Winter Challenge

If you love winter sports, but you aren't exactly thrilled about climbing out of your nice cozy bed to brave the cold, then Accolade's got just the game for you. Winter Challenge simulates eight sports seen in the Winter Olympics, including Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Luge, Bob Sledding, the Giant Slalom, Speed Skating, and the Biathlon.

Ice, Ice, Baby

Few winter sports simulations games take advantage of scaling and rotation technologies as excellently as this game. Although Winter Challenge didn't absolutely blow our socks off, it definitely thawed us out of the video game graphics-deep freeze. Accolade's done an excellent job of combining first-person perspective play with realistically-scaling background graphics. The trees and the snow whizz past you at a natural pace and, yes, things do get bigger as you approach them and smaller as you leave them behind. The music doesn't rate quite as high, however, so feel free to turn a decidedly deaf ear.

The Agony of Defeat

The game begins with a Menu selection screen, which offers two ways to tackle the action. If you're a real hot-shot you can dive head first into Tournament Competition mode where you choose your competition from some of the world's finest athletes. If you're not quite so adventurous, go for the Training Mode to get a feel for your "snow legs" and sharpen your skills.

The controls are fairly straight forward (i.e. Up for forward and Down to slow down). They are, however, highly responsive so it's advisable to train before heading off to competition.

For those of you who have to have your crash and bum scenes, well, you'll be happy to know that the snow and skis really fly when you wipe out. When you want to relive a major wipe-out, or a moment of glory, there's an Instant Replay option which you can activate immediately after you complete (or crash) a round.

Winter Wonderland

As far as sports-style simulation games go, Winter Challenge is a breathe of cool fresh air. It's fun, it's challenging, you can play it with a friend, and you don't have to freeze your buns off doing it!

Just in time for '92 Winter Olympics, Accolade has produced The Games: Winter Challenge. Take part in all of the games the rest of the world will; such as the bobsled, downhill skiing, the loge, and many others! Challenge the computer, or go against another player for more fun! The Games: Winter Challenge will definitely please any Olympic hopeful!

The Winter Games are over but you can relive all the action with The Games: Winter Challenge. Up to nine players can compete for the gold metal. Choose from eight events like the biathlon, downhill skiing, and the Louge. Play in any of these events and if you do not have enough practice, you can train for the event and build up confidence. Go for the gold with Winter Challenge by Ballistic!

Olympic hopefuls rejoice! The Games: Winter Challenge is on its way to your Genesis. Lace on the skis/skates/sleds in seven Winter Olympic events, including the Luge, Ski Jump, Biathlon, Speed Skating, Bobsledding, Cross Country, Downhill, and the Giant Slalom. Improved-from-PC visuals are hot-looking polygon-fill from an intense first-person perspective. Multiple players participate, so this ice is definitely hot.

Let the games begin! This is no sled run in your backyard! It is Winter Challenge, with eight skill testing games including downhill and cross country skiing, the luge, bobsled, speed skating, giant slalom, ski jump and the biathlon. In this nine player game, you will be given the choice of practicing a chosen event, or challenging competitors in the Olympics.

An opening ceremony will start out the series of competitions, and then, you may choose any game in which you wish to take part. These games may seem like a piece of cake, but one wrong turn could spell disaster, and the loss of the events as well. Bundle up for this cool series of winter games and go for the gold!