CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

69 1942: Joint Strike
xx Alone in the Dark
xx Armored Core for Answer
xx Baja: Edge of Control
84 Battlefield: Bad Company
59 Beijing 2008
87 Bionic Commando Rearmed
xx Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
77 Buzz! Quiz TV
58 Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The
85 Civilization Revolution
xx Coded Arms: Assault
77 Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
72 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
72 Elefunk
60 Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
56 FaceBreaker
63 Fatal Inertia EX
72 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli
xx Fracture
xx Ghostbusters: The Video Game
xx Golden Axe: Beast Rider
87 GRID
70 Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
53 Hail to the Chimp
55 Haze
47 Hellboy: The Science of Evil
55 Incredible Hulk, The
76 Kung Fu Panda
77 Last Guy, The
xx Legendary
xx LEGO Batman
76 LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
85 Madden NFL 09
75 Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
83 Metal Gear Online
94 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
xx Midnight Club: Los Angeles
56 Monster Madness: Grave Danger
xx MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
65 NASCAR 09
xx NBA 09: The Inside
xx NBA 2K9
xx NBA Live 09
81 NCAA Football 09
63 NFL Head Coach 09
xx NHL 09
xx NHL 2K9
42 NovaStrike
72 Overlord: Raising Hell
80 PixelJunk Eden
xx Pure
xx Rapala Fishing Frenzy 2009
76 Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
70 Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy
xx Rocketmen: It Came from Your Uranus
xx SBK-08 Superbike World Championship
xx Silent Hill: Homecoming
82 SingStar
80 SingStar Vol. 2
79 SIREN: Blood Curse
86 Soulcalibur IV
xx Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
84 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
xx TNA iMPACT!
74 Top Spin 3
79 UEFA Euro 2008
xx Vampire Rain: Altered Species
50 WALL-E
xx Warhawk - Operation: Fallen Star
66 Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Beijing 2008 ps3 Game Reviews
Beijing 2008
Critic Score
Metascore: 59 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.1 out of 10
based on 19 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 18 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

The online functionality of all three platforms ensures that for the very first time, fans of the Olympic Games can experience the thrill of competing against other gamers across the globe in the world’s greatest sporting event. Beijing 2008 is a simulation of over 35 events from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and allows gamers to experience the thrill of competing in many of the official venues ranging from the famous Beijing National Stadium (the "Bird Nest") to the National Aquatics Center (the "Water Cube"). In addition, Beijing 2008 incorporates innovative control schemes that allow novice gamers to learn how to play the game, while providing experienced gamers the chance to set new records. Through the addition of online gameplay and a variety of game modes never seen in an official video game of the Olympic Games before, Beijing 2008 truly allows gamers to experience the "Olympic Spirit. [Sega]

PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Eurocom
GENRE(S): Sports
PLAYERS: Multi
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2008

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

77
IGN
It's certainly fun. It takes a fair number of risks, and more of them pay off than fail. Some of the events aren't fun, but most of them are entertaining in at least some manner, and a handful are great fun.
Read Full Review
75
1UP
So, sure--Beijing may not be gold-quality throughout, but it's the best Olympics game we've had since, well...probably ever.
Read Full Review
70
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Although it’s not an essential buy, it can very well capitalize on the fever around the Olympic Games. Especially because it has a good amount of competitions, online modes and worldwide rankings. Just a word of advice…your fingers will probably pay a heavy price. [July 2008]
70
VideoGamer
Beijing 2008 isn't doing anything all that new, but there's just something undeniably addictive about going for high scores and fastest times. If you've got an urge to twiddle an analogue stick faster than any human knew was possible you can do a lot worse.
Read Full Review
70
Gameplayer
A game such as this is much like a big bag of mixed lollies. There’s yummy stuff like Freckles and Sherbies, but there will always be a big, yucky aniseed ball or three lurking in the bag to keep a nasty taste in your mouth.
Read Full Review
70
DarkZero
It’s actually quite good in multiplayer and if you enjoy setting records then the same can be said for the competition side of it.
Read Full Review
70
NZGamer
Even breaking virtual World and Olympic records and having them displayed online for eternal glory is possible. But for others wanting a fun arcade-like game, Beijing 2008 is likely to just end up being too much work.
Read Full Review
60
Level7.nu
Track and field video games usually consist of endless button mashing, and this is no exception. Luckily most of the modes in this game demands some form of precision-based challenges as well as pure button mashing, making the experience at least a teeny bit varied. Unfortunately most of the challenges feel like they are up to chance rather than skill. This is a decent attempt at a track and field experience, nothing more.
Read Full Review
60
G4 TV
And this wouldn't be so bad, except for the draconian daily qualification requirements you face during the Olympic Games mode.
Read Full Review
58
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s as though no effort has gone into the gameplay beyond what merely works, and little thought has been given into making either the main single player or multiplayer modes fun or worth pursuing.
Read Full Review
57
PSM3 Magazine UK
Complex controls put this out of touch. [Aug 2008, p.80]
56
Cheat Code Central
Beijing 2008 doesn't escape from the stereotypical Olympic Games video game mold – it's a series of some good and bad mini-games that, while somewhat fun with others, don’t amount to much entertainment.
Read Full Review
54
Play UK
Destined to reside in a graveyard of Sixaxis controllers and shattered British medal hopes, but fondly remembered during periods of intense hangover.
Read Full Review
50
Worth Playing
The tedious button-mashing might be fun when watching your friends make amusing faces while pounding their way to the finish line, but any extended time would be better invested in watching the actual games themselves. See you in four years, Summer Olympics.
Read Full Review
50
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
The heart of an Olympics game is the multiplayer mode, and this is exactly where Beijing falls short. [Sept 2008, p.76]
50
Gameplanet
It's the official game of the event, but unlike the real thing there's nothing particularly ground-breaking about Beijing 2008. What you see is what you get, and with nearly 40 events it's a lot to cover. Unfortunately they're mostly similar to play and the awful controls ruin what could have been a solid title.
Read Full Review
40
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Shambles. [Aug 2008, p.104]
30
Thunderbolt
Archaic button mashers such as Beijing 2008 just aren’t relevant anymore.
Read Full Review
30
GameSpot
Beijing 2008 proves beyond a doubt that rapidly pushing buttons is not fun.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 6.1 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

J.R W. gave it a5:
Utter crap.

Neil B. gave it a2:
Rubbish if you enjoyed Athens 2004 on the ps2 and were expecting a game that is very similar you would be very wrong. the many problems about this game are the controls which are extremely difficult and take hours to get right most people just want to pick this game up and play it with their mates. avoid.

AmigaGuru Toaks gave it a9:
Seriously, this is the best Olympic game since California games 1 on the Amiga/C64 , yes Track And Field on the PSone was great too and that one is up where beijing is too. People who say this has too hard controls just needs to try the game some more although i do agree that Weightlifting and Kayak is awfully hard but the rest (36 others) are just plain amazing fun!

Craig I. gave it a9:
You either like this kind of game or you don't. I think it's awesome, it's controls are not too foreign for anyone who's used to Track N Field titles. A great buy, with so much multi player and so many events it's awesome value for money!

Simon K. gave it a9:
gr8 fun game, some really good events some not so good. but overall gr8 fun.

Vinny Boy gave it a10:
I love all the olimpic video games! I've played a lot of Barcelona92 in my old mega drive.. Great times.

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: Fantasy Football | Miley Cyrus | MLB | iPhone 3G | GPS | Recipes | Shwayze | NFL

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise

© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use