Windows

Alpine Ski Racing 2007 - Bode Miller vs. Hermann Maier

Still, despite this and a couple of minor audio-related irritations, Alpine Ski Racing 2007 stands as an excellent example of how to make a really tight skiing game that won’t just appeal to fans of the sport, but should provide a solid amount of fun for anyone who’s into their racing games as well. Well worth a look, I reckon.

Een geslaagde Skigame met uitstekende graphics, waar je de nodige kicks uit kan halen. Après-ski helaas niet inbegrepen.

Désireux de se rapprocher d'un Ski Racing 2006 Featuring Hermann Maier tout en offrant aux passionnés quelque chose de plus complet, Alpine Ski Racing 2007 négocie un beau virage même si on peut plus reprocher une orientation légèrement trop arcade. Pourtant, ceci implique de bonnes sensations de vitesse et une jouabilité agréable. De plus, si l'aspect gestion est assez limité, les amateurs pourront trouver de quoi faire en réglant ou en fartant très minutieusement leurs skis afin d'obtenir l'objet de leurs rêves.

But that does not a bad game make, and, indeed, I’ve had a lot of fun with Alpine Ski Racing 2007. It’s a refreshing new look at a genre that could certainly do with something a little different in between the throngs of me-too SSX’s like Freak Out: Extreme Freeride, Alpine manages to make it cool to throw out the snowboard, strap on some skis and race fast enough to avoid frostbite. Wins always mean more when they mean something, and what can mean more then the gradual building of a stat-heavy skiing God bearing your name?

Alpine Ski Racing 2007 is a confused game. It’s too silly and basic in places to be classified as a simulation and too “by-the-numbers” and too real with its physics to be a fun arcade game. The result is a rather mediocre racing game that gets samey just as quickly as the terrible music and commentators get on your nerves. Best to stick to the more arcadey snow games out there - strangely they’ll last longer…

The racing itself is also kept simple - you accelerate, steer, and there's a key to carve into the snow for sharper turns. Getting the correct line and mastering the latter skill is the key to fast times, and pelting downhill is initially quite enjoyable, the graphics conveying a good sense of speed. After a while, however, the races rather blur into one, as only the slalom is significantly different from the others (with its unrelenting tight turns). Nevertheless, there's some longevity here with three career difficulty levels to tackle, and Alpine Ski Racing is a decent enough winter sports fix.