Slopecrashers

I’m lucky enough to have lived through the days of local split-screen multiplayer games, whether that be GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64 or anything like Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing (or, if you had a very specific taste for arcade racing, Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA). Solo developer byteparrot clearly enjoyed those times too and set out to recreate some of that fun with Slopecrashers, an ‘arcade snowboarding combat racer’ that lives up to every word of that sentence.

It’s been a while since split-screen was seen as something of a necessary addition to games. Up to consoles like the GameCube and PlayStation 2, it just felt natural to have it there, even if it worked better for some games rather than others. Racing games were probably the most natural fit, so it’s no surprise that, along with racing sims like Gran Turismo, we also got a lot of very fun arcade racers for those not obsessed with realism. Slopecrashers definitely takes us back to those days of just having pure fun racing each other. First off, that means visuals that are very reminiscent of that GC/PS2 era of gaming, which is fine for those of us with that particular kind of nostalgia but can feel a little outdated to people with no fondness for that time in gaming history. 

Secondly, despite some modern quality of life updates, gameplay can feel a little bit of that era as well. Depending on whether you like your games more complex or if you miss the simplicity of those days, that can influence your experience here. It has to be said, though, that the gameplay fits the genre perfectly. There is speed to the game for sure, but there’s a carefully crafted balance to how fast you are going and whether or not you’re going to lose control. It’s one of those things that can be very hit or miss even with the biggest teams working on a game, but having a solo developer pull this off this well is particularly impressive.

As is the amount of content on offer. I might have focused on the multiplayer element here above all, but Slopecrashers offers so much for both fun with your friends or on your own. First off, there’s all of the different game modes. Games like Mario Kart or SSX have spoilt us in the past with the many ways you can play them, and somehow byteparrot managed to cram in just as many modes—if not more—into their debut game. Whether your cute animal racers will focus more on racing or combat is entirely up to your tastes.

Oh yes, I hadn’t mentioned it before, but you’re not racing as boring old humans; you get to be a penguin or a lemur or another adorable animal. And the best thing about them is: you get to customise them! Winning races will earn you currency, which you can spend on cosmetics to make your character completely unique. And let me tell you, it is ADORABLE. You can make your chosen animal look spectacular while doing all of the stunts. Because yes, you will be doing stunts during these races. In a move pretty similar to the aforementioned SSX or Mario Kart, performing stunts in the air will give you a boost when you land. It’s just one of many features to help you win races, alongside the many weapons you can use to give yourself a boost or hinder your opponents (those dreaded balloons that pick you up off the track will be the death of me), and of course, finding the perfect racing line.

Slopecrashers doesn’t do many new things. One of the few unique highlights might be the having to go through gates at the bottom of the track to be able to start the next lap, which is a cool idea, but that’s about it. We’ve seen most of what this game has to offer, although it has been a little while since we saw a fresh take on it. I do believe Mario Kart is the only popular game to still offer what this game tries to bring to the table, and it’s really cool to have another option out there, one that doesn’t require a Nintendo console to play (although it will be launching on the Switch sometime in the future as well).

It’s just an incredible achievement that byteparrot managed to take everything from arcade combat racers and translate it into an indie game. This is the perfect game to have fun with your friends with, whether it be on your couch, through Steam Remote Play Together, or just online. And even the single player can be a delight if you’re willing to get to grips with the controls. Don’t expect too much of an intense challenge though, because this game will not offer it. If you’re up for some goofy chaos on a board, picking this game up is a no-brainer. Because of the amount of game modes, the replayability is off the charts, and with its speedy gameplay and fittingly bouncy music, you’re in for an excellent time.