The object of this game is fairly straightforward: run fast, jump far, and throw stuff in events like the 100m Dash, 110m Hurdles, Javelin Throw, Long Jump, and Pole Vault. Unlike previous track and field games, ESPN IT&F adds non-track events as well, including the Horizontal Bar (male gymnastics), Trap Shooting, Weightlifting, 100m Freestyle (women's swimming), and Rhythm Gymnastics. It's not that I don't appreciate that the non-track events are in there, because I really enjoy the game's Olympic-style competition. I just feel the game title Track & Field is a bit misleading.

Gameplay in ESPN IT&F, like in many previous track and field games, primarily involves mashing buttons as quickly as possible to make your character run down the track at top speed. The faster you go, the more points you get. However, one thing I do appreciate is that the game isn't entirely dependent upon having fast fingers. It also requires some co-ordination and timing, which is something that other button bashing games haven’t required.


Graphics are some of the best I've seen on a track and field game, specifically with regards to the motion capture of the athletes performing the various events. Backgrounds are rendered with attention to detail. I also appreciated the inventive camera angles and replays. For example, during the 100m Freestyle swimming event, you get nice underwater photography, complete with underwater style distortion of sound. It is simply amazing how accurate this game is in capturing the feel of an exciting television broadcast.

This game is a massive improvement on the graphics of the N64 and Playstaion versions but is essentially the same game. I would suggest only buying this if you if you don’t own any of the other versions.