Summer Games II

The sports simulation to end all sports simulations

Summer Games II is a typical Epyx’s sports game. It’s sort of an extension to the Summer Games (that came out a year previously) and it’s all about the Summer Games that took place in 1984 in L.A. You have a range of 15 countries and if you don’t fancy any of them you can always be the athlete of Epyx (it’s their standard feature to include the Epyx logo as the 16th country). Every player can naturally select a different flag (you’re not all a part of the same Olympic team). The game also features two types of multiplayer (which clash with our Abandonian categorization of multiplayer modes). In some events you compete against another player head to head (like in rowing or cycling), but in others (high jump) you compete in hot seat mode (taking turns).

Ask any 64 gamer what, in their opinion, is the best sports simulation on the market and chances are they will say International Soccer. That opinion is going to change - Summer Games II must now take the gold.

Summer Games II is part of the overall "Games" series of Epyx Commodore titles that also famously included classic hits like Winter Games and California Games. Its name recognition, pedigree and intact nostalgic value will make it a hit here on the Virtual Console for a select group of players who remember enjoying the original release on the C64 back in the '80s -- it even came it at #3 in a recent Retro channel article on the Top 10 Olympics Videogames, on the strength of those warm memories. So if you're a member of that audience, download away.

Summer Games II is part of the overall "Games" series of Epyx Commodore titles that also famously included classic hits like Winter Games and California Games. Its name recognition, pedigree and intact nostalgic value will make it a hit here on the Virtual Console for a select group of players who remember enjoying the original release on the C64 back in the '80s -- it even came it at #3 in a recent Retro channel article on the Top 10 Olympics Videogames, on the strength of those warm memories. So if you're a member of that audience, download away.