By James Booth
Nostalgia. A longing for something past. That's what comes to mind with Crazy Olympics for Palm from CrazySoft (at http://www.crazysoft.gr/olympics.htm). Visions of sweaty, greasy-haired teenage boys huddled around an arcade machine, cramped fingers flying over buttons, and quarters lined up across the bottom of the screen float through my mind.
Crazy Olympics is a Palm version of the old arcade Olympics game from the 80s. It has five different events, each with an easy and a hard setting, and a sixth Crazy Olympics event, in which you compete in all five events in a series. The five events you will be competing in are 100M Running, Long Jump, Javelin, 100M Hurdles, and the Hammer Throw. In the Running and Hurdle events you will race against a computer opponent.
100M Running
The goal of the 100M Running event, shown in Figure A, is of course to run 100M in as fast a time as possible.
FIGURE ARun for the Gold in 100M Running. (click for larger image)
Long Jump
In the Long Jump, shown in Figure B, you sprint down the runway, and then launch your player into the air before he crosses the fault line.
FIGURE BHow far can you go in the Long Jump? (click for larger image)
He sails through the air to land in the sandpit, where an official rolls out the tape to measure the distance. You have to time your launch and angle of jump in order to get the most distance possible from the speed you've accumulated.
Javelin
The Javelin toss, thrown out there in Figure C, has you dash down the runway, hurling your spear at the last moment.
FIGURE CBring out your inner Olympian with the Javelin. (click for larger image)
The javelin then sails down the field, past the distance markers until it sticks in the ground. Like the Long Jump, you have to time the release of the javelin and its angle of ascent to get as much of an advantage from your speed as possible.
100M Hurdles
The 100M Hurdles, shown in Figure D, combines the mad dash of 100M Running, interspersed with the challenge of leaping hurdles.
FIGURE DDon't fall on your face while leaping the hurdles in the 100M Hurdles. (click for larger image)
The Hurdles are a difficult event as you have to time your leap just right so as not to lose too much of your speed. Jump too early or too late and you won't clear the hurdle, as well as lose your momentum.
Hammer Throw
The Hammer Throw, shown in Figure E, is the final event of Crazy Olympics. This has your player spinning in circles to gain momentum while holding a tethered weight.