FIGURE D


Train to raise your athlete's attributes. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The other way to increase your attributes is to buy upgrades. Figure E shows the upgrades you can purchase. Vitamins, protein drinks, injections, and better equipment, like shoes and clothes, as well as extras not necessarily approved by the International Olympic Committee, like good luck charms, can be purchased to increase performance.

FIGURE E


You can purchase upgrades for your athlete. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Purchases cost money though. In order to earn the money for these items, you'll have to compete in events, like that shown in Figure F. If you win, you'll earn the dough. Compete in enough events, save up the prize money, and you can give your performance a tremendous boost.

FIGURE F


Enter competitions to earn money for upgrades. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The further your athlete advances, the higher the prizes become, and the more difficult it is to meet the training and prize criteria.

The final score
Crazy Athletics II is a dramatic improvement over the original. The addition of Champion play gives the game unlimited repeat play and deeper game interaction.

In my previous coverage, I expressed concern over the repetitive button-pushing method of play. This new version though has been optimized for the Zodiac, which was designed for just this type of use, so I don't see it as much of an issue on that platform.

I give Crazy Athletics II from Crazysoft 4 out of 5. I'd really like to give it a 5, but there's one small thing I'd like to see on a future update: the ability to configure the buttons. The Zodiac is an ideal platform for this game because of its non-standard button configuration, and I'd like to take advantage of that by being able to use the shoulder triggers.

Crazy Athletics is still crazy good fun, but now even more so. Before, it was a nice diversion, full of nostalgia that took me back to the 80s arcades of my youth. Now, its one of those "can't put it down" games. With the 2006 Winter Olympics still two years off, I would love to see a Crazy Athletics Winter Edition to tide me over until the real games are played in Turin.

If you'll excuse me now, I need to soak my hand in some ice. I've played so much I think I'm working up a good case of carpal tunnel.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

Chris Guella is a business consultant in financial services and lives and works in Charlotte, NC. He can be reached at cguella@mindspring.com.