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Athens 2004 for PlayStation 2
Athens 2004 for PlayStation 2 is the official game of the 2004 Olympic Games. You choose one of 64 countries and compete in 25 events across eight sports. Athletics includes sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, javelin, shot put and long jump. Swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, skeet shooting and equestrian events are also included. The stadiums are based on Athens venues, including the Olympic Stadium and the Panathenaic Stadium.
Each event uses its own combination of rhythm, timing and direction. In a sprint you rapidly alternate two buttons, while a jump or throw also requires a take-off moment and angle. In the pool, a steady tempo determines how long a swimmer maintains speed. Practice lets you rehearse an event without limits. Single Event goes straight to one contest, while Competition combines several events into a larger tournament with points and medals.
Two players can compete directly with two controllers. Three or four players require a PlayStation 2 Multitap and enough DualShock 2 controllers. Party contains adapted challenges and supports a compatible dance mat in some events; such an accessory is only included when the product explicitly says so. Every contest is stored locally on the disc and requires neither an internet connection nor a sports service that may have closed.
Region and language
Our PlayStation 2 games are PAL editions and come with a Dutch or English box, unless stated otherwise. By default, you receive the version for the European market. We note it in the product details if the region is different or the box is in another language. In almost all cases, the game is playable at least in English, and often in the other five common European languages too.
Athens 2004 supports up to four local players. Three or four participants require a PlayStation 2 Multitap and enough DualShock 2 controllers. A compatible dance mat can be used in selected Party events, but is not required for the main game and is included only when the product explicitly says so.
Manual
Athens 2004 for PlayStation 2 includes the manual unless the product title states otherwise. If the booklet is missing, the title says “No Manual”. This lets you see before ordering whether the game comes with a manual.
The manuals included with our games usually contain at least English and often around six European languages. The exact languages vary by edition, so Dutch is not always included. The booklet explains the controls and the main rules. You can use it to check how to control the game, which actions are available and how its different features work.
The history of Athens 2004
Eurocom developed Athens 2004 with Sony Computer Entertainment and the official licensee of the International Olympic Committee. The PlayStation 2 version appeared in July 2004, shortly before the real Games opened in Athens on 13 August. The project had to bring many disciplines together under one control system while presenting recognisable stadiums, countries, clothing and ceremonial presentation.
Sony announced the game as a broad successor to earlier athletics games, with up to four local participants and 25 events. Motion capture from athletes helped shape the different starts, jumps, throws and gymnastic routines. Commentary and stadium sound were intended to make every contest feel like a separate television broadcast. The controls deliberately remained direct: build speed with buttons, then perform a technique at the right moment.
Eidos released the PC version, but this offer concerns Sony’s PlayStation 2 disc. Later official Olympic games, such as Beijing 2008 and London 2012, use different events, consoles and presentation. Athens 2004 remains tied to the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, the stadiums of Athens and the country list of that period. Old records and medals are stored locally; this version has no current online ranking.
Similar games for PlayStation 2
International Track & Field for PlayStation 2 concentrates on classic athletics events and rapid button alternation. Athens 2004 uses the same immediate tension in sprints and jumps, but expands the programme with swimming, gymnastics, shooting, weightlifting and equestrian sport. Official stadiums and 64 countries also tie Athens clearly to one Olympic edition.
ESPN International Track & Field offers a television style and varied events, but does not use the full Athens 2004 license. Both reward timing and rhythm and work well with several players. Athens has 25 official events and recreated venues; ESPN chooses a more general international competition without the specific programme of the Games in Greece.
Summer Athletics appeared later on PlayStation 2 and also combines summer sports with simple button sequences. It uses fictional events and a more neutral presentation. Athens 2004 has the official countries, venues and disciplines of the 2004 Games. Both offer local contests, but Athens places more emphasis on the historic host city and its ceremony.
Everybody’s Tennis explores one sport in greater depth with rallies, positioning, characters and different courts. Athens 2004 switches to a completely different event after a few minutes, from sprinting to gymnastics or archery. Both support several local players; Everybody’s Tennis offers more depth within one sport, while Athens provides a much broader tournament.
Buzz Junior: Jungle Party uses special Buzz controllers for forty short skill games with monkeys. Athens 2004 mainly uses DualShock 2 controllers and bases its challenges on official sports. Both can bring together four local participants, but Jungle Party chooses fantasy and quick surprises while Athens tracks times, distances, scores and medals.
