All-Star Athletics (DS)

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced new details on its forthcoming New International Track and Field title for Nintendo DS, which will be available on June 12th across Europe.

Designed as a 25th anniversary celebration of the evergreen arcade game, New International Track and Field has been designed to make full use of the touch-screen elements of the DS system, and brings the ultra competitive gameplay of the arcade original bang up to date.

New International Track and Field is made up of 24 events, which are sub-divided into themed categories. These include Throwing events such as Javelin and Hammer, while the instantly recognisable 100m sprint and 110m Hurdles are within the Track area. Also included are a full range of Jumps, Shooting Range, Gym, Pool and Cycling challenges, each of which uses a bespoke input system for optimum control.

As befits a celebration of one of Konami’s oldest and most revered titles, New International Track and Field features a number of well-known characters from the publisher’s back catalogue as unlockable characters. By completing specific targets, players can access Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series and Pyramid Head the iconic villain from the Silent Hill series. Also available are Frogger, Evil Rose (Rumble Roses), Simon Belmont (Castlevania), Sparkster (Rocket Knight Adventures), and Pentarou (Antarctic Adventure). Six specific sub-games, which are tied into the special abilities of those characters, add further variety to the title.

Respected developer SUMO Digital are responsible for the updated game and have been commissioned by Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH’s Product Planning division. While honouring the heritage of the original arcade game, they have imbued New International Track and Field with a wealth of innovative additions. These include use of the Nintendo DS Microphone to boost an athlete’s performance, and the introduction of extensive online features that takes the series online for the first time ever, allowing players from all over the world to compete against each other at anytime and anywhere.

The online nature of New International Track and Field also extends to an in-game ‘Newsfeed’ system wherein the World Records are updated and reported as and when they are broken, along with tournament updates and real time information about your friends status, as well as any taunts or messages they have sent you. As such, the game offers a truly global contest as players from all over the world strive to dominate the Leaderboards, enter tournaments and participate in worldwide challenges on www.newtrackandfield.com.