Producer: Buffer Micro
Memory Required: 48K
Retail Price: £5.50
Language: Machine code and BASIC
Author: D. Webb

Like Micro Olympics (Database, reviewed this issue), Athlete employs animated figures in the running events. These include the 100m and 400m sprint. the 110m and 400m hurdles. The only other event is the hammer throw. This is seen directly from above with the figure of the thrower as a pair of arms and a head in the circle.

In the running events you compete against two other runners controlled by the computer - this is a single player game. There are two bar codes at the base, one for power and one indicating distance to go. The speed of your runner is key controlled, but judgement is required to ensure you don't run out of power before the race finishes. In the hurdles the jump key is used to get over the obstacles and power is again a factor in winning.

In the hammer throw the character starts to spin and you must judge the right moment, as his speed increases, to loose the hammer. Waiting too long will result in a No Throw. Before each event, which follows on automatically from the other, you may select the skill level from 1 to 10. The hammer throw is interspersed between the other events.

COMMENTS

Control keys: 5 or 6/7 and 8 faster/slower, 0 to jump
Joystick: AGF, Protek, Kempston, ZX 2
Keyboard play: responsive, easy to use
Use of colour: not much
Graphics: average to fair, reasonable animation
Sound: very poor to none
Skill levels: 10

Athlete is a fairly playable game, it has a better running method than Micro Olympics - more practical anyway. The game tends to lack variety and atmosphere, with only running events and a poor hammer throw. I quite like the strategic element whereby energy has to be conserved and used appropriately. Overall, not as good as Micro Olympics but better than many we've seen.

The first thing I didn't like about this game was that a ten second delay occurs while a menu and other text is displayed, which happens between each complete game - not very good if you want to get on with the game. I found the game uncompetitive and, if anything, boring to play. The skill levels range from easy to impossible, where you don't stand a chance against computer controlled athletes. Overall, not a very addictive, attractive and playable game.

Athlete is a lot better than the spate of running, jumping and standing still games we've seen recently, but it lacks much in the way of events and therefore in playability and addictiveness. The animated running men are quite good although the hammer throw is a bit basic looking. The running is controlled from the keyboard or joystick on a fast, slow, jump basis, which is kinder to the computer than the method employed in Micro Olympics, but it simply isn't as much fun either. I became bored quite quickly with this one.

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K
CONTROL: Curs, Kemp, Sinc
FROM: Buffer Micro, £5.50

Another in the spate of Track and Field copies, but this doesn't measure up to the arcade original or Micro Olympics, reviewed elsewhere in this issue.

Five events have to be completed, the 100 metres, 400 metres, 110 metres hurdles and 400 metres hurdles against two opponents, and a hammer throw, the aim being to score as many points as possible.

There is none of the adrenalin pumping thumping of keyboards or joysticks. Your speed in the races is determined by your chosen effort between one and nine. However you only have so much power to cover the distance and therefore have to ration your effort carefully.

It makes the game less harsh on the hardware and more dependent on skill rather than on wrist power. But this also means it is far less exciting.

The program runs through the title screens for every event and you can spend almost as much time waiting for these as you can playing the game.

The limitations of power mean you spend most of the running races just watching three badly animated men jogging across a white picture with two lines across it. No grass, no crowd, no distance markers, no sound. Nothing to get even my Grandad's pacemaker beating faster.

The hurdles involve rather more skill - you have to time jumps carefully to clear them. But your character gets hidden by the hurdles when leaping them and disappears completely if he falls over one.

You also collapse in a heap if you run out of power, which is all too easy to do with your apparently feeble resources.

The hammer throw is the most enjoyable event. It's fun carefully timing the release of the weight - but one good event can't make up for the inadequacies of the rest of the program.

To keep the Olympic spirit go out and buy this tape. There are five events which you can take part, 2 sprints, 2 hurdles (110 & 400 metres) and the hammer throw.

In the track events you compete against two other athletes. To win each race you have to press a key which increases your effort as you run. Too much effort and you will fall flat on your face with exhaustion, too little effort and you come in last. A scale at the bottom of the screen shows you how much effort you are using and also a scale of what distance is left to run.

In the hurdles you have another key to press to make your man jump.

There are facilities for training and a choice of event. Graphically it's not bad but there is an awful lot of time wasted with menus between each event.

Overall 'Good fun' and your money is not wasted. 'Athlete' is for the 48K owners only. £5.95.