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> Results: Torino 2006
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My general opinion regarding sports is to do the activity if possible, if not play a video game version of the sport and keep watching the sport on television as more of a group activity. However, based on Torino 2006 I am willing to change that opinion, as falling down a mountain would be more enjoyable than playing these mindless games and listening to the horrible announcers.
Torino 2006 consists of fifteen different events, which are playable singly or in various groupings. The reality is that the fifteen are seven events with slightly different rules. There are four Alpine Skiing events, two ski jumps, three speed skating events, two bobsleds and combinations like the Nordic Combined. The game plays like a series of mini-games. There are seven total controls used: arrow keys, ﾑenter' and two other keys used only for leaning in the Bobsled. The controls and gameplay are simplistic and unsatisfying. For example in ski jumping you press a key to start, toggle the arrow keys to stay balanced, press a key at the right time to jump, toggle the arrows again to maintain balance in the air and press another key to land. Most events consist of only two or three keys being tapped to control the athlete, and the feeling is neither visceral nor immersive.  There is very little feedback from the game regarding your performance during the events except for the awful commentary. This is especially problematic during long events like Cross Country Skiing where fatigue and stamina come into play. Some of the commentary is so awkward and lifeless that it seems to have been translated from a foreign language. Sometimes they make negative remarks about how a flaw will certainly put you out of the running, yet you end up winning. Other times they will comment on how well you are doing and you will end up in last place. Just about everything in Torino 2006 seems lifeless and poorly implemented. The menu and games use an inconsistent mix of controls, the sound and commentary are terrible, and the graphics are inconsistent. Worst of all, though, is that the overall feel of the events leave you looking for the ﾑreal' game. You'll be waiting for some feeling of challenge and accomplishment, something to meet the grandeur of the Olympics, but that moment never arrives.  
I am looking forward to sharing the Torino Winter Olympics with my kids, who were too young to enjoy the Salt Lake City games. There are so many different events that everyone in the family has something they are excited to watch so they were excited to try out their favorite events in the game. The problem is that none of them were there. There's no figure skating, no moguls, none of the extreme events and no hockey. While some of these are beyond the capability of a game like this, the lack of variety makes the game feel very small and limited.
These games are easy to play for kids of all ages because of the simple and direct control scheme. The first time through any event kids tend to have fun, especially with the high-speed events such as Alpine Skiing or Luge. However, the lack of any real reward system or feeling of accomplishment dulls any excitement, and the games do not replay very well. Any tension from learning the controls turns quickly to tedium, to the point where less than twenty minutes into playing my older son asked me, "does this have to count as my game time?" I asked if he would keep playing if it didn't count, and he said that no, he was just hoping to still have time to play something fun. Perhaps the most positive things are that it is short and inexpensive, so if you do choose to buy it you won't have wasted too much money or time. This review edited by Dave Long Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "Olympics" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Torino 2006 |
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