Alpine Racer 3
A 2002 ski racing game for PlayStation 2.
Alpine Racer 3, a racing game released in 2002, was both developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2. Following the 1996 arcade title Alpine Racer 2, it saw release in Japan and PAL territories. The gameplay centers on alpine skiing and snowboarding, with players earning prize money by winning races in the Extreme Winners Cup to purchase better snowboards or skiboards. Five game modes are available, along with a split-screen multiplayer option. Klonoa, from the Klonoa series, appears as a playable guest character in the arcade version only, while Hitomi Yoshino, a character from the Mr. Driller and Klonoa series, also appears.
Critical reception was mixed. Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine gave it a 3 out of 10, noting it "can be fun" but "lacks the character" of rival ski games, criticizing its "limited tricks, bland courses," and "easily forgettable characters." JeuxVideo.com rated it 6 out of 10, faulting the low number of characters and tracks and stating it did not match the SSX series. German magazine MANiAC scored it 56 out of 100, citing a lack of challenge. The game was not released in North America; IGN reported this was due to its "graphics, outdated mechanics, and lack of maneuvers."
Quick Facts
- Title
- Alpine Racer 3
- Developer
- Namco
- Publisher
- Namco / PAL · Sony Computer Entertainment
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2
- Released
- JP · 28 March 2002 · PAL · 6 December 2002
- Genre
- Racing, Sports
- Series
- Alpine Racer
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Alpine Racer 3 is a racing video game based on the sport of alpine skiing and snowboarding. Winning races earns the player prize money to buy better snowboards or skiboards, in the Extreme Winners Cup. There are a total of five gamemodes as well as a split-screen multiplayer. The character Klonoa from the Klonoa franchise appears as a playable guest character in the arcade version only, and Hitomi Yoshino, a character from the Mr. Driller and Klonoa series, also appears.
Reader's Guide
Alpine Racer 3 holds significance as a late entry in Namco's Alpine Racer series, bridging arcade-style skiing to home consoles. Its release was limited to Japan and PAL regions, with no North American publication due to reported issues with graphics, outdated mechanics, and lack of maneuvers. Critical reception was mixed: Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine rated it three out of 10, noting it 'can be fun' but lacks character compared to rival ski games, with limited tricks, bland courses, and easily forgettable characters. JeuxVideo.com rated it six out of 10, criticizing the low number of characters and tracks and stating it is not as good as the SSX series. German magazine MANiAC gave a score of 56 out of 100, saying it offers far too little challenge. The game's legacy is that of a modest, region-locked title that failed to compete with more polished snowboarding franchises, though its inclusion of Klonoa as a guest character provides a point of interest for fans of that series.
Did You Know?
- Alpine Racer 3 was released only in Japan and PAL regions, not in North America.
- The character Klonoa from the Klonoa franchise appears as a playable guest character only in the arcade version, not in the PlayStation 2 version.
- Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine rated the game three out of 10.
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