International Athletics (iPhone)

Televised athletics might inspire some to finally go for that long threatened run, but for the majority of us it’s just one more thing viewed from the comfort of a well-used sofa that inspires nothing more than an acute episode of laziness guilt.

Games about athletics tend not to make you feel guilty about a lack of exercise, as most involve the sort of frenzied button bashing that leaves even the fittest gamers panting heavily and begging for a Gatorade.

International Athletics fits into this mould, swapping button bashing for screen swiping. It's a welcome change from some of the more abrasive examples in the genre, even if it’s no less grueling.

Events are split into track, throwing, and jumping categories, each with several different sub-events, such as Shot Put, 100m Sprint, Pole Vault, and 11 others. You can play any of these events in Quick Event mode, which essentially serves as a training ground where you can hone your skills at your weakest events in order to rise to the top of the tables in the Decathlon and Tournament modes.

You spend a fair amount of time swiping your finger back and forth across the screen at speed. This is to gather pace, whether you're sprinting for the finish line or towards a sandpit.

In throwing and jumping events, you usually have to get the angle of your jump or throw just right after your run up in order to have a chance of besting the competition. This is handled via a needle gauge that, most often, slides automatically, resting on the angle you choose with a deftly timed tap.

The learning curve is gentle as the game walks you through the various events, and though learning the basics for each of them is fairly straightforward, mastering events takes practice - especially if you intend to compete at Pro level, the highest of three difficulty settings.

In terms of presentation, International Athletics is in peak physical condition. The athletes do occasionally look like they’ve been carved out of turnip, but the animation is top notch and the multiple viewing angles for each attempt at an event are a nice touch. As are the character customisation features, which are fun if not comprehensive.

As games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour have ably demonstrated, decent commentary is possible on the iPhone and it’s notably absent here. Not because it’s a feature we’ve come to expect of athletics games, but because it feels like there's something missing in the pauses between attempts, where all there is to do is look for your score on the leaderboard.

An online leaderboard is another missing feature that would definitely help install a bit of competitive spirit in the game.

Missing features aside, however, International Athletics is competition fit, graceful in the field and destined for medal success. In other words, it’s a real contender.