ... Read review
Replete with the official licence and a comprehensive selection of events, Sonys Olympic ... more
tie-inAthens 2004also remembers to bring plenty of entertainment along with it. In many ways harking back to the button-bashing titles of old,Athens 2004features over two dozen events, each of which requires a slightly differing discipline to succeed in. The sprints still require you to hit alternate buttons as fast as you possibly can, of course, whilst others also require you to attain a fast speed, but add a timing element too. Then there are events such as the archery, and these test skill rather than speed. An added innovation is the ability to use your dance mat on certain events, and its a feature that genuinely works very well--much to the amusement of other players in multi-player mode, of course!Now whilst some events work better than others, theres little doubt that most gamers are going to find something they can warm to here. With a wide selection of game modes and the comprehensive selection of events, theres plenty of entertainment for your money. Each of the events are easy to get to grips with, and some are harder to master than others. Crucially, though, there are few that wont entertain you on some level.Topped off with quality presentation and some strong multimedia work,Athens 2004is something of a triumph, then. It comes into its own when more than one player takes part, but even without, its an enjoyable, very good value for money game, and a worthy tie-in to the planets most famous sporting event. --Simon Brew
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The finest action from Athens 2004They said nothing would better Sydney, that it would be ... more
remembered as the greatest Olympics EVER. But in Athens, August 2004 the Games returned to their spiritual home and Greece seduced the watching world. From the stunning Opening Ceremony throughout seventeen days of extraordinary achievement, it was a sporting spectacle to rival any from a glorious history.Athens gave us new idols like American six-gold swimming superstar Michael Phelps and 16 year-old gymnast Carly Patterson. Morocco's veteran track star Hicham El Guerrouj made history with his 1,500-5000 metre double gold. And with Beijing hosting the 2008 Games, China showed the world its progression towards becoming a sporting superpower, taking its first ever track golds including a world record for high hurdler Liu Xiang.Great Britain celebrated its best medal haul in 20 years, with courageous Kelly Holmes the golden girl of the Games. The 4x100m sprint team defied their critics, and America, to bring home a surprise gold. However, the relay boys' joy was in sharp contrast to the despair of poor Paula Radcliffe. On the water, mighty Matthew Pinsent made it four rowing golds in four Games, and super sailors Shirley Robertson and Ben Ainslie were in golden form again. Track cyclist Bradley Wiggins collected a complete set - gold, silver and bronze - and a new wave of British heroes confirmed their future medal pedigree.This programme contains a thirty minute British medals review featuring every one of our Olympic medal winners.
Advantages: Good graphics, realistic, fun game! Disadvantages: Controls can b difficult to master.
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Well It's Athens 2004, so yeah it's an Olympics game.... Not all events are included in Athens 2004, so that's a downside but the main events are there.
CONTROLS
The controls are not simple, but once you have played for a while, they do come more naturally. For most events "x" and "o" are the buttons used to gain speed, or distance when throwing the javelin or shot put. When running this ... ...the great game that is Athens 2004.
The next part is for those who are looking to know a little more about the game itself, events and stuff....
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE
MORE DEPTH
STARTING UP
On first starting the game you are offered four options, ARCADE, COMPETITION, OPTIONS, CREDITS....
ARCADE is mostly a multiplayer function. You can participate ... more
I've owned this game for little over 24hours, I'd say I know pretty much everything there is to know about the game, now that's not cos it's simple, or that it's an easy game, it's most likely cos I've played it for around 12 of the 24 hours I've owned it.
THE GAME
Well It's Athens 2004, so yeah it's an Olympics game.... Not all events are included in Athens 2004, so that's a downside but the main events are there.
