Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders review: Watch out for that tree

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In 2019, Megagon Industries struck gold with Lonely Mountains: Downhill, where players enjoyed a relaxed ski trip along various mountain paths in a stress-free setting. The game added humor through the unavoidable crashes with hard objects due to built-up momentum. Now, six years later, the studio has brought us a winter-themed adventure called Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, which replaces the bike from the original game with skis. This new version offers a tranquil and enjoyable, albeit slightly flawed, experience that becomes even more delightful when shared with others.

Avalanche

In “Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders,” players find themselves atop towering mountains and are tasked with navigating downhill through various checkpoints to reach the finish line. While each checkpoint must be passed, players have the freedom to choose their own path – whether sticking to suggested routes or attempting daring shortcuts. The journey is fraught with peril, as you’ll encounter rock formations, trees, and sheer drops that can lead to some thrilling wipeouts. Interestingly, these crashes add to the game’s charm, thanks to its realistic ragdoll physics and the dramatic sounds of a skier hitting an object with a resonating thud. Despite frequent falls, the game doesn’t feel frustrating, as players can observe their old ski tracks from previous attempts, which serve as a sort of guide for future runs.

As a gamer, I found Snow Riders took a bit of getting used to due to its unique momentum-based physics compared to its predecessor. Mastering the ski controls while maintaining speed and agility can be tricky; going too fast might lead to crashing into obstacles or tumbling off a cliff edge. Applying brakes for turns makes it tough to regain speed, especially without a steep slope. However, Snow Riders is fun because, as you’ve noticed, failure brings its share of amusement.

Each course in the game is designed with specific goals in mind, frequently tied to a particular time limit and a certain number of collisions. Although a structured progression method exists, players also have the freedom to engage in a more casual Zen Mode. This mode lets players explore every level at their preferred speed. However, Zen Mode’s flexible checkpoint system has some significant issues. It allows players to set their own checkpoints, which sounds good theoretically, but it can lead to problems when these checkpoints are placed incorrectly. I encountered situations where I established a checkpoint at a point where I was unable to move or at a location where there was no further progress possible. Unfortunately, since there was no way to erase checkpoints, this essentially required me to start over from the beginning.

Ski trip

The most significant new aspect of Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders lies in its multiplayer functionality. Users have the option to engage in cooperative play or compete against seven other players in races. Although Snow Riders was designed to provide a solitary skiing adventure for self-discovery and joy, it truly shines when playing against others. The added element of friendly competition significantly enhances the game’s enjoyment. Unfortunately, its online component could use some refinement.

In this online game, eight participants compete in a set of three races. However, due to connectivity issues or players dropping out unexpectedly, the game may take several minutes to find a host, causing delays. Sometimes, my game even gets stuck on an endless loading screen, requiring a restart. During certain sessions, a player might stop playing and leave their character at the starting line. For the race to continue, all players must reach the finish line, but there’s no way to force inactive players out or move on to the next race if someone is absent. This results in everyone waiting, which can lead to frustration for some, causing them to leave the session. To mitigate these issues, introducing bots as opponents could be a solution. Luckily, small groups of friends can create private rooms to avoid public matchmaking hassles.

To sum it up, playing Snow Riders with others is not only the most enjoyable way to play but also the least challenging when it comes to progressing through the game. The leveling system within the game isn’t perfect and many of its top skis are locked behind a progression system that can be difficult to navigate. In single-player mode, your progress depends on completing various objectives for each course, which can create pressure to succeed. On the other hand, multiplayer mode allows you to make progress simply by having successful sessions, reducing the need for perfection and encouraging a more laid-back, enjoyable experience – which is what the concept of the Lonely Mountains is all about.

A warm cup of cocoa

Megagon’s series, particularly Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, has an endearing quality to it. This game might not stand out visually to win any design awards. It intentionally keeps things basic with chunky characters and sparse clothing options. Customization is available, but don’t expect any groundbreaking innovations in this area.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders offers an experience that combines relaxation, competition, and thrilling sensations from the hard-hitting jumps. Interestingly, this game shines brightest when it’s less solitary. Gather your friends and head to the snowy peaks, though do hold off on playing until a few updates have been released.

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2025-01-24 19:27