Athens 2004; Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 6.0; 3D Home Architect Design Suite Deluxe 6

ATHENS 2004,

Sony/Eurocom

When it comes to the Olympics, not much has changed in the video game world. Twenty-some years ago Konami wore out the thumbs of gamers in arcades and at home with Track and Field -- the only way to win the title was with frenetic, repetitive button-mashing, one button press for each step in a race or other event.

Most of the 25 Olympics events depicted in Athens 2004 will put you at the same risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. The game also offers a similar sort of repetitiveness; a lot of its track and swimming events differ only in their distance. Sony has, however, added a few alternative control methods, the most interesting being the dance pad it sells for use with titles such as Konami's Dance Dance Revolution.

Athens 2004's Party Mode lets one to four players compete in 10 gymnastics and running events by jumping on the right buttons on the mat to make the athletes on the screen move on the screen. (Finally, a video game that counts as exercise!) The option of four-player competition adds some replay value to this title; too bad this doesn't include online gameplay.

At least Athens 2004 looks much better than earlier Olympics titles. Athletes move fluidly instead of like animated sticks, and the venues for weightlifting, swimming, gymnastics, equestrian, skeet-shooting and track-and-field contests all look right. In one respect, they're better than real life: The game shows the Aquatic Center with a roof, while cost and schedule overruns eliminated that amenity.

In other aspects, however, this game falls inexplicably and absurdly short of the genuine article: It lacks real athletes, national anthems, and even the Olympic theme song. -- John Gaudiosi

PlayStation 2, $40

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