CONTROLS
The controls are not simple, but once you have played for a while, they do come more naturally. For most events "x" and "o" are the buttons used to gain speed, or distance when throwing the javelin or shot put. When running this can be uncomfortable. For example the 400m sprint often proves difficult for me as you must hold "L1" to take your mark, then be quick off the release to make sure you get a quick get away when the gun shot is fired. However, you must not be too quick off the mark or you can signal a foul. Although I have never actually done this, I am not sure how easy it would be. Generally I am the last person standing on the line as all other competitors make a dash off into the race, although I am improving (I hope). So when sprinting, repeatedly pressing "x" and "o" can become sore on your fingers and in general can just be a pain to master. For other events such ash high jump or long jump you needn't press "x" and "o" so much, so in general these events are easier to play.
EASIER EVENTS
Both 800m and 1500m are easier events to play in terms of controls, you use "L1" again to take your mark, but instead of using "x" and "o" you use the right analog stick, as these are longer races it is better to control. If you slightly lean on the right analog stick the athelete runs, however if you press it completely forward the athlete will spring, so you have to be careful not to run out of energy before the race is over or you will lose your position. Ofent I find in both the 800m and 1500m races you are able to get into the top two pretty early on in the race, however by the time you are approaching the finish line, other competitiors will have challenged you and so you will find it difficult to sprint down that last 200m straight.
Archery is one of the easier events once you have mastered the control of the arrows, as the wind often pushes them off course and so when you aimed at a 10, you may find yourself actually scoring a 2 or 3, so you have to be aware of wind condition. In general the even is simple and easy.
Pole Vault can be simple to play, but like most events you have to practice at it and the "x" and "o" control thing again may be a problem here, but I find that after playing it a few times, you adapt and it does get easier.
SOME DIFFICULT EVENTS
At first I found the High Jump a really difficult event, it didn't matter what I did, I could just not get myself high enough to clear the stage and so always knocked into the bar sending it to the floor. I found that you have to be precise in the "x" "o" as your left foot(x) and right foot (o) come into contact with the white feet shape markers on the floor.
Jumping: My initial reaction was that the horse jumping would be easy, however for about half an hour I could just not make the horse jump the gate AT ALL!! It would just run to it then when I pressed L1 to jump it just stopped and on all occasions I would get disqualified. I then learned that you must streer the horse with the left analog stick and at the same time, use the right analog stick for power (basically how fast you want the horse to go) and when you are ready to jump then must press L1. Sound confusing? Well it is and it took me quite some time to get to grips with. Although I can now make the horse jump the gate, I still have not completed that event, still at the stage of getting disqualified.
All swimming events just prove too much for me, I can not even look at them, it's too difficult to repeatedly press "x" and "o". For the first 50/70m I keep up with the other competitors, soon my hands get tired and I fall behind, always finishing last. So although I thought this would be my favourite event, I'm trying to steer clear.
A final event which I find difficult is the weightlifting, you have to repeatedly press "x" and "o" to lift the weight then you must keep it above your head for three seconds, this is way too difficult and I can never get a good position in this event.
MY OP
I totally love this game but some of the events are just way too difficult to control and so it just makes it an event you don't wish to compete in.
Those that are that little bit easier are totally enjoyable!! I have played this for hours, I just love it and am totally glad that I got it as an early birthday pressie from my man yay to db163!!! *hugs him*
Other than difficult controls the only other downside is that not all events from the olympics are in the game, an event in which I thought would have been included is cycling, but alas it was not to be. So that was the only upsetting part of the great game that is Athens 2004.
The next part is for those who are looking to know a little more about the game itself, events and stuff....
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE DEPTH
STARTING UP
On first starting the game you are offered four options, ARCADE, COMPETITION, OPTIONS, CREDITS....
ARCADE is mostly a multiplayer function. You can participate in the PRACTICE as a single player, you get to choose any event and hone your skills. SINGLE EVENT this is a pick up and play mode, you get between 2 and 4 players, I think this will be good for me beating db163 at archery (one of our fave games, and we're both good at it yay lol). PARTY this is an exclusive game mode for dance mats only, a maximum of 4 players in this one. Lastly, CHALLENGE, this is a special multi-player challenge mode for extra competitve play for 2-4 players.
