Athletic World (1986)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Athletic World: The Precursor to Modern Fitness Games

Released in 1986, Athletic World was a groundbreaking video game that combined exercise and entertainment. Developed by Bandai and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Athletic World used the Family Fun Fitness pad to track the player’s movement. This innovative gameplay mechanic made Athletic World a precursor to modern fitness games like Nintendo Fit and Dance Dance Revolution.

Gameplay

Athletic World is a collection of four Olympic-themed minigames:

  • 100-meter dash: Race against the computer or a friend to see who can cross the finish line first.
  • High jump: Jump over a series of increasingly high bars.
  • Long jump: Run and jump as far as you can.
  • Skeet shooting: Shoot down flying targets.

Each minigame uses the Family Fun Fitness pad to track the player’s movement. For example, in the 100-meter dash, the player must run in place on the pad to move their character forward. In the high jump, the player must jump up and down on the pad to gain height.

Athletic World is a fun and challenging game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Development

Athletic World was developed by Bandai in 1986. The game was originally released in a box that featured the Family Fun Fitness logo. When Nintendo later purchased the rights to the FFF pad, the game was re-released with a different label-featuring the Athletic World name. This has made the original release a collector’s item, and fairly rare.

Athletic World was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay and its ability to make exercise fun.

Legacy

Athletic World is considered to be one of the first fitness video games. The game’s innovative use of the Family Fun Fitness pad paved the way for modern fitness games like Nintendo Fit and Dance Dance Revolution.

Athletic World is still enjoyed by retro gamers today. The game is available on the Nintendo Switch Online service, and it can also be played on emulators.

Conclusion

Athletic World is a groundbreaking video game that combined exercise and entertainment. The game’s innovative gameplay mechanic made it a precursor to modern fitness games like Nintendo Fit and Dance Dance Revolution. Athletic World is a fun and challenging game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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