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15 games that put you in the Beijing Summer Olympics
If you want to videogame the 2008 Summer Olympics, don't fall for some cheap official game with a Metacritic rating of 60%. Instead, here are 15 games that can help you capture the experience the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Get your Olympics on after the jump.
Event: Weightlifting
Game: Crackdown
Max out your strength skill so you can easily heft cars overhead. Barbells are for sissies!
Event: Sailing
Game: Sid Meier's Pirates!
If there's one way to learn that going upwind is a drag, it's sailing the length of the Caribbean.
Event: Cycling
Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Until someone does a Paper Boy update, the bicycle in San Andreas is all we've got.
Event: Diving
Game: Assassin's Creed
Just because Altair lands in a bale of hay instead of an Olympic sized pool doesn't make his form any less impressive.
Event: Fencing
Game: Soulcalibur IV
Using Amy, of course. Or Raphael in a bind.
Event: Shooting
Games: Your pick
If there's one Olympic event videogames do, it's shooting.
Event: Boxing
Game: Your pick
If there are two Olympic events videogames do, punching is the other one.
Event: Rowing
Game: Call of Duty 3 for the Nintendo Wii
Because there's always time for a Wii gimmick, even if Nazis are shooting at you
Event: Volleyball
Game: Beach Spikers: Virtual Beach Volleyball
(Okay, I'm kidding for most of these other games, but this is seriously an awesome game with an Olympic international vibe. It's actually better than Virtua Tennis! If you see this one in a bargain bin, give it a good home.)
Event: Equestrian riding
Game: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Because your other alternative is to get to level 40 in World of Warcraft.
Event: Wrestling
Game: Any Electronic Arts game
Install your EA game to recreate the sensation of clumsily grappling with a sweaty overbearing guy. Try to register it online for extra immersiveness.
Event: Swimming
Game: BioShock
Okay, it's not technically swimming, but it's the best game you'll ever play about a wet character.
Event: Breakaway republic grab
Game: Europa Universalis III
After a contrived casus belli and a brief bout of mismatched fighting, sue for peace while the conditions are in your favor.
Event: Chinese anthem
Game: Rock Band
Fake sing to someone else's vocal track.
Event: Opening ceremony
Game: Photoshop
Take a picture of the sky, edit out the pollution, and then 'shop in some fireworks!
By Mr. Brand at 7:47 AM ON 08/15/08
Great list, but may I suggest Tomb Raider:Anniversary for swimming? :)
By Ferrous Buller at 11:00 AM ON 08/15/08
Cycling: someone seems to have forgotten about Bully - it even had newspaper delivery!
Equestrian: unless you're limiting this to console games, what about Mount & Blade?
I'm also grateful I'm not the only one who appreciates the majesty of Beach Spikers. Here's sand in yo' face, DoA Xtreme!
By Gunner at 11:11 AM ON 08/15/08
Yeah, equestrian should totally be Mount & Blade, my first thought reading through.
Great list though and very fun. These are my favorite types of posts.
By ColonelT at 1:07 PM ON 08/15/08
I hate to roll like Comic Book Guy (well, in this case MMO Guy), but mounts are now available at Level 30 in World of Warcraft.
C'mon, people, we were all thinking it!
By Tom Chick at 5:35 PM ON 08/15/08
Argh, I cannot believe I missed Bully! Someone on the Fidgit staff shall be fired forthwith!
By Niclas at 7:13 AM ON 08/17/08
Bushido Blade and Track & Field needs som luvin', too. T&F would make for a great retro article.
I hear Pro Cycling Manager is good, too. Or fun at least.
By Intruder at 8:56 AM ON 08/18/08
Min level for mounts is 30 since last patch in WoW. :)
Intruder:
Min level for mounts is 30 since last patch in WoW. :)...More »