Can you fly like a bird, or do you sink like a stone?

It all comes down to seconds, or inches (maybe that should be meters). ESPN International Winter Sports 2002, a Konami release for the Game Boy Advance, is a third-person arcade program that features 10 events, three competition modes, and a lot of challenge.

The events include two ski jump events (K-90 and K-120), downhill alpine skiing, freestyle mogul skiing, short track 500 (speed skating), figure skating, snowboarding giant slalom, snowboarding half-pipe, biathlon, and luge.

This is not a game that requires you to think and plan a course of attack. This program relies on reflexive dexterity, and – sometimes – monotonous, repetitive keystrokes.

As an example of the latter: In the short track 500, you will race against three other racers. At the “go” signal, you have to alternate rapid keypunches between the A and B buttons to work up the speed meter. No turning is involved; your skater will take the turns on his own.

Counter that with the biathlon, where timing is the determining factor. You will use the D-pad and the A button to try to hit metered marks and increase your avatar’s speed along the course. When you get to the shooting range, you will need to time the side-to-side moving targeting sight and hit the A button (just before the sight gets to the target) to nail the black circle. You will be penalized one minute of time for every target you don’t hit at the three shooting stops. Since biathlon is determined on time alone, you really need to get that down.

The control elements are kept rather simple in this program, which is a good thing. You may not have the opportunity to really admire your form in an event, because you will be too busy watching the various meters. In ski jumping there are three meters that need your attention: the wind meter (which necessitates using the L and R buttons to try to correct for how you are being hindered or help by wind gust), the angle meter (the D-pad controls your avatar’s body position in the air), and the speed meter (which determines how fast you go down the ramp to takeoff, and that speed is controlled by the L and R buttons).

The three modes of play, as mentioned, are trial (one event at a time, compete for best finish), competition mode (you compete in each event) and excite mode (game link to a friend for multiplayer competition).

Graphically, this is a two-dimensional game that has nice environmental elements in some events while others are rather bland. The animation, though, is well done. The sound features some stock winter sports sounds, an announcer that counts down, and a variety of background music. This is a little more than some games, and it all works well with the graphics.

This game is rated for Everyone.

International Winter Sports 2002 works very well on the GBA. The control elements are kept easy enough that just about anyone can jump into the competition, and the look of the game is solid. The game has a wide range of events that should keep players happy for quite a while.

Gameplay: 8
The events flow well from the beginning of the competition to its end, and the player interface is easy to navigate through.

Graphics: 7.8
While the animation is good, some of the environmental elements are quite elementary.

Sound: 8
The sound of this game works well in concert with the graphics. The announcer, event-specific sound effects, and music do a very good job of supporting the video portion of the program.

Difficulty: 7.5
The control elements are kept simple, and the challenge lies in competing to break other scores registered by the CPU.

Concept: 7.8
This is a well-designed game that has been nicely realized on this platform. It is one of two winter sports games released at this time of year, which is appropriate, considering the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (in fact, the second title is Salt Lake City 2002 for Ubi Soft).

Multiplayer: N/A
You can link your GBA up to other units to compete against friends. That option was not available for this review.

Overall: 8.2
Though there are some deficiencies in the graphical elements, that really doesn’t matter. This game tests your reflexes and has great replay value. It is an enjoyable entry into the winter sports experience.