Athens 2004 brings the excitement of the Summer Olympic Games held in the Greek capital to the PlayStation 2. Developed by Eurocom and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, this sports title eschews a traditional narrative; instead, its goal is to represent a country, compete in various disciplines, and vie for medals, all while recreating the atmosphere of a major international event.
The game features events spanning track and field, swimming, gymnastics, equestrian sports, weightlifting, archery, and clay pigeon shooting. Track events include sprints, hurdles, and middle-distance races, while field events cover the long jump, high jump, and pole vault, as well as the shot put, discus, and javelin throw. Each discipline presents its own unique challenge: some require rapid button-mashing to build speed, while others emphasize rhythm, precision, or perfect timing for jumping, throwing, or breathing. Stamina also plays a role in certain events, meaning mindless bu...
Athens 2004 brings the excitement of the Summer Olympic Games held in the Greek capital to the PlayStation 2. Developed by Eurocom and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, this sports title eschews a traditional narrative; instead, its goal is to represent a country, compete in various disciplines, and vie for medals, all while recreating the atmosphere of a major international event.
The game features events spanning track and field, swimming, gymnastics, equestrian sports, weightlifting, archery, and clay pigeon shooting. Track events include sprints, hurdles, and middle-distance races, while field events cover the long jump, high jump, and pole vault, as well as the shot put, discus, and javelin throw. Each discipline presents its own unique challenge: some require rapid button-mashing to build speed, while others emphasize rhythm, precision, or perfect timing for jumping, throwing, or breathing. Stamina also plays a role in certain events, meaning mindless button-mashing isn't always enough to achieve the best result.
Players can train in Practice Mode, compete in individual events, or tackle longer competitions like the decathlon or heptathlon; it is also possible to create a custom selection of events. Local multiplayer is a major highlight, allowing up to four people to compete in a single session—turning the game into an ideal living-room competition for cheering on rivals and chasing victory by the narrowest of margins. Some events even support a PlayStation 2-compatible dance pad, offering a novel alternative to the standard controller.
As the official game of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, Athens 2004 continues the tradition of sports video games tied to each Olympic edition. Its variety of disciplines and the TV-style presentation evoke the spectacle of competition, though the controls can feel repetitive and demanding on the fingers, especially during races. Released in 2004 for PlayStation 2, it offers an experience that is easy to grasp and heavily focused on improving records, trying out different events, and—above all—engaging in friendly rivalry with friends.
