Val d'Isère Skiing and Snowboarding

Did You Know?

• The game features in-game advertising promoting the FILA sportswear store.
• Sarah Nade of GamePro rated the game's graphics and fun factor at 4.5/5.0.
• Entertainment Weekly gave the game a B+.

Gameplay

Val d'Isère Skiing and Snowboarding is a winter sports game presented from a behind-the-view perspective. Players can accelerate, turn, stop, jump, decelerate, and make sharp turns while racing down trails. At the main menu, players choose between snowboard or ski playstyles, and the control scheme can be altered in the options menu. Unlike the original SNES version, in-game weather condition changes are absent. Two players can participate by taking turns. Progress, records, and other changes are saved automatically via the cartridge's internal EEPROM. Cheat codes entered at the main menu unlock additional options. The game offers three modes: Freeride, Training, and Compete. Freeride is an arcade-style mode where the player descends the mountain to reach the finish line. A limited amount of time is given at the start of each course to reach a checkpoint and extend the time limit; obstacles must be avoided to prevent time loss. Reaching the bottom triggers a ski lift to the next trail, and more paths unlock based on the route chosen. Missing a checkpoint keeps the time limit unchanged, which can end the race early. Later paths increase in difficulty with more obstacles, lower time limits, and power-ups such as turbo, shield, and time increasers. Training mode is intended for beginners to practice skills for the competition events: downhill, slalom, and giant. Before any event, the player selects one of four courses on the map screen, each increasing in difficulty. Missing a gate incurs a two-second penalty at the end of the practice.

Development and release

Val d'Isère Skiing and Snowboarding was developed by the same personnel who created Tommy Moe's Winter Extreme: Skiing & Snowboarding on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System at Virtual Studio. He worked on displaying slopes, sprites, and sound effects before Loriciels went bankrupt, leading to his departure; Olivier Richez completed the remaining programming. The game underwent changes prior to release and was present at WCES 1995.