HES Games
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Copyright/Publisher: Americana (Budget Release), Release Year: 1986,
Genre: Multi Events, Number Of Players: 1 or 2
Summer is coming and it's time to don your skimpy shorts and go out and get fit by doing
lots of strenuous sporty things. If that's not really your style and you like to spend the
sunny season slumped on your posterior toggling your joystick then you can still compete in
various sport events courtesy of HES Games from Americana. There are six different events
which have to be loaded separately - three of them test your joystick toggling muscles and
the other three require precision timing and reflex skills.
Before an event is loaded you must enter the number of players (up to six) and enter their
names and affiliation (ie Mad Dog Regan USA, Mag the Hag UK etc), and select the strip colour
(red shorts, red top for Derek Hatton etc). After that any of the events may be loaded and it's
possible to view the real world records for that avent by pushing the joystick in certain
directions. Once you've seen what you're up against you can start the event proper.
Another nice feature about HES Games is the replay/classic replay options. After you
complete an event you can watch it again by pressing F1 on the keyboard! Or, if you so desire,
watch a classic replay - an emulation of when the world record took place. This is particularly
useful with weightlifting to study technique. If you manage to get a world record or a good
score then this can be saved out (on the disk version ONLY). Right, here is a breakdown of all
the events...
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100M SPRINT |
This nice simple event is played over a scrolling track with your big character seen in
the centre of the screen. When the starting gun sounds frantically waggle your joystick
left and right. The faster you can waggle the faster your on-screen personna hacks. One or
two players can bash away at this event. Two players is better since it adds that
competitive edge.
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110M HURDLES |
This is viewed in similar style to the 100m sprint and the same sort of joystick toggling
applies, but if you only waggle left and right in this event your man falls rear end over
chest becouse he won't jump a hurdle when he encounters one. So, to remedy the situation
press right on the joystick when he comes up to a hurdle and he jumps it. In between the hurdles
waggle the joystick to get up speed.
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LONG JUMP |
Yet another event which takes place over a scrolling backdrop. Move the joystick left and
right quickly to gain speed on the run up and when the man reaches the board press up on
the joystick to make him jump. If you time it correctly he flies through the air and
lands in the sandpit. Then pull right on the joystick to push him forward otherwise he falls
backwards landing on his bot spoiling the jump length.
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ARCHERY |
This is the first event to deviate from joystick waggling and it tests your timing. This
event is played in 3D - all that is seen of your archer is a hand holding the bow, beyond
that the four targets are arrayed. To put an arrow in the bow keep the fire button
depressed and pull back on the joystick.
Once the arrow is strung you can move the bow anywhere on the screen and using the sight
mounted on the arrow you can fire it at the target. This event automatically caters for the
distance to the target so you don't have to worry about compensating for the arrow dropping
during its flight but you do have watch out for the wind and compensate for its effect.
Current wind speed and direction is shown and is constantly updated.
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WEIGHTLIFTNING |
This has two parts - the Two Hand Snatch and the Clean And Jerk and is another event which
tests your timing. Both feature a big fat weightlifter who stares out of the screen and the
player controls lifting movements by either pushing or pulling on the joystick.
The real key to success is learning to time the weighlifter's movements - if you
mistime a snatch, or don't give him time enough to steady himself he drops the weights. The
two handed snatch is the easier event requiring an up/down/up (with pauses) movement on the
joystick to lift the weights successfully. Clean and jerk is far more difficult and requires
up/down/up/down/up (with pauses) to lift the weight.
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SPRINGBOARD DIVING |
This is viewed from the side. You woman (for it is a she) stands on the extreme left hand
side of the screen and when the joystick is tapped right begins the short run-up to the
end of the board. When she reaches the end of the board push up to make her jump, pull
down to tense her legs and then up again to spring. If this is timed correctly she
whizzes through the air doing somersaults. Just before she hits the water pull down to kick
out. Points are awarded for the gracefulness of the dive multiplied by the dive's difficulty factor.
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Julian Rignall |
I played this last year and remember being very impressed then. In fact, the only thing
wrong with it was that it was about £25! Now you can sample its sporting delights for an
eighth of its original price! The graphics are great, the sound befits each event and the
program is a highly playable and addictive one. All I can say is buy it!
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Gary Penn |
Although HES Games is getting on a bit now, it certainly isn't showing its age. The
presentation is first class, and there are plenty of impressive touches throughout, such
as the replay feature. Three of the six events involve some hefty waggling and prove
a mite monotonous, but the others are great and require some very precise timing.
I especially like the archery and weightlifting. HES Games is basically an extremely classy
sports simulation that shouldn't be overlooked by any self respectinf fan of the genre,
especially at the ridiculously low price.
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P.S. |
Here's an oldie given a new lease of life at a price fraction of its original cost.
Although sport action simulations are old hat, HES Games really is among the best ever.
The animations are realistic, full of nice touches and help make it all very playable.
The game isn't content with being obvious, so you get things like the runner on
the long jump traversing the screen diagonally, getting bigger as he approaches the jump
off point. The archery has a good feel to it, the weight lifting is tricky and the diving
really tests your timing skills. This is a great package at a ludicrous price. Don't miss it!
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