Save your money (Virtua Athlete 2000 (DC))

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Product:	Virtua Athlete 2000 (DC)
Date:	30/08/01 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb, no wait. None

Disadvantages: The whole game

Virtua Athlete is not my favourite athletics game - in fact I’d say it was one of the most short-lived gaming titles I have ever played on, the game will not last as long as it should, why? Let’s explain.

Virtua Athlete is one of 3 Athletics games on the Dreamcast – Itself, Sydney 2000 and International Track & Field – ESPN, yet none seem to be of a high standard, Virtua Athlete manages to set itself firmly at the bottom of the pile. Main reason – in athletics and Olympics games, generally you want a lot of events to partake in. VA2K has 7.

7 events is not enough, the competition (i.e. the other games in the genre on the format) have at least 10 events, which is barely enough, but Sega’s branded game only caters for 7 events, and they’re not that great ones either. 100m Dash, the hurdles, long jump, 1500, no decent events like cycling & no water events: pitiful!

The game’s one player mode is therefore utterly rubbish, as you’ll have complete the events, all of which seem uncontrollably boring and tedious, all within a matter of minutes. At least you can say the distress is over quickly. But that’s not the point in the game. I have never returned back to Virtua Athlete, I suggest you don’t go near it in the first place.

4 players can indulge in all 7 events, simultaneously! Wow, what an achievement, but seriously, this is the only decent part of the game, where four of you can play. It makes it a little more exciting as you’ll finally have some competition. The AI opponents are weak and brittle. Like the game in general, it needs beefing up and overflowing with options and events. But no!

The graphics are unspectacular, but acceptable, the sound is blah, but the gameplay, no matter how good it used to be in previous athletics games, just doesn’t cut the bill. £5 is the most you should pay for this.

Summary: