Although released well after the Winter Olympics that took place in Salt Lake City, Utah (U.S.A.) this year,
ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 is essentially released as a way for Olympic fans to play in the snow from the comfort of their homes. The game includes 10 events -- Downhill Alpine Skiing, Slalom Alpine Skiing, K=90 Ski Jumping, K=120 Ski Jumping, Freestyle Mogul Skiing, Half-Pipe Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Bobsleigh, Curling, and Figure Skating -- all of which have their own unique style of gameplay.
Similar to the way ESPN International Track & Field used multiple varieties of controller configurations, so does Winter Sports 2002. You'll notice that in some events you will have to use the old school method of button mashing, while in others the only way to win is through perfect timing. It's this 'new' way of playing that makes this game playable at all, however. It's unfortunate, but button mashing on the standard Xbox controller is almost impossible due to the rounded design of the face buttons. (For more information, please visit the Game Mechanics section and just try to pull me off of my soapbox.)
Winter Sports 2002 has many issues in my mind, other than the obvious controller issue. First off, when you choose your athlete, you will become that athlete in every event within the game. This is not a decathlon game. The last time I checked, athletes will usually compete in multiple events of the same nature, but I'm sure there aren't any downhill skiers out there that will lace up the figure skates after completing the moguls. It wouldn't have been hard at all to add a few more player models and names to compete in the different events.
Beside the obvious lack of a four-player mode (even though the Xbox has four controller ports), the other main issue I have with ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 comes in the form of a simple question asked by everyone that has ever played ANY Olympic game ever made: Why aren't there more events??? Sure, ten is acceptable. But why not have twenty? When you consider that game companies essentially have two (or four) years between Olympic games, it is easy to ask for more. I'm not suggesting a mini hockey game (as that game can be stand-alone), but where are the events like Cross Country Skiing and the Biathlon? With the 3D engines already in place, why not throw in the Luge and a couple more Bobsled events, some extra Downhill events, as well as different varieties of Speed Skating?
I'm sure that these Olympic-style games don't receive the big budget contracts that other games may get, but somebody needs to take a chance. I ask, nay, I beg... please give multiplayer Olympic games a chance by offering developers the time and money needed to make a quality game. Do so, and gamers will be more apt to invest their hard-earned dough toward the final product. (Am I still on my soapbox?) ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 only offers four gameplay modes, including the two-player mode and the Championship mode.
