Game Reviews

Avalanche Escape!

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iOS
| Avalanche Escape!
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Avalanche Escape!
|
iOS
| Avalanche Escape!

Few mini-games from the early '90s command the same cult status that SkiFree does.

Elegant in its simplicity, the game consists of a chap on skis racing down a mountain before eventually meeting his end at the hands (and teeth) of an abominable snowman.

For all the fun that SkiFree gave to procrastinators, it hasn't aged particularly well, and it has been curiously absent from the world of mobile gaming.

Avalanche Escape! is a game much in the same spirit as SkiFree, in that it features a random bloke racing down a mountain, but swaps out a snowboard for the skis and an avalanche for the abominable snowman.

The end result is a game that captures the same time-killing fun of SkiFree, but updates it with modern graphics and controls on your iOS device of choice.

Boarding school

Avalanche Escape! opens with a nice little tutorial section that walks you through the basic controls of the game: collecting golden snowballs is good and smacking into obstacles is bad.

Each time you strike a obstacle the avalanche will catch up with you slightly. The only way to forestall the inevitable snowy death that lumbers after you is to steer towards ramps, jump from them, and execute a few tricks in the air for good measure.

When you land, you'll speed up and put some much-needed distance between you and the avalanche, giving you a few moments to enjoy the 3D scenery as it races past.

Stiff as a board

Once you've got the basics of obstacle and avalanche avoidance down, you can focus on the main point of the game: collecting golden snowballs. These balls are used to buy additional characters and upgrades in the game's store, and will earn you achievements as you progress through the game.

One odd thing about the upgrade system is that it doesn't allow you to buy new boards. You can purchase new snowboarders (with different stats to suit your playing style) and upgrades like Magnet, Head Start, etc., but the snowboard itself remains rather plain.

Equally odd is that Avalanche Escape! allows you to swap the stats of snowboards at will, which gives you the ability to combine the skill of one snowboard with the aesthetics of another. It's a bit of a Frankenstein approach to take, but it's a nice bit of customisation all the same.

Snowbody's fault but mine

While fun and enjoyable as a distraction, there's nothing inherently new to Avalanche Escape! to distinguish it from similar casual games on the App Store.

Its graphics are crisp, its controls are responsive, but its gameplay is - oddly enough - a bit flat.

If you're looking for a snowboard-themed distraction that doesn't take up much space on your iPhone or iPad, you'll be happy with Avalanche Escape! Just don't go hoping to see the abominable snowman - like SkiFree, he's retired.

Avalanche Escape!

Casual fun, this modern-day mobile retelling of SkiFree never heats up but it won't leave you cold either
Score
Matthew Diener
Matthew Diener
Representing the former colonies, Matt keeps the Pocket Gamer news feed updated when sleepy Europeans are sleeping. As a frustrated journalist, diehard gamer and recovering MMO addict, this is pretty much his dream job.