World Games

World Games is a multi-sport athletic simulation developed by Epyx and released for the Commodore 64 in 1986. It was ported to numerous platforms, including the Amiga, Atari ST, Apple IIgs, Amstrad CPC, Sega Master System, and more. This title represents the fourth entry in Epyx's groundbreaking "Games" series, which began with the revolutionary Summer Games on the Commodore 64, a masterpiece that established the template for Olympic-style sports simulations and demonstrated the potential for creating authentic athletic experiences on home computers.

The original Summer Games had transformed sports gaming by introducing precise joystick controls, realistic event simulations, and compelling presentation that captured the excitement of international competition. The success of this inaugural title spawned Winter Games and California Games, each expanding the series' scope and refining the established formula. World Games continued this evolution by exploring traditional sports and competitions from various cultures around the globe, offering a more diverse and culturally rich collection of events than its predecessors.

The game includes eight distinct sporting events representing traditional competitions from various cultures: Log Rolling from North America, Caber Toss from Scotland, Cliff Diving from Mexico, Sumo Wrestling from Japan, Barrel Jumping from Germany (although barrel jumping is unknown in Germany), Bull Riding from America, and Weightlifting from the Soviet Union. This eclectic mix provides variety in gameplay mechanics, requiring players to master completely different control schemes and techniques for each event.

The control schemes vary dramatically between events, requiring players to learn specific techniques for each competition. The sumo wrestling event employs a distinct control philosophy, which differs significantly from the barrel jumping and weightlifting mechanics. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and challenging, though it also means players must invest time in mastering each event to achieve competitive performance.

The Amiga version of World Games was developed by Westwood. This port features better graphics and audio that elevate the experience beyond what was possible on the original Commodore 64. The character animations are more fluid and detailed, with athletes displaying realistic movement patterns and expressions that add personality to each competitor. However, the graphics are the same as those used on other 16-bit platforms, such as the Atari ST, so it doesn't utilize all the possible colors that would be available on the Amiga.

The same applies to the audio. The Amiga audio chip could have enabled more atmospheric sound design, with appropriate environmental sounds and crowd reactions. Instead, the audio is essentially the same as the C64 version, which includes some nice tunes, such as the bagpipe music of the Caber toss competition. But the sound effects are disappointing.

Compared to other entries in the Epyx Games series, World Games offers the most diverse collection of sporting challenges. While Summer Games and Winter Games focused on traditional Olympic events with relatively similar athletic foundations, World Games explores cultural sporting traditions that require completely different skill sets and approaches. This diversity is both a strength and a potential weakness, as some players may find certain events more appealing than others.

The multiplayer component remains one of the game's strongest features, supporting up to eight players in most events and creating opportunities for genuine competition and camaraderie. The variety of events ensures that different players can find their preferred challenges, while the cultural diversity adds educational value alongside the entertainment factor.

World Games represents a worthy continuation of the Epyx Games tradition, offering a unique collection of cultural sporting experiences that can be extremely fun, especially if played with friends. While it may lack the focused excellence of Summer Games, it provides an entertaining journey through the world's sporting traditions that remains engaging decades after its original release.