Slalom

Slalom

Overview & History

Released by Rare in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 (following its earlier arcade debut by Williams), *Slalom* is a pioneering downhill skiing game. Long before Rare became famous for 16-bit and 32-bit masterpieces, this early gem established their knack for tight physics and colorful design. The game abandons traditional linear progression in favor of time-trial runs across three distinct mountain ranges: Mt. Eustis, Mt. Nastar, and Mt. Hidaka. Players must navigate treacherous vertical snowscapes while racing against a ticking clock, weaving seamlessly between gate flags, leaping over treacherous moguls, and dodging rogue snowmen and erratic snowboarders.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard racing games of the era, *Slalom* heavily emphasizes scoring through technical precision rather than just crossing the finish line. Each downhill course is laden with checkpoints, snow jumps, and obstacles like pine trees and flying sledders. Players select from three descending difficulty levels—Novice, Expert, and Professional—each scaling the number of gates required to clear and the severity of the obstacles. Crashing into a tree or missing a gate incurs a time penalty, forcing a delicate balance between high-speed carving and cautious maneuvering. Successfully clearing jumps allows the skier to perform mid-air flips for stylistic flair, though mistiming the landing leads to a messy wipeout.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer left/right, pull back to brake, or lean forward to gain speed
• Action Keys: Press the 'A' button to jump and 'B' button to tuck/speed up
• Enter: Start / Pause