C64 Review of World Games from Issue 19
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Following on from the immensely successful Summer and Winter Games series is World Games, a sports simulation that takes you around the world, embracing the traditions and customs of eight different countries. The program allows up to eight people, representing any of eighteen different countries, to compete against one another and go for gold.
World games has a comprehensive options screen which allows players to compete in either one, some or all of the events. You can also practice an event to your heart's content. If you compete in an event, or events, though, you are only given three attempts to prove your worth. Each event is loaded individually.
The disk version has two extra features not present in the cassette version. Firstly, any outstanding performances can be saved to disk for posterity (or ego tripping -- whichever you enjoy most). Secondly, there is an option to display a location description before you compete in an event.
Here is a breakdown of each of the eight events ...
WEIGHT LIFTING (Russia )
In this battle of the steroids you step into the shoes of a well-endowed weightlifter There are two types of lifts "clean and jerk" and "Snatch", both controlled with forward and backward movement of the joystick. In the "snatch" your strongman picks up the weight when the joystick is pulled back-lifting is done by pushing, snatching by pulling, and the final lift is a push. Sounds easy but timing is absolutely critical push or pull too fast or take too long at any time and your lifter will drop the weight The "clean and jerk". uses a similar control method, only there are more forwards and backwards movements and the timing is even more critical.
SLALOM SKIING (France)
This event is based on the traditional Nordic obstacle races, and has you skiing down a demanding course spread over a cold and icy piste. To complete the course in then fastest possible time, you have to skillfully mix timing, speed and control. Missing too many gates, hitting the side fencing or colliding With a gate results in instant disqualification. Your man automatically speeds down the vertically scrolling course and can be moved left or right by pushing the joystick in the relevant direction. Pressing the fire button while turning speeds up the movement, useful for negotiating the tighter parts of the course
LOG ROLLING (Canada)
Balance and agility are the order of the day as two players attempt to dislodge each other from a large, floating log by spinning it back and forth. By rhythmically moving the joystick left and right, a player can speed up or slow down the rotation of the log. Pressing the fire button reverses the direction of roll, thus momentarily unbalancing your opponent. High scores can only be obtained by quickly removing your opponent from the log and maintaining your balance as you do so.
CLIFF DIVING (Mexico)
Precise timing and nerves of steel are essential in this breath taking event. A press of the fire button launches your diver into the air, where he proceeds to fall until he hits the water below. The screen scrolls vertically as the diver falls, and you must ensure that his back is arched to counteract the oncoming wind. As soon as the water looms into view, straighten out to enter smoothly, then quickly turn to avoid hitting the sea bed.
A dive can be made from one of six heights, but to score maximum points a dive must be made from the very top of the cliff, 118 feet above the small, shallow expanse of water which breaks your fall -- or your neck should you err!
CABER TOSS (Scotland)
Up to the bonny hills of Scotland to compete in the famous highland games. Timing and a hefty load-bearing capacity are the keys to this demanding test of strength as you Strive to chuck a telephone pole sized caber as far as possible. Your kilted athlete runs (staggers?) when the joystick is moved left and right, and throws the caber when the fire button is pressed The longer the fire button is depressed, the further forward the caber pivots in his hands. Releasing the button causes him to actually throw the caber. Should you throw too early or too late, then the caber will land quite dramatically on either your head or toes.
BULL RIDING (America)
Bareback action at its most exciting and competitive. By keeping your wits about you and moving the joystick in the correct direction, you have to try to stay on the back of a belligerent bull for eight grueling seconds. There are five increasingly aggressive bulls to test your bareback riding skills to the full. Or, if you are in practice mode, a second player can control the bull and attempt to make you eat dirt.
BARREL JUMPING (Germany)
Since the advent of this sport over 300 years ago, there has been many a bruised posterior to tell the tale of a jumper who failed to clear the last barrel. At the beginning of this event your skater gives the thumbs up to tell you when he's ready. You can then set him skating across the ice by moving the joystick left and right. A good rhythm is most important, and so is a well-timed take-off. Pressing the fire button sends the brave skater sailing into the air, and pulling back on the joystick braces him for landing. If you fail to complete any one of these maneuvers correctly, then your skater could end up badly battered and bruised.
SUMO WRESTLING (Japan)
A true battle of the bulge -- wrestling the Oriental way. In this one or two player head-to-head event, you have to simply (!) get the better of your opponent by either toppling them to the ground or pushing them out of the ring. There are twelve moves open to each player such as pushing., pulling, grabbing, slapping and tripping, along with a spectacular over-the-head throw, better known as the Utchari. All moves are accessible via the joystick. Points can only be gained by fast. successful moves and a quick result. ie: the shorter the match, the higher your score.
This review was typed in/OCRed by Brigadon - Zzap!64 Online
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ZzapBack
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In the spirit of ZzapBack, you can have your say about how the game reviewed above, stands up in the cold light of today. Has it aged
badly or is it still worth a few plays? Read other peoples thoughts and post your own.
The current ZzapBack rating is : 85%
Check out the most recent ZzapBack comments.
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Rate It!
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Login or Register at the forums if you want to be able to edit your comments
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John Robson - 5 Nov 2009
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Not as good as the previous ones, but OK.
Rating : 84%
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zzap oz - 3 Aug 2005
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another epyx sports sim.... many great events, many great hours of entertainment, maybe. recently i pulled out world games from a compalation i bought years ago from an op shop, not knowing if it actually worked i loaded it to bring on the memories, unfortunately its not the game i remember, challenge is still there but that spark has disappeared. overall i cannot say anything terrible about this game other than it shows its age!.
