Val D'isere Skiing and Snowboarding by Virtual Studio

Watch out for trees, snowmobiles and sno-cats as you barrel down windswept mountainsides, black ice, and moguls.

So adjust your bindings or wax your board, and plow!

These graphics are among the Jaguar's best. Every slope looks great, but they all look same, just with a different path.They all show excellent use of color and speed, all rushing against a photorealistic background. Actually, the background is what looks the greatest in this game. It looks totally cool, but don't spend to much time looking at the background...cause' this is fastest racing game I've ever played! Everything moves along at high-speeds so flawlessly. Plus, your on snow, you're not racing a corvette here. The control has been perfectly translated to the physics of racing on snow, everythings a bit more loose now, and it's unlike anything you've ever tried before!

Now, when I mean this game fast, I truly mean, FAST! Unlike car racers, where you're on a flat track, these slopes move up and down. So fast it's like the roller-coaster of a life time! I mean it. When I first got the game I was frustrated because I couldn't keep myself on the track! You'll need quite a bit practice if you're even thinking of competing.

You can even pull off some pretty cool stunts. Besides the normal turning, power turning, braking and all that, you can jump! Nothing that could ever be achieved in a car racer! So if you see pretty steep hill coming up, go onto it and at the peak of the hill jump to do a crazy stunt! If your on ski's you'll do about four 360 spins and if your on a board you'll do some coolio flipping! Oh ya, the difference between skiing and snowboarding is only superficial, there's only a change in graphics (but choose the snowboard, it looks cooler!).

Ah yes, now for the amazing audio effects. The overall sound in Skiing and Snowboarding is excellent. The sound FX is very decent, mostly 'swishes' and 'swooshes' from turning and jumping. Though when you do one of those crazy stunts, while your in the air the announcer will yell, "Yeeaaaahhhh!!!" Although you don't get points or time for this, it's a very cool effect, and worth trying to pull off. Anyways, the sound FX are only secondary to the music. Fast-paced no-nonsense tunes rule as you're skiing about, the songs really get your heart pumping. Then of course, in-between races your treated to more placid tunes, that really mix with the flow.

Well, all in all, Val d'Isere Skiing and Snowboarding is a superior title with stunning graphics, excellent sound, and furious gameplay that is totally captivating. If you like high-flying, fast moving, rip-roaring fun, this carts for you!

Graphics-10

Very smooth, with excellent use of color. Everything here is great. The backgrounds are simply stunning, and there is no-pixelation! Wow, I've had many compliments on this game about the graphics, even people who normally don't consider the Jag will be impressed. The graphics are definitely not something to complain about.

Sound-10

Hey, the sound FX is totally crystal clear, and is very pleasing to the ears. The music however is fast-paced, kamikaze style that will leave you wanting more, and the in-between round music is very soothing. I can't say a bad thing about the sound, it's just simply remarkable.

Control-8 1/2

Whoa! This is crazy! The game moves so fast you don't know what to do! The control would be fine for a slower paced game, but when you just keep smashing into those tree's and tripping over those rocks, you can't help not pulling out just a little hair, though it doesn't distract to badly.

Power-10

No flickering, and it moves at 60 fps! Yes, extremely smooth! Plus, theres no draw-in! What can I say, the Jag handles it all like a charm. 64-Bit power, hear me roar!

Fun Factor-9

Ya, sure it's fun. Once you start getting the hang of it you'll be glued to the screen for hours. Good variety and easy to play. Val is a sheer delight.