Skiing is a single-player Atari 2600 game that simulates the experience of skiing downhill or through a slalom course. The player uses the joystick to control the speed and direction of a skier at the top of the screen, while the background graphics scroll upwards to create the illusion of the skier moving downhill. Players must avoid obstacles such as trees and moguls throughout the game.
The game cartridge includes five variations of two main game modes:
- Downhill Mode: In this mode, the player’s objective is to reach the bottom of the ski course as quickly as possible. A timer records the player’s performance, allowing them to compete against their own best times or challenge friends.
- Slalom Mode: In this mode, the player must also reach the end of the ski course as quickly as possible, but with the added challenge of passing through a series of gates, represented by pairs of closely spaced flagpoles. Missing a gate results in a penalty against the player’s time.
Both modes provide multiple levels of difficulty and various course layouts to keep the gameplay engaging and challenging.