ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 might not have the best graphics in the business, but if you're into Olympic-style games, you know you won't be gazing into the on-screen pixels anyway, because you'll be knee deep in gameplay. What is there is adequate though, so you won't be disappointed in the graphical display if you insist on having nice eye candy.

As you stare intensely at the game's power meters and timing lines, you'll be graced with a nice quality of music and sound fx. Menu screens and such have a never-annoying music track, and when actually playing you'll be treated to some basic announcing. After completing your event of choice, the announcer will even try to pump up the crowd for you. And of course you'll be in for some interesting music during the Figure Skating event. Here you'll not only need to be visually aware to do well, but without listening to the beat of the music, you will never reach your full potential. Although there's nothing spectacular with the game's sound, there is a good balance and it won't hurt your ears.

If you've ever played ESPN International Track & Field, then you already have a perfect handle on what this game is like... just add snow. If you haven't, then let me explain. ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 is basically this year's effort to coincide with the Winter Olympics. Included are 10 events, including: Downhill Alpine Skiing, Slalom Alpine Skiing, K=90 Ski Jumping, K=120 Ski Jumping, Freestyle Mogul Skiing, Half-Pipe Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Bobsleigh, Curling, and Figure Skating.

Just like its Summer Games counterpart, Winter Sports 2002 mixes up the action and changes the way we think about Olympic Video Games. Gone are the days of the extreme button mashing. In its place is a variety of controlling methods to cater toward many types of gamers. Although there will be quick button pressing involved, most events are all about placement and timing. For example, busting some killer moves on the Half-Pipe takes perfect timing and button combinations, while Speed Skating uses the more traditional alternating button approach.

Even similar events in Winter Sports 2002 have different methods of controlling them. In one of the Ski Jumping events, you'll need to speed up using the buttons, then time the jump and landing. In the other, the importance of technique is key while you use both analog sticks to balance your skier while he or she is flying through the air. You will have your choice of competing as a male or female athlete in all events, except for the female-only figure skating (why, I don't know).

ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 offers four different game modes, including two-player action and the Championship mode. I'm not sure why Konami decided to limit this year's Games to only two players, but I think it's a mistake as the (up to four/eight-person) multiplayer competition of past games is by far the most fun. Championship mode allows you to go through the entire Olympics (minus the Curling, probably because it is a very long 3-game tournament). I was very disappointed to see that once you choose your athlete, he/she will end up competing in every single event. Apparently these people are superstars and can participate in any event, which never happens in real life.

There are other issues I have with the game too. Having ten events is great, but wouldn't twenty be better? I'm not asking for Ice Hockey or anything like that, but how about some Two-Man Bobsled, Luge, Cross-Country, and Biathlon, to name a few. When you consider that there are four years between Olympic Games, you would think that the video game might not feel as though it was rushed out the door just to be released during the real events. And with the potential for four years of development, and the new DVD format for tons of extra storage space, having only ten events (and skipping some of the major ones) is inexcusable in my opinion. Hopefully developers will get this in their head so that they can revitalize a lost genre of games.

ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 really isn't all that difficult to get into. Controlling your athletes may take some practice, but you will easily develop your own style as you continue to play the game. Computer scores and competition can be tough, but the gold medal is very attainable. You will notice from the start that the different controlling styles will bring out your best in some events, while you may struggle at others. Everyone is different, and that's what makes this type of game, and controlling scheme, the most fun.

As stated above, Winter Sports 2002 uses many different control methods to make you fully interact with your chosen athlete. This is a great way to go about adding variety to an ailing genre of Olympic Games. And even with this variety, the learning curve on the controllers is still fairly small. It will take some practice, but for the most part you should be able to jump right in and perform somewhat decently.

Winter Sports 2002 is definitely one of the better Olympic Games on the market today, but could have been so much more if the time and effort would have been taken to create a masterpiece. If you liked the summer version, then you no doubt will enjoy the similar gameplay in ESPN International Winter Sports 2002. The game is definitely a strong rental, and a possible buy for fans (like me) of the genre.