A winter olympics game for N64

Original N64europe Review

In games like in films - a sequel worse than the last one

When I bought my N64 i looked forward to two games: The first golf game for this machine and the Winter Olympics. Now the Winter Olympic game is here and I’m not a happy man.

Let me introduce myself. I’m a grown up gamer with a long history in gaming. I’m also active or have been in a lot of the events presented in the Nagano Winter Olymipc 98, even curling and snowboarding. i’m a true enthusiast and thought that the reviews I read were written by beachcombers preferring a Summer Olympic game or a racer. I was only partly right.

Lets start where one should start: The manual. I read it, thought I understood it and started playing. After three days I can tell you all: Do not believe in it. It is not possible to perform a skijump if you follow its instructions. And at this stage I still struggle to understand the point of the Aerials and how to get the grip on it. I can also tell you that according to the manual the game should be played differently in Swedish, Danish and English. All languages understood by me, it is fascinating how the instructions differ f.ex. in curling. ( By the way - why not provide in Norwegian and not Danish - I would belive the market potential to be bigger in the country that was the best nation in the last WO’s). The manual is in my conclusion not very precise, not very instructive and I sit here and wonder if I’d rather manage without it.

Gameplay: First of all why did you drop the practice mode ? Learning the game as is takes a lot of button pressing. F.ex. Two skijumps takes 20 secs. - and then you have to walk through menus for 20 secs. Second: Why couldn’t we have the chance to compete in all events in the championship mode, or to choose which to compete in. It has been done before - so it would not bee a technical problem, my question remains - why ?

Downhill, Giant slalom and snowboard Giant slalom seems to be raced on the planes of Holland (even if the course is boring in real life according to the racers). I’m not a computer expert but I know from previous games of this genre that it is possible to make the illusion of speed and DOWNhills. Besides this they are playable but not very difficult.

Snowboard - halfpipe - I bet maybe during 2001 I will have learned the tricks necessary to win the event. Why are the tricks tied up to what the developer thought they might be? Provide us with basic moves - for the gamer to combine. It has been done before - as well. (I suspect release time came to close ? )

Freestyle Aerials - What does FFF mean ? or FTT ? beats me. Could some tell me why this intriguing event was blessed only with a press as h... gameplay ? (or is there a secret that I’m yet to reveal ? If so I apologise)

Speedskating, Skijump and Curling is good - quite good. That is after I burned the manual. But a practice mode for the jump would be very nice ! (In real life jumpers practice each hill before jumping a competition so it can’t be an attempt to be ultra realistic). The speed skating should’ve had a multiplayer though.

Luge and Bob is the worst - unplayable, boring and lacking everything the Lillehammer game had. Its strange this was the best event in that game and the worst in this. I remember sitting late at night playing only luge/bob on that one. In this one I skip’em as often as possible.

Graphics are nice - but unclear in the alpine events. As a slalom skier - still active I’d say my sport would die if the next gate was that blurry to see from the one I’m into at present. Sounds are nice but the music hopeless. We got used to the bad music - and I never buy a game to hear the sound - I buy it to play it.

Conclusion: I had some fun but I will now bring out my Lillehammer ‘94 game to have a race evening with a few friends. Nintendo should read this review and promptly refund half the price of 110 USD or send me an improved version. At this stage - I do not dare thinking of how the 2002 game will be ......... Hans E. Johnsen

- By Hans E. Johnsen