Play Track Meet - Mezase! Barcelona (Japan) Online

I picked up Track Meet: Mezase! Barcelona for the Game Boy back in 1992, a time when portable sports games were mostly simple and straightforward. It was published by Tonkin House, and like a lot of early handheld titles, it didn't try to do too much, just offered a few events to master on the go. The game capitalized on the excitement around the Barcelona Olympics, letting you simulate a few key track and field events right in your hands.

You control an athlete competing in events like the 100 meter dash, hurdles, and long jump. The main goal is to beat your opponents and set record times or distances. For the running events, you mash the A and B buttons as fast as you can to build speed; timing is everything when you approach a hurdle or the takeoff board for the jump. It's surprisingly demanding, and a mistimed button press sends your runner tumbling. The pacing is quick, with short bursts of intense action, but the difficulty can feel punishing if your rhythm is off. It feels raw and physical, like you're really pushing your thumbs to the limit.