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SKIING 1999
Developed by: Sierra Sports (1998)
Genre: Ski simulator
System Requirements: Windows 95/98, P 90+, CD ROM, 75 MB HDD Space, 16 MB RAM, Mouse, 3Dfx Card.

OVERVIEW: When I think of sports which may be desirable as a PC game, skiing doesn't really pop into my mind. On the surface it looks to simple: ski down a steep, snow covered mountain while dodging red and blue gate without causing yourself serious bodily injury. PC ski sim in a nutshell.

Sierra has attempted to reach into this untapped market of PC skiing with Skiing 1999, the follow up to Sierra's previous ski title which wasn't that hot. Now the question is: what makes Skiing 1999 more worthwhile than it's predecessor? Hmmmm...

First off this new version offers free style skiing- where you can gain maximum velocity, jump and do aerial tricks. O.k., that's new. However, there's not really much else. However, there is a nice selection of skiing venues and a nice catalog/selection of top-notch ski gear to choose from. My 8 year old daughter loves the fact that she can continually change her ski wardrobe and color coordinate her boots, skis and helmet. Unfortunately for her (and myself) the learning curve outside of freestyle is pretty high.

Skiing 1999 offer a full menu of ski events: Super G, Downhill, All-Round, Giant Slalom and Slalom. One can compete against various computer ski pros in these events. Yipes! There's that learning curve thing: this is one really difficult game when competing in these events. I haven't noticed much of a difference difficulty level-wise either so that's not helpful. Most of the time I end up missing gates and being disqualifed! The slope is hard to read as well, again not helpful. I wish that at an easier difficulty setting the gates would be spaced further apart- that would have been VERY helpful!

The graphics are decent along with the sounds. It looks and sounds like skiing to me. To offer assistance, World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Picabo Street is there to offer guidance and sarcasm- less of the first and more of the latter. The equipment selection seems to have little or no effect during gameplay as well- so it's more for looks I'm afraid.

For those of you who need a ski sim, here it is. For those who don't really care- there's always hockey sims to fill that winter sport void on your hard drive.

THE SCOUTING REPORT:

THE PROS:

• Only sim of it's kind.
  Decent graphics and sounds.
  Good selection of gear.

THE CONS:

• High learning curve.
  Gear doesn't seem to make a difference in gameplay.
  For ski fanatics only.

Review by Steve Ellis