Slalom (NES) Playthrough
3Playthrough of Nintendo's 1987 downhill skiing game for the NES, Slalom.
Slalom is a downhill skiing game developed by Rare and released for the NES in 1987. It was one of the earliest titles by Rare for the system and stands out as one of the first skiing games to hit home consoles. Designed with a playful tone and arcade-style gameplay, Slalom challenges players to race down snowy mountain slopes while avoiding obstacles, passing through gates, and trying to beat the clock.
The game features a behind-the-skier perspective, with the screen constantly scrolling downhill to simulate the feeling of speed. Players can choose from three mountains of increasing difficulty—Snowy Hill, Steep Peak, and Mount Nasty—each with eight courses. The controls are simple but demand quick reflexes as players steer left and right to avoid trees, snowmen, sledders, and other skiers. Missing gates or colliding with obstacles slows you down, and if you fall too many times or take too long, it's game over.
Slalom is visually colorful and full of charm, with exaggerated, cartoon-like character animations that give it a lighthearted, almost slapstick tone. The skier’s flailing reactions to crashes, combined with the whimsical sprites scattered along the slopes, add a sense of humor to the fast-paced action. The background music is catchy and upbeat, reinforcing the arcade feel and helping to maintain a fun, energetic atmosphere throughout each run.
Despite its simple premise, Slalom can be quite challenging. The later mountains, especially Mount Nasty, demand tight control and memorization of obstacle patterns to succeed. The game rewards quick thinking and mastery of momentum, as weaving between gates and jumping over moguls becomes increasingly frantic. While it doesn’t offer much in the way of long-term depth, Slalom’s charm lies in its immediacy and nostalgic simplicity.
As one of Rare’s first NES efforts, Slalom helped establish the studio’s reputation for making accessible and entertaining games. It may not be as complex or flashy as later racing or sports titles, but it captures the spirit of arcade-style action with a unique twist. For NES fans and retro gaming enthusiasts, it’s a light but memorable entry in the console’s early library.
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