CBS SportsLine Track & Field 2004 (Mobile)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Mike Mearls
• Reviewed on: 08/12/2004
• Originally published on GameSpot: CBS SportsLine Track & Field 2004 (Mobile) Review

Track and field games have been a part of gaming since the early days of arcades and home consoles. CBS SportsLine Track & Field 2004 follows in the footsteps of this genre's classics to deliver a challenging game with surprising depth. Built around seven different events, Track & Field 2004 lets you compete against computer opponents, match your friends in head-to-head competition, or compare your best scores against players from around the world.

Track & Field 2004 uses the same basic mechanics employed by a multitude of Olympic sports games. In most events, you must repeatedly hit a button to build up energy, strength, or speed. The faster you push the button, the faster you run--or the stronger your discus, javelin, or shot put throw will be. Most events also incorporate a timing element. You might have to mash away to build up your strength and then hit a second button at just the right time to throw a javelin, attempt your long jump, or vault a hurdle. The combination of frantic action and precise timing presents a good mix of challenges, especially on a phone. Also, the juxtaposition of these two elements is stronger in Track & Field 2004 than it is in similar titles.

Track and Field's seven events are the 100-meter dash, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, the 110-meter hurdles, the discus throw, and the javelin throw. Each event presents a unique challenge. For example, the 100-meter dash is an exercise in pure finger strength, as you must hit the 4 and 6 buttons as fast as possible in tandem. The javelin throw requires you to hit the 6 button as fast as possible to build up speed before you use the 4 key to set your launch angle and time your throw as close to the foul line as possible. To complete the high jump, you must press 4 at just the right moment as you approach the bar to begin your jump, and then hit 6 as fast as you can to build your power. Unlike other track titles, Track & Field 2004 has distinct mechanics for each event. While they build off the same basic two ideas, hitting buttons as fast as possible and timing a leap or throw, there's enough variation that each event feels like a different game.

In the basic game, you compete in the event and score points for each based on your total result. Up to four people can participant using pass and play. If fewer than four people play, CPU opponents fill out the rest of the slots. Best of all, Track & Field 2004 offers an online meet. In this single-player game, you compare your individual scores in events and your overall score in all seven events against the top results from other online gamers. The option to compete against the world gives you true world-record scores to shoot for and dramatically increases the game's replay value. The game's learning curve and overall difficulty make cracking the top 20 in an event a real challenge.

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