Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game

The reviews for The Story of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game highlight several positive aspects, particularly its focus on progression and event-based gameplay. Gaming Age acknowledges the game’s emphasis on qualifiers, semi-finals, and finals as a form of progression, appealing to players seeking medal achievements. Push Square praises the ability to create a star athlete and build a team, with narrative elements like earning points and contributing to national medal counts adding depth to the experience. The Mako Reactor notes the inclusion of modes like Olympic Event mode and medleys, which provide variety and structure for competitive play. Additionally, IGN Portugal’s unconventional fictional narrative—featuring historical figures like Luís de Camões alongside cartoonish characters such as Sonic—offers a quirky, creative angle that stands out in an otherwise straightforward sports title. These elements suggest the game prioritizes player-driven goals and interactive challenges over traditional storytelling. However, the lack of a cohesive narrative or story mode is a recurring criticism among reviewers. TheGamer explicitly states there is no story or adventure mode, calling it a notable omission for an Olympic title, while SpazioGames and Impulsegamer point out the minimalistic instructions and absence of play-by-play commentary, which leaves players feeling disconnected. Digitally Downloaded and The Mako Reactor both emphasize that the game’s focus on event-based gameplay lacks narrative depth, prioritizing mechanics over storytelling. Similarly, Pure Xbox notes the absence of a campaign, with the experience reduced to completing three rounds of a sport to win gold. These critiques underscore a disconnect between the game’s ambition as an Olympic title and its execution, which fails to deliver the emotional or thematic engagement expected from such a subject. Overall, critics agree that The Story of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a mechanically sound but narratively sparse experience. While some praise its progression systems, team-building mechanics, and unique creative choices (like IGN Portugal’s fictional storyline), the consensus leans toward disappointment over the lack of a traditional story mode. Gaming Age and Push Square highlight the game’s strengths in structured competition and player agency, yet the majority of reviewers—such as TheGamer, SpazioGames, and Digitally Downloaded—see this as a missed opportunity to leverage the Olympics’ cultural and historical significance. The game ultimately succeeds as a sports simulation for dedicated players but falls short in delivering the narrative richness expected from an official Olympic title.

The gameplay of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is widely praised for its variety, accessibility, and emphasis on multiplayer engagement. Critics highlight the inclusion of 18 sports disciplines with distinct mechanics, such as button-mashing in sprints, timing-based challenges in swimming, and strategic depth in events like tennis or judo (IGN Italia, Push Square). The game’s arcade-style approach is lauded for its simplicity, making it easy to pick up and play, particularly for casual audiences (GamingBolt, Digitally Downloaded). Multiplayer modes—both local and online—are frequently cited as a standout feature, with tutorials and practice systems helping players master complex mechanics (GameSpew, Nintenderos). The ability to customize avatars and compete in tournaments adds replayability, while events like the 4x100m Relay and judo are noted for their engaging, fast-paced challenges (Hey Poor Player, PlayStation Universe). However, several critics point to significant flaws in consistency and depth. Many games suffer from uneven mechanics, with some sports feeling overly simplistic or repetitive, such as basketball or football, which are criticized for poor physics and lack of strategic layers (Noisy Pixel, Universo Nintendo). The control schemes are often inconsistent, with some events relying on button-mashing while others demand precise analog stick input, leading to frustration (Digital Chumps, Destructoid). Additionally, the difficulty curve is described as steep, particularly in final rounds or ranked matches, where AI behavior and responsiveness can feel unbalanced (Gaming Age, COGconnected). Online connectivity issues and repetitive progression systems further detract from the experience, with some reviewers noting that certain sports lack the depth of dedicated titles (Hey Poor Player, Cultured Vultures). Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among critics is that Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 succeeds as an accessible, family-friendly arcade experience rather than a deep simulation. While it excels in variety and multiplayer fun—particularly on Nintendo Switch platforms (Nintenderos, Screen Rant)—its reliance on simplified mechanics and uneven execution across sports creates a mixed reception. The game’s strengths lie in its ability to deliver quick, enjoyable challenges for casual players, but its lack of depth and occasional technical issues prevent it from being a standout title. As IGN Italia noted, the game is “fun and accessible” but falls short in single-player and multiplayer modes, reflecting a broader agreement that it prioritizes breadth over refinement (IGN Italia, SpazioGames).

