Much like the Olympic Games themselves, the licensed videogame of the events arrives like clock-work every four years and aside from the standard graphical updates, it's been difficult to differentiate them until now.

Since Konami's 'Track and Field' was originally released in 1983, the template for athletics games has been pretty much set in stone. Based on quick, repeated button presses which, with prolonged play, left some pretty nasty blisters, the formula has remained solid throughout the years.

Sega has bagged the rights to the official game this time around and, for the most part, the game plays out as expected. However, with 38 different events to compete in, there's also a surprising amount of attempted innovation in a genre that was already stale a decade ago.

Aside from the track and field events, which make up the core of the game, there are the likes of shooting, table tennis, judo, weightlifting and kayaking to spice things up. And while many of them fall back on the tried-and-tested button- mashing control scheme, there's just about enough variety here to keep the player's interest.

Where the controls deviate from the norm there are mixed results - when things are good, they're very good. Swimming is a particular favourite, with the player utilising both joypad analogue sticks to mimic the movement of the athlete's arms, while the brilliant archery event is one of the highlights of the game, using a sniper-like game mechanic.

However, there are some stinkers in there too. Judo is a confusing and unplayable mess where the onscreen movement corresponds to your instructions only randomly, and gymnastics is an exercise in frustration that, one suspects, would actually be more difficult to become proficient in than the sport itself.

The variety of events on offer invariably leads to some getting lost in the mix and, after sampling everything the game has to offer, it's on the central track and field events that most players will spend their time - particularly in multi-player.

'Beijing 2008' is a game that simply isn't designed to be played in single player mode: it's sterile, soulless and tedious with just one player and even the prospect of beating old records is a chore. But add a few friends to mix and it's a completely different proposition.

The 100m dash suddenly becomes as fiercely contested as the real thing with calluses and blisters becoming badges of honour. The 1500m is a tactical battle of endurance and the javelin is a compulsive tie-breaker, where reputations and, if you're not careful with your company, cash is at stake. 'Beijing 2008' almost demands to be played by a group, there's simply too much fun and too many laughs to be had with four or five friends around the console with bragging rights at stake.

And that's the crux of the game: it can be as social as anything Nintendo and their new inclusive philosophy has to offer - Wii Sports for the core gamer, if you will. As a single player game it's a non-starter. Yes, there's the eight-player online mode but with lag concerns and the quiet facelessness of playing random people throughout the world, it's a pale copy of the fun that can be had with a room full of friends.