3DO Games: Decathlon - PC Review - Gamecenter

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3DO Games: Decathlon

continued
a young man, a keyboard, and a dream
Game control is typical of most Olympic simulations. In the skill events, it's initially very difficult to be competitive. Each event must be played repeatedly to get a feel for the timing. Unfortunately, the manual is extremely stingy with hints, and I found myself in practice mode for quite a while. Running events are much easier to grasp--just pound the keyboard as fast as possible. Gamepads can be used, but they react sluggishly. Keyboard control is definitely the best, and for the ultimate in performance, I recommend sawing your keyboard in half and repeatedly banging the two pieces together. This not only makes your athlete perform better, but expedites the ultimate goal of these games: to destroy your keyboard.
3DO Games: Decathlon is the best Olympic simulation I've played in recent years. This isn't saying much since most of these games are very disappointing clones of their predecessors, including Interactive Magic's uninspired Bruce Jenner's Decathalon. Other than updated graphics and sound, they offer little innovation over the old Atari 2600 incarnation of the Summer Games. Multiplayer networking for up to four people does give this one a welcome twist, however, and I still enjoy the feeling of setting world records (not to mention throbbing fingers). If you are a fan of Olympic sims, this game might be a winner.
Now, look for my next review in the hardware section, where I will discuss reason #115 why computer games are better than arcade games: "When you run out of working buttons, keyboards are easily replaceable."
tips
-For the high jump, jump early--right after your athlete reaches the bar.
-For the pole vault, plant the pole when you are exactly on the white line. One second too late and you will fault. One second too early and you will miss the mat.
-For the javelin, you want as close to a 45-degree throwing angle as possible.

Hugh Falk started writing for Gamecenter in March of 1996. Since that time, Internet usage has grown over 340,000 percent. Although most people believe these facts are merely coincidental, they have gathered little supporting data. Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know.

Facts

Decathlon
Studio 3DO, 800/336-3506
Price: $40.00
486/66, 8MB RAM, 8MB disk space, SVGA, 2X CD-ROM drive, Windows 95; Windows-compatible sound card

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Decathlon

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