COMPETITION There are numerous games/events under the competition section of Athens 2004, for example you can choose to do an individual event (explained in more detail below), or you may choose to participate in the Decathalon, this is a 2 day event in which 10 events are undertaken. Just like normal Olympic rules, a competitor must participate in each event, you will be placed in ranking (in table format) alongside 9 other competitiors and after the 2days, gold, silver and bronze medals will be won in accordance to point rankings scored over all 10 evetns. So even if you do not succeed in an event or perhaps do not do as well as hoped, you will still be awarded points in accordance to achievement. Decathalon events include:
Day 1 100m Long Jump Shot Put High Jump 400m
Day 2 Hurdles Discus Throw Pole Vault Javelin Throw 1500m
On first participating in the decathalon for the first three or four times I failed to rank a medal position, even after playing individual events and trying to better my skills. Like most sporting games, this one takes practice to succeed.
HEPTATHLON is a further option under the Competition section of Athens 2004. The Heptathlon is olympic discipline; women's two day comprising of a seven event competition.
Day 1 Hurdles High Jump Shot Put 200m
Day 2 Long Jump Javelin Throw 800m
Under COMPETITION you may choose to only participate in Athletics events. This is a three day competition and there are both track and field events to participate in. Just like Decathalon and Heptathlon you must participate in all events even if you fail to complete an event. As explained above, points are given and these locate rankings thus resulting in the winners of gold, silver and bronze medals in the completion of the ATHLETICS competition.
Day 1 (m) 100m (w) Pole Vault (m) Discus Throw (m) 800m (m) Javelin Throw
Day 2 (w) Long Jump (w) 400m (w) High Jump (m) Hurdles
Day 3 (w) Triple Jump (m)1500m (w) shotput (m) 200m
AQUATICS under this competition, athletes must compete in all four swimming events in order to succeed and hopefully win a medal, just like the other competetitions there will be 9 other competitors to battle against.
GYMNASTICS is a one day event comprising of 5 events in which an atlete must compete in, in hopes of winning an olympic medal:
Next under the COMPETITION section is CHAMPION this is where an atlete must complete all 25 events over five days. This is in just the same format as those explained above, there are however more events and thus making it harder to get a medal position in the end.
Last but not least in the COMPETITION there is a CUSTOM title in which an athelete can select events in which to participate, just like the individual competition but the atlete is able to choose more than one event.
OPTIONS it allows you to view your personal records/achievements. Also allowing you to view game records, results, times, distances and records for each event in every discipline/area. Load and save settings can be found here. The game settings are also found under options here you can adjust the audio/visual game settings.
CREDITS - As you can see, this is just the credits.
EVENTS
The events are split into categories eg Field, Swimming, Gymnastics etc.One event can be selected for that play only. For example, you may only wish to select the 100m sprint and not any other events, this means you can develop your skills in the 100m, this type of game selection comes under the Individual category in the Competition section of game play. All events are as follows:
Track: 100m 200m 400m 800m 1500m Hurdles (110m)
Field: Long Jump High Jump Pole Vault Discuss Throw Javelin Throw Shot Put
Swimming: 100m Breaststroke 100m Freestyle 100m Backstorke 100m Butterfly
Gymnastics: Floor Excercise Men (this is just like a dance mat version but used with a controller, arrows come up on the screen and you must hit the same on the keypad to complete a sequence and hopefully win a medal!) Floor Excercise Women (this is just like a dance mat version but used with a controller, arrows come up on the screen and you must hit the same on the keypad to complete a sequence and hopefully win a medal!) Rings Men Vault
Jumping: Individual Mixed
Weightlifting: +105Kg Men, Clean & Jerk
Archery: Individual 70m Women
Shooting: Skeet Men
I noticed that there were no huge names in the production of Athens 2004 although graphics are great and as a sporting game it is challenging and enjoyable at the same time. Although some events do take practice they are not out of your reach, you just have to keep trying at it for a while. It's a great game and I'm totally glad my great man (db163) got me it as a birthday present, thanks babe *mwah*
Advantages: Good gameplay, nice graphics, good selection of activities Disadvantages: Repetative voice over, a little pricey,
...*******************WHAT IS IT**********************
Athens 2004 is a PS2 game, that resembles the 2004 olympics.
