International Athletics Overview
International Athletics is a 1992 track and field simulation originally released in Spain as Olympic Games '92 by Opera Soft. The developer True Emotions created an arcade style sports game that was later licensed by Zeppelin for their International series in 1993.
Its gameplay departs from the rapid button mashing common in earlier titles, focusing instead on precise timing. Most of the eight events require only one or two key presses, such as setting a runner's speed with a slider in the 100 meters. A few disciplines, like the triple jump and 110 meter hurdles, demand a short series of accurately timed inputs. Mastering events and setting records is described as fair, often achievable after minimal practice.
The game offers a practice mode for timing and a competition mode that sequences all events, with instant disqualification for failing to qualify. Up to four players can participate via split screen. Presentation is minimal, using digitized photos for events and lacking the ceremonial atmosphere found in other late 80s sports games.
Options include three difficulty levels and environmental variables like wind and weather that affect results. A notable feature is a doping option, which does not allow active doping but subjects athletes to random checks after events, with failure leading to disqualification.