Rating : 75%
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Mr.Zzapback - 1 Jun 2004
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World Games is top of the bill, and it's really hard to critise it. Excellent graphics, excellent sound(effects), the humour and the fun.
All events are top notch (although it takes time to get the grips with the control method of some of 'm). It's great fun with a couple of friends, even today.
A milestone in gaming history IMO.
Rating : 96%
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Professor Brian Strain - 28 May 2004
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I played most of the Games series on tape and so it was always a bitter-sweet experience. Playing them was so much fun, waiting for them to load was boring.
World Games has some good points (the funny animations when things go wrong) and some nice presentation, but I prefer California Games myself.
Rating : 91%
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CraigGrannell - 26 May 2004
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I always used to wonder why Zzap! used to flip over the Epyx games quite to the level that it did. They were very good games, but 99% for sound? Are you kidding me? Likewise for the graphics - they're good, but not that good.
As for the events, I thought they mostly worked well. Ski-ing was a frustrating nightmare, but once I finally learned how to control the bull fighting event, it became pretty fun. Cliff diving and barrel jumping remained highlights though.
So, yes, I agree that it was over-rated at the time, although not quite by as much as what everyone else is stating here.
Rating : 88%
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andy vaisey - 24 May 2004
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It is a fine game and very playable, with good gfx and sfx all round. But certain events are not as good as others - while cliff diving and barrel jumping are great (especially with a friend), sumo and skiing are definetly below the standard set by the rest. Having said that, it is worth a play and is a good example of the genre.
Rating : 85%
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neilb - 21 May 2004
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World Games lacks the clarity and style of some of the other "Games" titles. I think it marks the beginning of the decline of the series.
Many of the games lack that crucial "hook" and sadly some are almost unplayable (Sumo & Rodeo).
There are many good points though : The graphics are of a high standard and the presentation throughout is excellent.
And in multiplayer mode the game is still very enjoyable. This is especially so when playing the better games (Cliff Diving or Barrel Jumping).
Overal, fun but flawed.
Rating : 81%
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SLF - 18 May 2004
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I must admit I was never a fanatic of multieventers. They surely are fun when played with some friends, but especially on your own interest wanes quite quickly. The subgames are as such on the simplistic side, and the package as a whole has a bit of a disjointed feel. The latter reason is why my fave used to be California Games, which holds a quite strong sunny linking throughout. World games is good fun for a while, has its strong peaks (Weight Lifting and especially Cliff Diving and Barrell Jumping) but also its downfalls (such as Skiing). Graphics, while certainly good, are not exceptional. Music is quite nice and suits well the events.
The multiload is a touch longwinded.
Pr 87 Gr 81 So 79 Ho 95 La 79
Rating : 83%
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Paul Sumners
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How wrong I was when I thought that Epyx had exhausted their supply of sports. World games contains all the activities you would never dream of seeing on a home computer. As with all of the Games series I was immediately taken by the superb graphics and the attention to detail used in the animation. World games consists of eight games that are all very playable in their own right. Each event features some stunning spot effects and superb compositions. The bag-pipes on the caber toss are as good as , if not better than the real thing. All the events have a real sporty feel to them which makes them immediately addictive. Being the office sportsman I can definitely say that without a shadow of a doubt World games is the new sports simulation of the decade and a must for all armchair enthusiasts.
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Gary Penn
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Epyx have truly excelled themselves end have produced their most impressive and playable sports simulation yet. The attention to detail is meticulous and there are loads of neat touches throughout the game. Such as the weightlifter breathing and rubbing his hands around the bar between the weights; the skater who plunges through the ice and turns blue with the cold when you inadvertently forget to prepare him for landing; the bull leering at you after you've been thrown; the fatty sumo wrestler flat on his back, dazed and panting ... I could go on for ages describing the numerous humorous touches to the game.
Not only have Epyx produced an unbeatable game they've come up with some of the best graphics and sound I've ever and heard. The backdrops are great and the sprites are beautifully drawn and animated. The eight new pieces of music are brilliant, and the spot FX are outstanding. World Games is a stunning package, and I have absolutely no reservations in recommending it to anyone as this is the most enjoyable game I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
I don't think the tape version will be too much of a pain, since each event is playable in its own right --- more so than any other previous Epyx offering. The sumo wrestling and log rolling events are my favorites, especially when playing head to head with another player. With World Games to play for many months to come, I can certainly wait for Winter Games II !.
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Julian Rignall
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What can I say? Epyx have again come up with a sports simulation that knocks the dentritis out of any of the other sports simulation on the market--- including their own! Forget everything else. This is the definition of 'state of the art'. The graphics are nothing short of miraculous, and the animation is totaly out of this world, There are so many brilliant touches to this program seeing is the only way of believing. Hearing is the only way of believing too! The bag pipe tune announcing the Caber tossing is unbelievable! Forget the Fairlight, SID can do it too! The game is a pesky multi-loader but then it's worth waiting every second for each event to load. Go and get it -- it does for the Commodore what Trident does for demolition.
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Ratings
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PRESENTATION 99%
Impeccable. Detailed and informative instructions. Lots of neat options and numerous humorous touches throughout.
GRAPHICS 99%
Outstanding sprites and backdrops. Amazingly realistic definition and animation.
SOUND 99%
Several excellent tunes and spot FX capture the atmosphere of each location.
HOOKABILITY 98%
Instantly impressive and addictive.
LASTABILITY 97%
And the first impressions last.
VALUE FOR MONEY 97%
Eight compulsive events for a tenner.
OVERALL 98%
Yet another quality Epyx production. The state of the art sports simulation for the 64.
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