Press Release
August 14th, 2007 -
Back in 1983, yes 1983, Konami gave button smashers a reason to live. Now they are re-born as Xbox Live Arcade and Konami, along with Digital Eclipse, have brought this arcade classic back. Compete at home or on the Xbox Live Arcade in 6 classic events with hope of achieving finger blistering immortality. Glimpses of Déjà vu and memories of yester-year will delight gamers of old, and surprise those who think Keystone Capers is a never bitter beer. The game looks great with complete graphical and audio polishing, a standard expected from Digital Eclipse these days, and of course the mustaches.
To start, the 100-Meter Dash keeps things simple, if you can avoid a false start. The faster you alternately mash two buttons (or left and right on the joystick or d-pad) the faster you run. It sounds pretty simple, but laying the smack down with your fingers with such speed may cause your fingers to tie into a knot. Those of you not used to this particular type of abuse to your controller, best keep a bucket of ice nearby.
As if the 100 Meter Dash wasn’t exhausting enough, well why not add a little spice, the Long Jump. Going with the same premise as the Dash, you must jump before the white line, trying to land at least 6 meters into the pit. By pressing and holding the A button, players must release as close to the desired 45 degree angle to gain maximum height and velocity. Reminder, you still have to sprint as fast as you can while trying not to fault (by going over the white line or smashing your face mustache-first into the pit for not jumping in time).
Meanwhile, the Javelin Throw follows the same formula as the Long Jump, while the 110 Meter Hurdles follows by adding the jumping element every 10 meters. That event is one of the more challenging aspects of the game, its absolute pandemonium. The Hammer Throw gives your nubs a break from button smashing, but make no mistake it’s no walk in the park, either. An over the top view is a change from the game’s norm, as gamers must swing the hammer with a series of rotations, speed is gathered by how late you time the throw, which increases the difficulty of getting it just right.
If you’re lucky enough to make it this far, and no-one has called 911 to report you having a seizure, you’ll come face to face with the final event, the ill despised High Jump. This challenge is all timing, as you have to know exactly when to bend the mustached marauder to clear the High Bar.
What makes this XBLA addition great isn't so much the beefed up graphics and sound, but the ability to play the game online with up to three other players.
Simultaneous two-player events like the 100m Sprint and 110m Hurdles are as crazy as online gaming gets for those 10 or so seconds your punishing your controller. Even the other events work well with the online component, as you try to outdo one another for domination on a global scale.
For a very economical 400 Microsoft Points, Track & Field is a must have. To date, its one of the finest retro-resurrections on the Xbox Live Arcade, and don’t worry, those bloody stumps you called fingers should heal soon.