Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

3DO’s Decathlon delivers a robust console adaptation of the classic track-and-field competition, faithfully representing all ten events: 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and the 1500-meter run. Each discipline uses intuitive control schemes, typically blending timed button presses for explosive starts and precision button taps or joystick movements for technical field events. This balance between simple inputs and precise execution makes every event feel distinct and rewarding as you master the required timing and rhythm.

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The game’s difficulty curve is thoughtfully designed. Early heats and qualification rounds let newcomers get comfortable with accelerating, sprinting, and launching throws or jumps, while later levels force you to shave milliseconds off your sprint times or clear ever-increasing heights in the high jump and pole vault. The absence of a heavy penalty system—failure simply means a disappointing “foul” or “missed leap”—encourages trial and error without harsh frustration, though attempting to maintain consistency across ten events keeps tension high.

Replay value is strong thanks to customizable competition settings and a two-player head-to-head mode. You can toggle camera angles, tweak restart options, and even adjust opponent AI strengths, allowing you to stage friendly challenges or full-on decathlon marathons. Whether aiming to beat personal bests or challenge a friend, 3DO’s Decathlon offers dozens of hours of competitive fun.

Graphics

Visually, Decathlon stands out with smooth motion-capture animations that give each athlete a realistic gait and fluid movement in sprinting, jumping, and throwing events. The way your runner transitions from explosive starts into powerful strides or how the pole vault sequence bends convincingly under pressure speaks to the game’s attention to sports authenticity. You’ll rarely see glitchy limbs or awkward frames—everything feels cohesive and lifelike.

Most events allow configurable camera angles, letting you choose from side-on, behind-the-athlete, or even a dynamic, zooming camera that follows your movement in real time. A side-view in the hurdles helps you time each leap perfectly, while a behind-the-athlete view in the 1500-meter run immerses you in the pack, heightening the sense of competition. These options aren’t just cosmetic; they genuinely enhance your ability to judge distances and adjust your inputs.

The stadium environments, though not hyper-detailed, convey a convincing stadium atmosphere. Crowds pulse with simple sprite motion and distant cheers, while flags wave in the breeze. Track textures and field arenas use subtle color gradients that remain clear even during high-speed sprints. While 3DO’s Decathlon doesn’t push polygon counts to the limit, its smooth framerates and consistent graphical fidelity ensure you’re never distracted by visual stutters or pop-in.

Story

As a sports simulation, 3DO’s Decathlon does not present a traditional narrative or character arcs. Instead, it immerses you in the competitive world of decathlon through event-by-event progression and point accumulation. Your “story” is built on improving personal bests, climbing leaderboards, and outpacing rivals in local multiplayer, offering a purely performance-driven journey rather than a scripted tale.

Despite the lack of cutscenes or plotlines, the game effectively creates context through pre-event menus and animated athlete intros. A brief graphic shows your athlete stepping onto the track, followed by announcer-style text prompts that hype up the next discipline. Though minimalistic, these touches help maintain momentum and make each event feel like a chapter in your personal Olympic quest.

In lieu of dialogue or branching paths, the game’s deeper engagement comes from its internal challenge: beating your own records and those of friends. The story here is entirely emergent—if you thrive on self-improvement and competition, you’ll find the narrative arc of growth and mastery more compelling than any scripted plot.

Overall Experience

3DO’s Decathlon shines as a faithful, approachable sports collection that balances arcade-style accessibility with the technical demands of decathlon competition. Whether you’re a die-hard track fan or just looking for a varied mini-game compilation, you’ll appreciate the breadth of events, the smooth and responsive controls, and the configurable options that let you tailor difficulty and camera perspectives to your liking.

The lack of a traditional story mode may deter players seeking narrative depth, but this is more than offset by the satisfaction of incremental improvement and head-to-head showdowns. Each event feels polished, with strong audio cues—like the starting pistol crack or the crowd’s roar—and tight animations that keep you engaged through all ten disciplines.

For potential buyers, 3DO’s Decathlon offers strong replayability, especially in split-screen multiplayer or personal time-trial runs. Its straightforward presentation and minimal loading times mean you can jump right into the action, making it an ideal pick-up-and-play sports title that rewards practice and precision. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a virtual decathlete, this is your chance to compete across a full slate of Olympic-style events without leaving your living room.

Retro Replay Score

5.3/10