Taking care of that other half of the market – people who aren't aware of how much 49 Games' former title stunk up the place – is the same combination of identical control systems, awful graphics and a monkey that took up about 30 per cent of the development budget. All fairly amusing having laid no money on the line, for ten minutes at least, but a slap in the face with the slimiest, most rubbery kipper around if you've paid for the privilege. So, Beijing 2008 it is, then.
GameKult: If the first Summer Athletics, if not interesting, at least had tried to lure the barge leaving a few weeks before the start of the Beijing Olympics, the 2009 version arrives surprisingly good two months after the competition that is supposed highlight: the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.
The summer of sporting action continues, with the battle for gold medals and personal bests on once again in Summer Athletics 2009. As always, the difference between success and failure could be a matter of millimetres or milliseconds, but if your running is ragged or your long-jump lethargic, don't worry.
Ironically, the whole farce is sponsored by Duracell – a brand famed for its ability to go on and on. (And on.) Pairing with Summer Athletics 2009 is an ignorant move; there's no way it'll take the average player more than two AAs to see all it has to offer. Don't let the games begin.
