Once you insert the disc you are met with 14 events to choose from, you can play any of these by selecting the Training, Challenge or Olympic modes. Training Mode obviously explains itself, allowing you to get to grips with each event before you take the plunge into the other modes and it is a good start of anyone new to the game, however it’s the other modes which you will mainly be interested in.

 

 

The Olympic Mode is obviously the main event, here you have the option to create a playlist of events or you can simply choose any event of your choice and play through at your leisure. With 14 different events there is at least some variety though it won’t take very long to play though all of them. One of the main plus points is that each event varies in terms of gameplay, so rather that mashing two buttons together like in Olympic Games of old, controls vary asking you to hit a trigger here or a button there to guide you Olympian to victory and ultimately a gold medal.

 

Events in the game range from things like Alpine Skiing, Slalom, Sledding, and Bobsleigh to things like Snowboard Cross, Ski Jumping and Speed Skating. Like I say these events steer away from button mashing, introducing more complex but at the same time easy to use controls which most people should be able to pick up fairly easily.

 

The main problem I have with the Olympic Mode is that it doesn’t really capture the spirit of the games, in other titles you choose your country and build up your medal count, sticking it to the other nations and feel like you have achieved something, however because there is no real structure here and you are free to choose your events this feeling is somewhat lacking.

 

Things at least liven up a bit in the Challenge Mode, here you are given around 30 various tasks which are unlocked on a one by one basis, these range from things like Landing Zone to Beat the Time which if successfully completed will allow you to earn achievements/trophies. All of the challenges included here are great to play through, although some are a bit more bizarre than others (slam the snowman anyone?).

 

The Olympic Modes problem of a lack of achievement is at least eradicated thanks to the ability to play with other players online. Here you can take part in various events, then once back at the lobby you are presented with a tally of medals for those taking part. This really should have been included in the offline mode too because it would have made things a lot more interesting and at least made the game feel like it was based on the Olympics.

 

 

Graphically the game is actually quite a looker, the Olympians are very well detailed and while their movements are quite limited it doesn’t really affect the overall gameplay. The action also seems to stay quite smooth throughout the game, although the environments do suffer from the occasional pop up.

 

Vancouver 2010 is a decent attempt at replicating the real thing, however the main reason it fails is because it seems to lack the competitive edge that other Olympic style games offer. Its only when you try the challenges or venture online that you see that this game has got something to offer. If only the Olympic Mode was as well thought out as the other two modes, because then Sega might have had a contender for a Gold Medal.