Olympics for couch potatoes

Even the hopelessly sendentary can win gold at Beijing in this outstanding game.

Beijing 2008
Sega
Xbox 360

Review by Hayden Meikle

4 stars (out of 5) 

No smog, no protesters, no security checks at the gate, no drug-testing and - best of all - no chance New Zealand won't win at least a dozen gold medals.

Oh, and there is also no sign of an impromptu haka every time someone in a black singlet with a silver fern does anything remotely exciting.

The Beijing Olympics will dominate every newspaper, television and radio over the next couple of weeks and the fun doesn't have to stop there.

As is tradition, a video game ties in to the Games to make sure even the geeks of the lounge get their chance for some glory.

Four years ago, Athens 2004 set an excellent standard with its variety of sports, ease of gameplay, good graphics and addictive elements.

Beijing, as it should, goes a few steps further.

Now, the first thing you need to know about Olympic games is that they're button-bashers.

Always have been, always will be.

And that's a good thing.

There is absolutely no point clogging up your brain in this sort of game with multiple controls.

Mostly, the events in the game rely on tried-and-tested "Press A and then press B" system, though mainly also have the option of manipulating the left and right sticks.

Hammering the buttons might not be great for your controller but simplicity can be a good thing and the appeal of a game like Beijing 2008 lies in its pick-up-and-play approach.

I had some initial concern when I lined up in the 100m for the first time, false-started twice and was promptly disqualified.

There is a new starting system in the running and swimming events and it's a little off-putting at first.

Everything else is great.

You choose which country you represent - there's no Eritrea but there is New Zealand - decide whether to practice an event or compete in several or all, and jump in.

No mucking around.

There are more than 30 events in Beijing 2008, from the usual stuff like running and jumping and throwing and swimming to kayaking, judo and table tennis.

The Olympic purist in me likes the 1500m, where a little bit of strategy needs to be tied in with the button-bashing, while stuff like the hammer throw is also great fun.

Looks are important, and Beijing 2008 is very pretty.

There is obviously no haze, no high levels of smog, and all events look crisp and clean and Olympic-ish.

Not everything hits the mark.

The gymnastics events are a bit naff and a few camera angles are off-putting.

But I've got the Olympic spirit.

Beijing 2008 is outstanding fun and a worthy gold medal winner.

 

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