International Track & Field is like that friend who's always trying to get you to join their fitness club but with fewer sweaty people and more button mashing. This exhilarating sports game invites players to experience the adrenaline of the Olympic Games right from their living rooms, or as I like to call it, the only place where my idea of 'working out' involves green snacks and a couch. Developed by Konami and released in 1996 for the PlayStation, this 3D update of the epic Track & Field series is just the thing to get you off the couch... right after you finish your virtual marathon.
The gameplay is a high-octane collection of events where players can literally mash their way through numerous Olympic disciplines. Whether you fancy yourself as Usain Bolt in the 100m sprint or more of a couch potato attempting to break your own record in the ‘who can shake the controller the fastest’ department, the controls are both simple and brutally unforgiving. With a three-button setup—two run buttons and one action button per player—you'll need the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel to excel. There’s a legendary technique dubbed the 'Otter Technique’ (no, it does not involve river otters) that gamers have developed to help with button mashing: it basically involves balancing the controller and furiously moving your hands like you’re trying to brush flies away, doubling your pressing speed as you wiggle your right hand up and down while keeping your left thumb steady. If that doesn’t scream fitness, I don’t know what does! You can choose from eleven events including the iconic 100m sprint, long jump, and even the javelin throw. The character selections feature twelve countries that you can represent, from the USA to Kenya, so if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at being an Olympian while still in your pajamas, now is your chance! The game neatly sidesteps the need for any official Olympic licenses, instead dropping players into a generic but competitive atmosphere peppered with the thrill of defeat and the sweet taste of victory—pretty much an emotional rollercoaster in pixel form.
At its core, International Track & Field boasts graphics that, for the time, would make you feel like you're looking through Olympic-colored glasses. The 3D-rendered athletes may not hold up to today’s standards, but back in 1996, these cyber-sporting figures were compared to Michelangelo’s David—if David had a perpetual action pose and exaggerated hip movements. The animations were fluid enough to give even the most couch-bound individual a sense of excitement with each run, jump, and throw. The artists behind the game, like Keiichiro Toyama, drew out vibrant effects and colorful environments that allowed for a distinctly thrilling Olympic feel. You might not be grappling with the reality of the Olympic Trials, but after a few rounds, you'll feel like a true champion ... or at least like you sprinted from the fridge to the sofa. Also, let’s not forget the music, which is catchy enough to make you want to score a few medals, or at the very least, motivational enough while you sip your power smoothie (also known as a milkshake).
International Track & Field is like the warm-up before the actual workout – lots of fun, equally competitive, but maybe not something you spend hours on without breaking a sweat. Multiplayer mode really is where the game shines with up to four players squeezing an insane amount of competitiveness and trash-talking into every single match. However, the initial thrill might wane with extensive solo play, much like that New Year’s gym resolution that gets thrown out the window by February. In a nutshell, if you want a laugh, some competitive spirit, and an insight into your friend's ability to mash buttons, this game is an Olympic gold medal in charm. While the graphics and gameplay have aged like fine milk, they still capture a unique nostalgic thrill for those who miss the ‘good old days’ of gaming. So grab your friends, dust off that controller, and prepare for a night of enduring both triumph and ridicule as you race for virtual glory!
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