"Fuel For Gamers!"
Boarder Zone — REVIEW (PC)
Developed by HouseMarque
Published by Infogrames North America, Inc.
In My Humble Opinion
by Ed Hurta
Instead of catching a wave, let’s catch some big air! Boarder Zone puts you in the middle of fast and furious action, with smooth graphics that reinforce its realism. Extreme games (X–Games) are the hallmark of Gen–Xer’s that include snowboarding, which has gained a huge following, although has not yet reached its peak. Snowboarders are considered the surfers of this generation, complete with a language and viewpoint all their own.
You begin the game by choosing your persona from several choices, each offering their own unique abilities. Equipment selection is next, with multiple snowboards to choose, all of which are fine examples of the latest technology. Each board has its own strengths and weaknesses; choose according to the type of run you plan to make. You then decide which weather environment you want: sunny or snowy and the time of day such as late afternoon or night. Then, make several practice runs using each environment to familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
The main menu offers five different modes: Arcade, Championship, One Event Exhibition, Practice and Multiplayer. In multiplayer mode, as many as seven people can join the fun, competing in a real–time race! Championship mode creates a scenario in which you begin your snowboarding career as a novice, moving up the ranks as you win races, eventually becoming master of the slopes! One Event Exhibition consists of the Pipe or Big Air. During your practice rounds, assimilate as many of the various maneuvers as are necessary to perform the tricks in the Pipe or Big Air event. Master the various slick moves in order to become the star of these events. And if trick moves are your specialty, move on to the arcade version, which affords you the fastest action.
The game has exceptional graphical rendering. The backgrounds are breathtaking, making it difficult at times to focus on controlling your board. The tracks vary from easy to difficult, enhanced by the many realistic weather options.
Superb sound effects intensify the experience, as your persona verbally reacts to each move. If your judgment is in error on any move, your alter–ego will respond accordingly, expressing their surprise or displeasure at the resulting tumble! Thankfully, neither of you will be permanently disabled! The game enables you to move in mid–air, making the corrections necessary for a smooth landing.
When you get dialed–in and are boarding in earnest, you may find yourself so immersed in the action that you will cry out loud when you find yourself flying off the ledge of one of the courses! I found my heart pounding after missing a turn and flying off the ledge and into a ravine—at least I don’t have the bodycast to show for that error!
Boarder Zone’s ability to accurately re–create this sport’s exhilarating action offers the player a game that has excellent replay value. Snowboarders can enjoy their sport year–round without leaving the comfort of their home!
Overall PREVIEW Rating: A
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