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How to rule the Alps with our Steep tips
Take to the slopes with our pointers on how to get you started in the new action sports sim.
It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a nice wintry sports game to get stuck into, and thanks to Ubisoft’s Steep, the opportunity to take to the white stuff on a snowboard, some skis, a wingsuit, or even with some excellent paragliding is nearly upon us.
Yes, it’s extreme sports time, but with our tips you can spend your time wisely, and hopefully spend more time in the air than crashing on the ground. Whether it’s hurtling down the alps at breakneck speed, or gliding through rings in the sky, we’ve got you covered.
Winter sun is beautiful
© Ubisoft
1. Plan ahead
Steep allows you to restart races pretty quickly (we’re talking almost instantaneous restart here), so it means that you can use your first run on any given event to scope the course out, and work out the best route for you. Perhaps you’re just a speed freak and want to get to the bottom in the quickest time, or maybe you’re a trickster and need the biggest jumps, regardless, plan ahead and know your route.
2. Don’t be afraid to quit mid-event
With that restart, don’t be afraid to accept a run has gone badly, especially when snowboarding or skiing, because those sports can go bad very quickly. If you lose speed or miss a jump, it’s unlikely you’re going to beat your bests, so just burn that run and start again. There’s no point wasting precious seconds on a run when you know you’ve missed your markers.
Get that jump ready
© Ubisoft
3. Know how to jump properly
Like almost every good game featuring snowboarding (or skiing) to date, Steep requires you to preload your jumps to get the best out of them. What this means is that you line up your jump well ahead of time, and hold the jump trigger down. Unlike other games, however, you don’t need to hold down left or right on the analog stick to preload the spin, and doing so will actually make you move while on the ground. Release the jump trigger and immediately start pushing the stick to start the spin. It’s important you release the spin a fair amount of time before landing, or you’ll lose valuable points, or worse: crash.
4. Remain calm and grab
When boarding, it couldn’t be easier to grab: just hold down R1 (PS4) or RB (Xbox One). It’s a simple thing that many forget. When you’re preparing for a jump, remain calm and that way you won’t forget all of the things you need to do when in the air. Whether spinning vertically or horizontally, grab your board to grab all the points.
5. Explore! Use your binoculars and go off the beaten path
Steep takes place in a large open area which rewards you for finding new places to experiment within. Going off the beaten path and whipping out your binoculars is a surefire way to find new events, and even just cool areas to play around in. Don’t be afraid to follow your instincts: you’ll be rewarded by exploring. Paragliding or wingsuit flying from high up outside of events is a good way to see distant places to visit, and a good way to get practice in, because the longer you’re in the air, the more you’ll see.
6. Follow the guidelines, at least the first time
When you’re in the air, the wingsuit is exhilarating to control. Flying down the alps as the sun glistens in the distant background is a beautiful moment, but it’s easy to get distracted. On the advanced wingsuit runs, the margin for error is tiny, so follow the white guideline if only to avoid smashing into the objects you are trying to fly through. They’re present for a reason, and you should use them for the first run so you know the intended route. Get that wingsuit close to the ground, though, for maximum points.
Getting ready to climb that mountain again
© Ubisoft
7. Practice makes perfect
Repeat events: we can’t stress this strongly enough. Steep is less of an arcade game (like SSX) and more of a real world simulation. Playing events you enjoyed and trying to beat your times (and your friends) is a good way to hone your skills, and bragging rights are always nice, too, right? Paragliding tricks are hard to get right, so replaying that easy event and tricking your way through it will help you when you hit the harder events. Likewise, don’t give up on the harder wingsuit courses. They may require precision, but you’re going to need that level of skill to compete on the leaderboards.
8. Fast travel, unless you’re exploring
As we’ve mentioned, Steep veers towards simulation over arcade, and that means at times you’ll be walking slowly through heavy snow. If you end up too far down and want to get back up, sure, you could just walk, but it'll take ages. The game will show you how to fast travel, so make use of it. If you’re miles away from anywhere and nothing new is showing up, just fast travel back to a previously visited drop zone.
Wahey!
© Ubisoft
9. Experiment
While it’s tempting to just stick to snowboarding, make sure you get used to all the extreme sports on offer, and get good at them all. Use the free camera during replays to spy places in the distance, or create a course and upload it just for a laugh. Remember it’s supposed to be fun, and not every medal has to be gold, and that you will even be rewarded for horrendous, outlandish crashes, but also for taking risks and coming out unscathed. Now get out there and find those secrets!
Steep will be released on PS4, PC and Xbox One on December 2. For more gaming coverage, be sure to follow @RedBullGames on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