The graphics and visual design of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game are predominantly praised for their vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic and playful charm. Critics like Everyeye.it highlight the "colorful, cartoonish visuals" and "festive atmosphere," while Gaming Age commends the detailed character customization and real-world Japanese venue models, noting that motion blur and depth of field effects enhance replayability. The game’s stylized approach is seen as a strength, with IGN Italia describing it as "colorful but not groundbreaking" and PlayStation Universe praising its "flamboyant character models" and age-friendly presentation. TheGamer and Video Chums emphasize the lighthearted tone, citing quirky outfits like bunny rabbit maids and diverse athlete designs as key highlights. The art style’s accessibility and focus on fun over realism are frequently celebrated, with GamingBolt noting its "mid-budget" appeal and Nintendo Insider applauding the creative customization options that add personality to the gameplay. However, several critics point to technical limitations and missed opportunities in the visual design. Noisy Pixel criticizes the "underwhelming graphics engine" with basic texture mapping and "lumpy character models," while The Mako Reactor notes jagged edges and reduced image quality in splitscreen modes. Gaming Age mentions animation that "crosses into the uncanny valley," and Hey Poor Player highlights long load times and a lack of authentic Olympic atmosphere despite historical event details. Additionally, some reviewers, like COGconnected and Cultured Vultures, observe that the semi-cartoon aesthetic, while fitting for a party game, feels inconsistent with the "realistic" branding implied by the title. While the visual style is generally praised, these critiques suggest that the game’s graphical fidelity and technical polish fall short of high-end expectations. Overall, the consensus among critics leans positive, with most acknowledging the game’s cohesive, whimsical art style as a defining strength. The cartoonish visuals are seen as well-suited to the game’s lighthearted, accessible nature, with Gaming Age and IGN Italia noting that the presentation is "surprisingly good for a $40 title" despite its mid-budget constraints. While technical flaws and occasional inconsistencies in animation or detail are mentioned, these issues do not overshadow the game’s charm or appeal. Critics like Nintenderos and Pure Xbox praise the creative character customization and stylized environments, reinforcing that the visual design aligns with the game’s goal of being a fun, family-friendly experience rather than a hyper-realistic sports simulation. The mixed reception reflects a balance between appreciation for the art style’s creativity and acknowledgment of its technical limitations.

The sound design and music of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game receive mixed praise, with several reviewers highlighting its energetic and functional qualities. Everyeye.it notes that the soundtrack effectively captures the game’s lively atmosphere through crowd noise and pleasant background music, while Push Square emphasizes how ostentatious announcers enhance the sports-themed energy. Impulsegamer praises the “satisfying and lively” sound effects and describes the music as “fun and Sega-style,” suggesting a nostalgic or vibrant tone. Similarly, Nintenderos acknowledges that the soundtrack is “appropriate” and complements the action well, while The Mako Reactor mentions a “catchy opening track” and serviceable commentary. These positives collectively suggest that the audio elements succeed in creating an engaging, if unoriginal, atmosphere aligned with the Olympic spirit. However, several critics point to notable shortcomings in originality and depth. Everyeye.it criticizes the lack of significant use of the DualSense’s audio features, a missed opportunity for innovation. Universo Nintendo lambasts the soundtrack as “limited,” with only 4–5 tracks that loop excessively, while COGconnected calls the music “unremarkable” and lacking the gravitas of real Olympic announcers. Impulsegamer also notes the absence of commentary and narration, which they argue makes the experience feel incomplete. The Mako Reactor and Hey Poor Player offer vague critiques, but their remarks underscore a general lack of standout musical or audio design elements. These criticisms highlight a disconnect between the game’s ambition and its execution in terms of auditory innovation. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 delivers a functional and energetic audio experience, but one that fails to leave a lasting impression. While positives like crowd noise, lively sound effects, and occasional catchy tracks are acknowledged—particularly by reviewers like Push Square and Impulsegamer—the lack of originality, repetitive music, and underutilized hardware features (as noted by Everyeye.it and Universo Nintendo) temper the overall praise. The game’s audio design is seen as adequate for its purpose but not exceptional, reflecting a balance between accessibility and missed potential. Critics agree that while it meets basic expectations, it falls short of delivering a memorable or innovative sonic identity.

