Track and field games have been a part of gaming since the early days of arcades and home consoles. CBS SportsLine Track & Field 2004 follows in the footsteps of this genre's classics to deliver a challenging game with surprising depth. Built around seven different events, Track & Field 2004 lets you compete against computer opponents, match your friends in head-to-head competition, or compare your best scores against players from around the world.

The high jump is one of Track & Field 2004's premier events.

Track & Field 2004 uses the same basic mechanics employed by a multitude of Olympic sports games. In most events, you must repeatedly hit a button to build up energy, strength, or speed. The faster you push the button, the faster you run--or the stronger your discus, javelin, or shot put throw will be. Most events also incorporate a timing element. You might have to mash away to build up your strength and then hit a second button at just the right time to throw a javelin, attempt your long jump, or vault a hurdle. The combination of frantic action and precise timing presents a good mix of challenges, especially on a phone. Also, the juxtaposition of these two elements is stronger in Track & Field 2004 than it is in similar titles.

Track and Field's seven events are the 100-meter dash, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, the 110-meter hurdles, the discus throw, and the javelin throw. Each event presents a unique challenge. For example, the 100-meter dash is an exercise in pure finger strength, as you must hit the 4 and 6 buttons as fast as possible in tandem. The javelin throw requires you to hit the 6 button as fast as possible to build up speed before you use the 4 key to set your launch angle and time your throw as close to the foul line as possible. To complete the high jump, you must press 4 at just the right moment as you approach the bar to begin your jump, and then hit 6 as fast as you can to build your power. Unlike other track titles, Track & Field 2004 has distinct mechanics for each event. While they build off the same basic two ideas, hitting buttons as fast as possible and timing a leap or throw, there's enough variation that each event feels like a different game.

In the basic game, you compete in the event and score points for each based on your total result. Up to four people can participant using pass and play. If fewer than four people play, CPU opponents fill out the rest of the slots. Best of all, Track & Field 2004 offers an online meet. In this single-player game, you compare your individual scores in events and your overall score in all seven events against the top results from other online gamers. The option to compete against the world gives you true world-record scores to shoot for and dramatically increases the game's replay value. The game's learning curve and overall difficulty make cracking the top 20 in an event a real challenge.

Track & Field 2004 is a demanding game, and its difficulty is its primary strength. Nothing short of absolutely perfect timing and maniacal button mashing will net you a world-class score. The online scores are difficult to beat, and there's a true reward in watching your scores climb up the rankings.

The game's controls can sometimes prove troublesome, especially with all the button mashing required in events. A mobile phone isn't the most stable platform for a game that requires you to hit a button as fast as possible. Finding a position that maximizes your speed without causing you to drop the phone or make it bounce around so much that you can't see the screen can be a challenge. If you want to play Track & Field 2004 while on the bus or standing outside, you might have to resign yourself to racking up mediocre scores.

The shot put and discus events are all about timing.

Track and Field 2004's graphics are clear and colorful on the LG VX6000, and the sound is appropriate to the genre. The animation is smooth, a key trait in any game where timing is so important, though at times you may wish that the sprites were a little larger so you could time a jump or throw with greater precision. All of the jumping and throwing events require you to complete a throw or begin your jump before crossing a foul line. Sometimes, it's hard to time a throw or jump while you are slamming away on the controls and trying to keep track of your position. Still, the graphics are more than adequate. Track & Field 2004's sound is pretty unremarkable, but the few effects included are more helpful than they are obtrusive.

Overall, Track & Field 2004 ranks as one of the top games of its type on mobile platforms. If you enjoy the basic form of the typical track and field video game, or if you're looking for a computerized Olympiad fix, check it out. The online score competition makes this one a winner, especially when combined with its challenging gameplay.