Among the practically extinct genres, in what is defined as the triple-A gaming landscape, there are winter and summer sports simulations, or rather those experiences that once emerged on an almost seasonal basis and which have practically stopped being produced regularly for several years. Beyond the Winter and Summer Games, even the official simulations of the Olympics have given way to different interpretations and digressions, because it is increasingly less justifiable to present simulations specifically dedicated to individual disciplines for sports that are not as hugely popular as skiing. , for example.
Also for this reason, the Ski Challenge review It could come as a surprise, given that it revisits an obsolete topic such as descent simulation, which has managed to find space in the broad and dynamic mobile landscape.
MiPuMi Games, in collaboration with Greentube, has recovered the tradition of winter sports simulations with this excellent reproduction of skiing and in particular alpine skiing, managing to find a good position on mobile platforms. Particularly successful is, above all, the "tilt" control system, that is, by simply tilting the device, which adapts surprisingly well to the movement of the ski. It is obviously not an original solution, since many racing games adopt it, but in this case it tends to reproduce the movements and dynamics of the ski in a particularly sensitive way, increasing identification and also being very precise in the response to inputs. .
ski king
Il game It is basic: it is simply about competing on different slopes against several opponents, exclusively in the discipline of downhill, that is, descending more or less complex routes in the shortest time possible, trying to correctly cross all the doors arranged along the way. . clue. The limitation to a single sporting discipline necessarily determines a certain repetitiveness of the game in the long term, but the fact that it lends itself well to quick sessions and the challenge offered by the presence of other players to beat manages to keep attention on the game . for a sufficiently long period of time. On the other hand, Ski Challenge is clearly a "seasonal" title, using the winter atmosphere and desire for snow to attract players for a limited time, precisely according to its own nature.
However, there are a good number of tracks to choose from that can vary the action substantially and there is no shortage of opponents: in this sense, it is worth highlighting the presence of the game for one player against artificial intelligence and the multiplayer ranked against real opponents, in passionate asynchronous confrontations in relegation times.
There is also some progression in Ski Challenge, organized through "ski pass"free and paid seasons, which establish various objectives to achieve and rewards to unlock. They mainly refer to the aesthetic changes applicable to the character, so even the microtransactions present do not affect the gameplay too much.
As for 'technical aspect, Ski Challenge is quite simple but also very evocative: the settings and characters are slightly stylized but still manage to convey the idea of snowy slopes well, while various applied and perspective effects do an excellent job of increasing the feeling of speed, making the action quite spectacular.
Conclusions
Tested version Android, iPad 1.2.0.122391 digital delivery app store, Google Play Price Free Holygamerz.com 7.5 Readers (2) 5.0 your voteRecovering the tradition of winter sports simulations, Ski Challenge focuses exclusively on the discipline of alpine skiing, managing to offer a good interpretation of one of the most exciting challenges that can be experienced on the snow. Obviously it is a game limited in terms of variety of experiences, but in its specific scope it does an excellent job reproducing the excitement of downhill, in addition to being able to have a good number of tracks and multiplayer. The gyroscope control system combines especially well with movement on the snow and often leads us to return to the virtual slopes for new descents even in short sessions, although the lack of really sensible progression and the repetitiveness of the gameplay can reduce notably the longevity of the game.
PRO
- The sensation of speed on snowy descents is reproduced well
- The gyro control system adapts perfectly to the flow of the action.
- Challenge enlivened by a good multiplayer community
AGAINST
- Obviously limited in variety of actions, based on a single discipline.
- Personalization-Focused Progression Makes Little Long-Term Sense
