Winter Heat

"More than just a collectible late US Saturn game release"

I have owned Winter Heat for the Sega Saturn since 1998, but only recently have I started playing it. I remember watching my brothers compete against each other long ago, but I always sat in sidelines because I never have been much of a button masher. Well better late than never because WH is more than just button mashing and I will explain further in my gameplay section. It contains 11 events for gamers to compete against, which is quite amazing considering this is one game engine working the magic. WH has everything a winter olympics game needs except for the license. It really is no big deal because as time passes a game entitled Winter Olympics 98 would appear more antiquated than a game generically named Winter Heat.

Graphics -- 8/10
WH is one of the few Saturn titles, and even rarer non 3 fighter, that takes advantage of the high resolution mode. The game looks beautiful. There is some detail in the characters faces and the the large polygons will require no squinting of the eyes. There is little to no popup and no flickering. Fortunately there is no slowdown either, which would have drastically affected the gameplay. The environments are fantastic. It truly looks like an Olympic setting, whether it is an indoor arena or tube/race track or whatever those things are called that skiers jump off of to perform their tricks. Everything is also covered in snow and if I remember correctly there are also the occasional snowflakes. It is a pretty looking title that deserves more props.

Sound/Music -- 6/10
Music is extremely limited as it only occurs in the menu, selection, and high score screens. I may have missed a few, but there is never any music during the competitions. However, that only adds to the realism as there are great sound effects from the athletes and their equipment. Each athlete also has his victory or loser audio quotes at in the end of each competition. Sega did not cop out by doing the Street Fighter thing of showing a portrait and having text underneath it.

Gameplay -- 7/10
WH originated as a SEGA arcade game by (I think) AM1, the same makers of Decathlete. The game can be played by uo to 4 players and of course high scores and record times are saved. As mentioned earlier, there are 11 events: aerial Skiing, bobsled, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, skeleton, ski jumping, slalom, snowboarding, speed skating (long and short), speed skiing. The gamer is certain to have several favorites and has the choice to play all 11 events in a standard heat, play/practice one event, or create and play in a custom heat. Several of the events only require button mashing of the speed button (button A or C), but then again the gamer cannot just indiscriminately button mash either. Other events also require the use of the action button (button B) and success in those events would require mastery of the timing. Fortunately WH includes short tutorials before each event to brief the gamers. There are eight characters to choose from, each representing his home country. As expected each one has his or her strengths and weaknesses

Last thoughts
There are some load times in this game, mainly before each tutorial and each event. Although they happen frequently, it is a good break between the furious competition of each round. WH commands some interest from the Saturn community because WH is one of the final US Saturn game releases. WH, however, is often neglected as a game, and is instead well known for its late release. This fact leads me to declare WH to be one of the Saturn's unknown gems; it is a definite recommendation.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/05