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In 1987 Electronic Arts released a very popular skateboard sim named ‘Skate or Die!’ Because of its great success, a second part was only a question of time. Three years later, in spring 1990, the company presents ‘Ski or Die’ – at first on PC. But instead of programming a ‘real’ sequel with new graphics, new challenges and new tricks, Michael Kosaka – creator of the prequel – and his team relocate the event from the summery city to the snow-capped mountains. Of course you’ve swapped your skateboard for different winter sports equipment like snowboards, skis and even inner tubes...
A few months later the game was finally converted to the C64...
‘Skate or Die!’ won praise from all sides - so, is ‘Ski or Die’ equal to its legendary prequel? Let’s see...
‘Rodney’s Winter Wonderland’...
At the beginning the player finds himself at ‘Rodney’s Ski Shop’ – you know, the guy from the first part. Here you can sign up for competition, catch sight of the current high scores and choose between ‘Practice’ or 'Compete’. Outside ‘Rodney’s Ski Shop’ a kind of map appears: from a bird’s eye view you’ll see the several paths, which lead you to the different events (just like in ‘Skate or Die!’). Also there’s a path labelled ‘Compete all’ – by skiing over it, you’re able to play all five events one after another...
Event 1 – Snowball Blast:
The first event is a snowball fight: the player takes cover in a kind of small fortified tower built of ice blocks. From all-around kids appear – immediately they throw their cold fluffy projectiles towards you. By moving a crosshair over the area and pressing the fire button, you do the same...
Within a time limit, you’ve to take out fifty kids. By pressing space-bar, you’re able to switch between the northern and southern part of the area. Here and there special objects appear: a ‘snowball stash’ for example, increases your ‘ammo’. By hitting a star, you’ve an infinite amount of snowballs – for a few seconds...
Playing that event in ‘Practice’ mode, instead of the time counter a kind of stickman appears. Every time you’ve hit by a snowball, a little bit of the stickman will be covered with snow – until he’d finally turned into a snowman...
This first part of ‘Ski or Die’ is very funny and enjoyable – a kind of pacific ‘Operation Wolf’...
Event 2 – Acro Aerials:
The alter ego of the player stands at the top of a ski-jump. By pressing the fire button, you ski down the ramp. When you’ve finally jump off it, the next screen appears (no scrolling). Here you’ve the chance to perform several tricks like ‘Tuck’, ‘Spread Eagle’, ‘Moebius Flip’, ‘Double Backflip’ or ‘Daffy’. To do so, you’ve to move the joystick in one of the eight directions – with or without pressing the fire button...
When you’ve finally hit the ground, a jury consisting of five judges will rate your performance. After jumping three times, the next event follows...
Event 3 – Snowboard Half-Pipe:
The next event takes place in a snowboard half-pipe. You have two minutes to perform tricks and collect bonus objects, which increases your score. By moving the stick to the left or to the right, you’re able to reach the lips of the tube. Here you can perform different moves like ‘Twist’, ‘Double Front Flip’, ‘Back Bend’ or ‘High Jump’...
Also you’ve to jump over several stones to avoid falling off the snowboard. On the top of the screen, you can see Rodney - depending on your performance, he praises your efforts to the skies or amuses you with funny comments...
Event 4 – Downhill Blitz:
The player finds himself at the top of a mountain and has to ski down to the valley. By pushing the joystick down, you’ll increase the speed, pushing the stick up, you’ll decrease it. By moving it to the left or to the right, the character skis into the respective direction...
At cliffs you must press the fire button – otherwise you’ll fall down. When you jump, hold it down and move the stick in one of four directions to perform tricks like ‘Backscratch’, ‘360 Helicopter’, ‘Daffy’ or ‘Spread-Eagle’...
When you’ve finally reached the valley, the last event takes place...
Event 5 – Innertube Trash:
This event is similar to the previous one – but this time the ‘means of transportation’ is an inner tube! You and your opponent Lester (the bad guy from ‘Skate or Die!’ and ‘Kings of the Beach’) glide down a hill. Every now and then the route splits up into two sections. So you have to decide quickly, where you want to go...
By picking up dinner forks, the player’s able to damage Lester’s tube. But watch out, he can do the same to you! If that happens, you’ve to look out for pumps – with these you can blow up your tube, again...
The first who passes the finish line gets 1.000 extra points! By the way, if you play the game with a second player (up to six players can sign up at ‘Rodney’s Ski Shop’), he takes control of the opponent...
After you’ve finished that last event, the map screen appears and you should ski to ‘Rodney’s’ – here the player can scan the current high scores. If you aren’t happy with your rating, a little more practice would be useful. Also you have the chance to compete in just one event. To do that, your alter ego has to ski to the respective path...
‘Ski or Die’ is a real enjoyable sports game. It’s based on a simple equation: more players = more fun. But even if you play it alone, this program is absolutely entertaining...
But can it keep up with ‘Skate or Die!’? In my opinion it can’t. Why? Because many of the events are very similar to the original game – eventually too similar! The ‘Downhill Blitz’ for example, is the counterpart to ‘Race’, whereas ‘Snowboard Half-Pipe’ is the equivalent to the event ‘Freestyle’...
However, it has that typical flair of the legendary ‘Games’-series by Epyx. Also it contains very remarkable events like the ‘Snowball Blast’. So, if you’re a winter sports fan, ‘Ski or Die’ is the right game for you...
‘Hope you got your sunblock. It’s brutal out there...’
Downloads: Music
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| GRAPHICS - 7/10 |
The graphics are nice, but can’t keep up with those of ‘Skate or Die!’. On the other hand, the animations of the sprites are very neat and the scrolling is smooth, too...
| | SOUND - 7/10 |
Some of the events contain background music, whereas in other events you only can hear sound fx. Both are well done and fit to the several challenges...
| | PLAYABILITY - 8/10 |
The control of the game is very accurate – but to perform tricks, you’ve to move the joystick in the proper direction at the right time. That isn’t so easy, but after some practice, you’re able to make it...
| | OVERALL - 7/10 |
‘Ski or Die’ is a very amusing game. Okay, it doesn’t belong to the all-time classics like its great prequel – nevertheless it’s a worthy sequel...
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| COVER |
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