I was captivated by Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a simplistic mountain biking game that was released in 2019. obsessed I played those tracks repeatedly until I mastered the art of braking, skidding a tire on a rock, getting stuck in a tire and being flung off, speeding down a straight path, and carefully navigating over ledges. Like a Lycra-clad mountain goat. The serene soundtrack of chirping birds and rustling leaves (occasionally interrupted by the harsh thud of riders colliding with rocks) made the experience very soothing for me. However, what truly drew me in was the Zen-like focus required to descend the mountain, speeding down without crashing 300 times. I honed my skills to perfection, finely tuning my trajectory to make the difference between cutting a second off my run and veering off track, leading to a crumpled heap.

For years, I had eagerly anticipated the release of a snow sports-themed sequel. Instead of sun, rocks, and dirt, there was now glistening snow, and bicycles were replaced with skis. It seemed unbelievable at first, but after a few initial runs on the snowy mountains, I humbly realized I had a lot to learn. I struggled with turns while applying the brakes, found myself sliding backward on hills, constantly bumped into trees, missed jumps, and tumbled across frozen lakes in confusion. The challenges in each course seemed daunting, and my first multiplayer race was a humiliating experience.

However, after a few hours of practice, I found myself gracefully carving through more challenging courses while immersing myself in the soothing sounds of snow. Achieving a seamless run down the mountain, with the wind in my ears, felt exhilarating. But when I missed a turn and ended up in a ditch, the enchantment was quickly shattered, prompting me to return to the checkpoint and start over.

This rhythm of triumph and failure still resonates with me in Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders. The minimalist soundscape, visually stunning representation of natural landscapes, and the sense of achievement from conquering a course remain as captivating as ever. While there are areas that could be improved, such as adding more customization options for the skier, the high difficulty from the start and precise controls pose challenges for new players in progressing through the mountain. Additionally, the introduction of multiplayer racing and team skiing comes with its own set of drawbacks.

Currently, the multiplayer aspect is plagued by technical issues shortly after release. When multiple players appear on screen at once, such as at the start of a race, the game experiences shaking or freezing temporarily. In a game where every millisecond counts, losing control, even momentarily, can make it unbearable to play. I encountered crashes while loading courses, got kicked out of multiplayer games, and saw other players mysteriously lose connection. While these issues may be addressed by developers in the future, for now, they remain a hindrance to the overall experience. The core problem lies in the wide variability of player skill levels.

In an 8-player race, 3 participants may swiftly descend the mountain within 3-4 minutes, while others take considerably longer. Once you cross the finish line, you can either skate aimlessly or watch lower-ranked players struggle in the same section repeatedly. This can be disheartening, especially if you happen to be the unlucky last player.

The team mode requires cooperation to navigate mountains, set checkpoints, and revive fallen players, but the concept seemed lost on the players I encountered. I found myself descending the mountain like a medic while others raced past me, eventually regrouping at base camp with players who seemed content to linger. Thank you all for your company and assistance!