Developer: Megagon Industries
Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tested on: PC
Lonely Mountains: Downhill – Review
With the current pandemic going on, it seems like we are picking up new habits that we wouldn’t really have done otherwise. This means that things like hiking, walking and bicycling are turning out to be one of the best ways to get out of the house and this feeling is perfectly captured by Lonely Mountains: Downhill. You are all alone in the beautiful nature, taking in the silence and enjoying the view.
Story
Lonely Mountains: Downhill doesn’t really come with a story. The game is all about a single bicyclist that goes on trials in the many mountains available. You hike to the top and then peddle down to your camp. This repeats for each of the four mountains (or five if you have the DLC). This means that there is absolutely no story flow or any lore to be found in the game. You just camp out on the mountains and go for a ride when you feel like it as there is no one else to disturb you, nor any wildlife to take into account. Of course, the racing aspect does take away a bit of that relaxing aspect, but even so, the game is quite tranquil.
Graphics
The visuals of the game are astonishing; the graphics are smooth in a geometric style that have a mix of modern and classic inspirations. The camera angles are perfect, but still, you will have parts where you must tread carefully for hidden dangers. During your descent, you will notice the differences between altitude and you can almost smell nature while playing. The trees are green, the roads are clearly carved and bridges are nicely constructed. The game is truly a pleasure to the eye.
Sound
To completely immerse yourself in nature, you will only hear the bare minimum of sounds while on your bike. The birds will sing, water will flow, the chain of your bike will click and that’s about it. This means no music, no talking, no-nonsense and just the calming sounds of nature. Because there aren’t too many sounds in the game, it does mean that those that are in the game are all of high quality.
Gameplay
Lonely Mountains: Downhill is classified as a racing game where you must reach your camp in a certain timeframe (for extra rewards), but for the most part we found this game quite relaxing. You can still unlock the next stages, even if you don’t hit the time mark. You however have to keep things within proportion and at least try to stay ‘alive’, rather than tumbling down the mountain. This means you will have to stay within a reset counter, where you have to stay under a specific number of wipeouts.
In the base game, you have four mountains to conquer and there is already a DLC out that gives you an extra map that is quite challenging. Each pass starts with an exploration ride from the top to bottom and this is ideal to prep you for the challenge that lies ahead. After the first ride, you will unlock different races that will reward you with new routes, parts for your bicycle, or costumes.
The choice of the bicycle is essential for your run, as you don’t need to follow the normal path, meaning you can always fly through the grass or jump over rocks. Other bikes are better suited for different uses. So, if you like to fly you will need one with the right suspension. This can get tricky for starters, as the beginner bike has mixed results for handling and jumping. Later on, you will unlock better ones but it will take some time. Each mountain has a few different routes and some end in the same spot and all of them begin in unique locations. To gain progress, you will have to complete challenges such as beating a set time or not crashing a few times.
Playing the game is advised with a controller as it helps for the fine steering you will have to do on certain paths. If you don’t have a controller, then you can still play but it isn’t as comfortable as with a controller. You only need directional input and one button for sprinting. Sprinting will take stamina, and if you deplete it, you will slow yourself down for a while.
Conclusion
Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a really fun riding game where you can immerse yourself in the nature of the hillsides. In the base game, you have four different maps with each different routes to enjoy, and while it might sound like not much, you will be able to spend some time in this game. The experience is pretty calming and with the lovely sounds and graphics, you get deeply immersed in the game. Normal progress can still be made if you don’t want to invest too much time in becoming very skilled. You are able to unlock new bikes and outfits to customize your character, which is a limited but fun addition nonetheless. The latter does require you to come slightly out of the game’s comfort zone and try to focus, rather than zone out.
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