Personal Computer News


Daley Thompson's Decathlon

Author: Bob Chappell
Publisher: Ocean
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Personal Computer News #079

DALEY THOMPSON'S DECATHLON

Winner of the Olympic Silver medal must go to Daley Thompson's Decathlon.

This is available for the Commodore 64 with a Spectrum version almost ready. The events you take part in are: the 1,500 metres, long jump, shot putt, high jump, discus, pole vault, 400 metres, hurdles, javelin and 100 metres.

In arcade fashion, you start with four lives - every time you fail to qualify in an event, you lose one. This certainly gives you an incentive to do better because that's the only way you're going to see all the events.

Daley Thompson's Decathlon

You take charge of a Daley Thompson clone who competes in races against a mean computer-controlled athlete, and in other events, on his own. For each event, a detailed board provides information on the qualifying time/height/distance required, the Olympic record, your best attempt, etc.

While joystick waggling and button pressing are the order of the day, the duration of the latter has a marked effect on such things as angle of throw, etc.

The graphics, although attractive, do not give a realistic impression. However, the three-layered scrolling does add extra depth to the proceedings.

To compensate, there is a catchy Olympic theme tune, a cheering crowd, and a couple of neat touches. For instance, in the long jump, the referee crawls out and measures the distance jumped.

Pretty good stuff, but not the big G.

Bob Chappell

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