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The technical performance of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game varies across platforms, with several critics highlighting positive aspects. On PS4, SpazioGames praised its smooth operation across PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, noting the engine handles cartoonish visuals effectively. IGN Italia acknowledged the game’s ambition despite technical flaws, while Push Square commended its polished nature despite aged presentation. For Nintendo Switch, Impulsegamer highlighted stable online servers and smooth performance at expected resolutions, and Nintenderos noted no visible graphical or performance issues. On Xbox One, Generación Xbox praised the game’s smooth run on Xbox Series X via backward compatibility, with stable frame rates and minimal loading times. These platforms generally received praise for stability and visual handling, though some critics pointed to minor hiccups. However, technical shortcomings were widely reported across all platforms. On PS4, IGN Italia criticized clunky menus, frequent load times, and subpar netcode, while Hey Poor Player noted online multiplayer struggles with match-finding and long load times. IGN Portugal and Pure Xbox mentioned occasional unresponsive controls, particularly in games like basketball, and Video Chums highlighted inconsistent AI behavior. For Nintendo Switch, Universo Nintendo criticized online instability, abrupt disconnections, and lack of four-player local support, while The Mako Reactor pointed to jagged edges and splitscreen quality issues. On Xbox One, SomosXbox described repetitive loading times as "reiterados," and Pure Xbox noted unresponsive controls in specific events. These issues collectively undermined the experience, particularly for online play and menu navigation. The overall consensus among critics is that while Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 runs smoothly on most platforms with minimal crashes or bugs, it suffers from persistent technical flaws that detract from its appeal. SpazioGames’ assertion of a stable engine across multiple systems contrasts with IGN Italia’s and Universo Nintendo’s critiques of clunky interfaces and online instability. Despite these issues, the game’s core mechanics and visual design were generally well-received, though the lack of a native next-gen version for Xbox One and the absence of features like music volume adjustment (noted by IGN Italia) highlight missed opportunities. While some platforms, like Switch, saw praise for stability, others faced significant hurdles in online functionality and user experience, reflecting a mixed but largely underwhelming technical performance across the board.

The replay value of Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is largely praised for its multiplayer-centric design, variety of sports, and customization options. Critics like Gaming Age highlight the game’s multiple modes—quick matches, rankings, and custom medleys—that encourage repeated play through skill refinement and medal competition. PlayStation Universe and Push Square emphasize the appeal of local multiplayer and online leaderboards, while XGN notes that offline training, official events, and customizable outfits contribute to moderate replayability. The game’s accessibility and family-friendly nature also resonate with reviewers like Everyeye.it, who appreciate its potential for short sessions with friends. Additionally, features such as costume unlocking (mentioned by GameSpew) and medley creation (cited by TheXboxHub) add layers of engagement, particularly in multiplayer settings. However, the game’s replayability is frequently undermined by repetitive mechanics, shallow single-player content, and a lack of depth. IGN Italia and IGN Portugal criticize the single-player mode for being “shallow and repetitive,” while GamingBolt argues that the superficial gameplay mechanics and limited sports roster reduce long-term appeal. Noisy Pixel (on PC) and SpazioGames (on PS4) both highlight simplistic mini-games and a lack of meaningful progression systems, with the latter noting that “single-player modes lack depth.” TheGamer and Worth Playing also point to repetitive events and uneven difficulty curves, suggesting that most players will complete all content quickly. Even online features face criticism: IGN Italia describes multiplayer progression as “unclear and uninviting,” while Nintendo Insider notes technical issues and restricted sports that dampen sustained interest. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 offers moderate replayability but falls short of being a deeply engaging or long-term experience. While multiplayer modes, customization, and variety in events (as noted by Gaming Age, PlayStation Universe, and Nintenderos) provide enough incentive for casual players to return, the game’s repetitive single-player structure, lack of depth, and uneven event quality (cited by GamingBolt, Noisy Pixel, and Universo Nintendo) limit its longevity. Many reviewers frame it as a casual, party-friendly title rather than a competitive or immersive simulation, with Cultured Vultures and Destructoid noting that its appeal is more short-lived. Despite some positive aspects, the game’s reliance on repetition and superficial mechanics creates a mixed reception, leaving players divided between those who enjoy its lighthearted multiplayer and those who find it lacking in substance.