Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Bruce Jenner’s World Class Decathlon takes the bread-and-butter events of the original Daley Thompson’s Decathlon and layers on deep RPG-style progression. Rather than grinding away at a single button, each decathlon event—whether it’s the shot put, long jump or javelin—relies on carefully timed presses and holds with your mouse. You assign skill points to throwing, running, jumping and, most importantly, stamina, then put those stats to the test over a grueling two-day, ten-event schedule.

The career mode is the beating heart of the experience. You start out as a green rookie, placing in local meets, earning experience and unlocking modest sponsors. As seasons pass, your athlete can grow into a world-class competitor—if you manage your training wisely. Over-invest early and you’ll feel it in the 400 m and 1500 m runs; skimp on strength and you’ll struggle to heave the shot. That push-and-pull creates a satisfying layer of strategy atop the core mini-games.

Adding spice to the proceedings are the FMV advisory clips stitched between events. Depending on whether you choose the Thompson- or Jenner-branded version, the champion himself appears on camera to offer pointers or pep talks. These bite-sized videos break up the action and reinforce best practices—just don’t expect Hollywood production values. All told, the mouse-driven controls, stamina management and stat development form a coherent package that rewards planning as much as quick reflexes.

Graphics

Visually, World Class Decathlon updates the original’s pixel art for modern displays while retaining its retro charm. Event arenas—from the packed stadium for the high jump to the windswept throwing circle—feature crisp, colorful backgrounds, subtle parallax effects and smooth sprite animations. You’ll see muscles tense before a launch, the runway ripple beneath your sprinter’s feet and dust kick up after a long jump landing.

The UI is clean and informative, with clear gauges for power, accuracy and endurance. During each event, dynamic camera zooms keep you locked onto your athlete’s action, and simple on-screen prompts guide your presses and holds. Menus for training and stat allocation are straightforward, making it easy to plan your improvements without drowning in options.

FMV segments appear in a windowed frame, sporting the slightly grainy look of late-80s video capture. While the footage is far from high-definition, it oozes period authenticity and gives the game a tangible connection to its athletic star. If you’re a fan of retro sports titles, the blend of updated sprites and analog video will feel like a faithful homage rather than a dated relic.

Story

At its core, Bruce Jenner’s World Class Decathlon isn’t about a sprawling narrative; it’s about the arc of an athlete’s career. You guide your decathlete from local track meets to global championships, watching them mature from an uncertain rookie into a celebrated champion. Progress is tracked through medals, world rankings and sponsor deals, with each milestone feeling hard-earned.

The FMV cameo clips serve as your narrative backbone. They’re brief motivational speeches, training tips or post-event interviews that remind you why you’re here: to conquer ten of the toughest athletic challenges. Despite their simplicity, these segments inject personality and stakes into a game that, without them, might feel like a bare-bones simulator.

Between competitions, there’s an implied off-season camp where you allocate skill points and decide whether to emphasize speed, strength or endurance. While there’s no branching dialogue or character-driven subplots, the strategic depth of your choices creates its own emergent story—one of triumphs, wipeouts and redemption laps that keep you invested over multiple seasons.

Overall Experience

Bruce Jenner’s World Class Decathlon stands out by marrying the tactile satisfaction of sports mini-games with the long-haul gratification of a career sim. The shift away from pure button-mashing means every ounce of stamina and every stat point counts, rewarding thoughtful play over frantic clicking. Its retro-meets-modern presentation and FMV advice clips add flavor without overshadowing the core gameplay loop.

That said, the learning curve can feel steep at first. Mastering stamina management—knowing when to hold back in early events so you can finish strong—takes practice and experimentation. FMV clips, while charming, can become repetitive once you’ve seen them half a dozen times. And if you’re expecting a cinematic storyline, you’ll find that the drama here is practical rather than plot-driven.

For fans of sports sims, retro revivals or just anyone seeking a thoughtful alternative to “mash-fest” Olympic games, Bruce Jenner’s World Class Decathlon is a compelling package. It delivers strategic depth, crisp visuals and a nostalgic wink at eight-bit classics, all wrapped in a single-player career mode that will keep you coming back for “just one more season.” If you’re ready to sweat through ten events and build a champion from the ground up, this is one decathlon simulator you won’t want to miss.

Retro Replay Score

4.1/10