The backdrops for the events look plain, boring, out of scale and lack in details.
Normally I don't like to compare different versions, but in this review there will be comparisons to the original C64 version.
Graphics:
As you go through the boring menus, and choose which event to practice or compete in, you start to fear that the intro sequence (an opening ceremony of the Olympics) was the only good looking thing in the game, and you're right. The backdrops for the events look plain, boring, out of scale and lack in details. The animations are passable I'd say and the pole-vault would probably be my favorite one to look at. As you go through the events or if you decide to look at the world records you get to see cute little figures next to the name of the events that look pretty good. More emphasis should have been put on adding things to the background like some animations or something. There could have easily been some cool stills included. There are not enough visuals and the ones that are there are not exactly breath-taking.
38%
Sound:
Many cool sound effects and good, catchy music and a couple of (very) shortened national anthems. This is without a doubt the strongest part of this uninspired C64 conversion.
71%
Game-play:
This didn't translate very well from the good old Tac2 controller to the Master system one. The wriggling of the joystick back and forth has been changed to alternate pressing the A and B buttons for example. The gameplay gets tedious save for the diving event, which holds up for a longer period of time and if you are anything like me, you'll just compete in this event after a while. The Diving event is divided into 4 different jumps, reverse, backwards etc which is cool. The gymnastics event is also more interesting than the Swimming and running events. Pole-diving is very fun for a short while, but after you have played it for ten minutes you'll have mastered the event and it starts to get repetitive. Playing this with your friends is fun though and you'll have some fun with it.
51%
Lastability:
This stripped version features a much smaller selection of nationalities for the players and also a smaller selection of events.
41%
Overall:
Disappointing is the word that best sums up this port.
46%