Track & Field, 1983 Konami/Centuri (20 From 1983 #3)
14Phenomenal sports game for its time (there admittedly wasn't a whole lot to be impressed with at the time); this is a multi-event Olympic-style game (in fact this game is also known as Hyper Olympic) with 100 Meter Dash, Long Jump, Javelin Throw, 110 Meter Hurdles, Hammer Throw and High Jump. You are given two RUN buttons you must bash repeatedly to build up speed or strength (trakballs on later control panels) and a THROW/JUMP button to do those at the right time. Failing to beat the qualifying time/distance/height in all the tries given disqualifies you and it's game over (unless you pass 100,000 points; then you get one extra try). Breaking down the events further: 100 METER DASH-- Bash the buttons quickly to beat the qualifying time (you race against a computer or human opponent but don't have to beat their time, just the qualifying time). LONG JUMP-- Here you bash the buttons to build up speed, and when you reach the line on the ground you must press the JUMP button and HOLD IT DOWN! Keep it held down for a second or two; this will increase the angle of your jump and 45 degrees is PERFECTLY IDEAL! Once you reach the desired angle (keep it close to 45 degrees) LET GO of the JUMP button. You will hopefully have scored enough distance (a guy measures it quite literally) to qualify. JAVELIN THROW-- As you might guess, you throw a javelin in this event! Mash the buttons to build up speed and right before the marker, hold down the THROW button to increase the angle of the throw and LET GO around 45 degrees (again, the best angle). You want to get a good combination of height, distance and angle in this throw so you'll be able to get that javelin past the distance required. 110 METER HURDLES-- Here you have to not only mash the buttons but use JUMP at the right time to hurdle the, um, hurdles. Screw up and you'll be flat on your face-- THIS IS SUPER-COSTLY! Do this even once and it's quite likely over for you and the competitive events like this and the dash do not allow for extra attempts like the others. HAMMER THROW-- This one's kind of weird.. wail on the run buttons to build up power on the meter, and notice that in this overhead viewpoint the hammer will turn red as it nears the point you want to release it, but wait until you've got it red the SIXTH time (his sixth rotation spinning it) and then release. And again, you HOLD DOWN the THROW button until you get at least close to the 45 degree angle to toss it far down the field and hopefully pass the distance necessary. HIGH JUMP-- This is even more unusual and the trickiest to get used to: Build up speed the usual way and just before you reach the bar you use the JUMP button to jump up, but LET GO midway as you jump high enough so you're butt's getting higher than the bar. Now hold it down again to make him throw his back into position, let go again and press and hold it again to kick out his legs and clear the bar, getting a little distance on the mat. Once you figured this out for the first time, that's not enough to meet the qualifying height! You have to do it again a few more times (they increase the height). Then, you are given first place (unless a 2nd player had a better score-- but you will both still beat the game) and you repeat all the events; some of which now have BRUTAL qualifying times/distancees/etc. No one really much touched on Olympic-style arcade video games to this point, and Konami really impressed! Several sequels followed, including HYPER SPORTS (1984). One of the first arcade games to prominently give Konami credit on the marquee in the US!