You can choose to play any of the events and your aim is to win a gold medal. This game is played using the normal hand held controller, but some of the events, such as gymnastics, can be played using a dance mat.
*****************PLAYING MODES*****************
When you load up this game you are presented with a number of options. ... ...on fun rather than official olympic records. Within arcade mode whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can play and have fun and challenge your friends.
COMPETITION - this mode allows you to try and beat world records, as if you were really taking part in the olympics. Very good for competative people.
PARTY MODE - with this option you can insert a dance mat and let your feet do all the hard work for you. Its great for get togethers and can ...
purebitch 21.11.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)
Advantages: Addictive, realistic Disadvantages: Some events hurt your fingers, controls aint great
...go and do them.
Athens 2004 is an olympics game. I went down to my local Blockbuster wanting to get something to entertain me for a couple of hours. So i rented Athens 2004 for 2days. When i said a couple of hours it turned out to be about 20hours. i was addicted bad! Like with all good games it takes a couple of hours to understand the controls. As there are many events which involve diferent strenghs. For example the 100m's and archery. In the ... ...in archery you are aiming with the left anlalogue stick and releasing your arrow when you think is best. When tapping x and o your fingers are absolutely killing if you are trying hard. When doing it you are wondering why the hell am i doing it but now i have realised that its actually very realistic. The pain athlete's go through in their legs we feel in our fingers.
Events It is possible to participate in more than 25 events including
Thirteen ...
geodev4 30.10.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)
Advantages: Great fun with friends and really good price - get into the olympic spirit! Disadvantages: Not as fun on your own
...at this type of game.
Athens 2004 of course was the accompanying game for the Athens Olympics which was taking place four years ago now, and it certainly lived up to its potential.
In the game there are two main modes to choose from: Arcade which is designed to be more fun in which world records and medals are not important, just enjoy yourself. The second mode is competition in which glory is what matters and you can become a hero in many Olympic ... ...practice your skills as a beginner learning the events or as a more experienced player just honing their skills. You can have unlimited attempts at each event.
- Single Event: Put your practice into a single event in a real Olympic environment.
- Party Mode: This mode is for use with the dance mat controller and allows you to truly experience the demand an athlete goes through - see how long you can go on for!
- Challenge: Up to 4 players can ...
shamis4 14.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)
Advantages: Live your Olympic dreams Disadvantages: Feel the blisters on your fingers
Athens 2004 is a game in which you can try and live out your olympic dream and go for gold in a huge number of sports. You can chhose to represent a large selection of countries including USA, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and of cours Great Britain.
EVENTS
There are a massive number of events that you can compete in and i will try my best to go through them all.
1) Running Events : 100m, 200m 400m, 800m, 1500m and 110m hurdles. The 100m through ... ...You can play Athens 2004 with 1 or 2 players or if you have a multitap adaptor a total of 4 players can compete. It's not a game that you are going to go back to for long especially with the high chance of getting either blisters or repetitive strain injury.
It cost me £16.99 second hand in Gamestation, i wouldn't have liked to have paid any more for this game. Overall i would rate the game 6/10 ...
killiefan 06.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)
Advantages: lots of diffrent games Disadvantages: same button bashing controls
Athens 2004 is the officially licenced video game for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.It seeks to recreate all the hype tension and glamour of the Athens Olympics. Fans of track & field will instantly be at home with this game as many of the events require expertise in the "button mashing" style of gameplay. The game itself has twenty five different events from seven different Olympic Sports including Aquatics, Athletics, Gymnastics, Archery, Equestrian, ... ...custom competitions. Multiplayer is where Athens is really fun, and allows up to 4 players to compete.
The gameplay for certain events is quite straight forward, whereas for others it is quite complex. This becomes a drawback as some events simply require "button mashing" skills whereas others require finesse and precision to earn medals. There is not alot of continuity in the controls for different events, which can be confusing (and hard on the ...
meggyloo 26.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)
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