After playing Athens 2004 i was expecting something similar with this title. There are quite a few parallels between the two titles although this game felt noticably smaller.There have been quite a few negative comments about Torino 2006 but I have to say that i really enjoyed playing this game. I like the fact that it's not all button bashing and the events are very playable. The graphics are quite good and the commentary gives the events an authentic feel. The difficulty levels can be adjusted according to your ability and there are a number of challenges to beat in order to unlock some extra features.
The main criticism i have (and everyone else has) is that there are not many events to play. Your initial impression is that there are fifteen events to play but in fact there's about half of that. Instead of having four skiing events why not have two and make room for a couple of new sports? It would have been nice to have the snowboarding for example. For this reason alone i couldn't score this game with a higher mark.
However, what you do get is done well. The skiing and the ski jump are very exciting, the bobsleigh and luge are exhilarating and the other events require a combination of stategy and timing. Like most sporting games it is best when played against friends. Yes, it was disappointing that you don't play the events at the same time but overall this didn't spoil the multi-player option.
I think if you have paid full price for this game you may feel a bit cheated as the range of events is quite disappointing. However, if you pick it up for a cheaper price i think you'll feel that it was worth a buy. Think of it as a Winter sports version of Athens 2004 but on a smaller scale. It's not perfect but it is good.
After reading bad review after bad review and seeing all the big games reviewers giving the game 3.4/10, 40%, 45%, etc ... I didnt care and was convinced I would like this game for 3 reasons:1. Athens 2004 was legendary in multiplayer. Soooo competative.
2. The events are almost unimportant as long as their control methods are varied and involves a certain degree of skill, allowing you to improve gradually. This allows peoples ability to get more evenly matched, and therefore more competitive.
3. Even if it was shocking, the fact that its the winter olympics, 4 of you can play each other competitively and the events are skill / deterity events would make it funny.
However, its not funny. Its rubbish.
I've already written too much, but I will list the top 5 reasons why this game utterly sucks:
1. 4 player is not simaltaneous. Therefore, even in events like speed skating you have to take turns. Where is the fun in that?!
2. There are literally only 4 events. The events that would have made it funny and competitive (such as curling and showboarding) are not in there. You just have skiing, skating, cross country and bobsleigh).
3. Some events are over instantly, others taking a boring 4 minutes +. As you are not playing at the same time, in 4 player this means sitting out for up to 12 minutes!!
4. Control methods are rubbish and repetitve throughout the events. Slightly more ambitious ones just dont work.
5. These are both far superior multiplayer games.
If, like I did, you are reading these reviews and thinking "Well, they all say its naff but I loved Athens and as long as its remotely like that me and my mates will love it", then PLEASE understand that its just not anything like Athens. Its just a rubbish game that could have been absolutely legendary but falls short in every single department.
