We are almost mid-August, which means that most of us can finally enjoy the long-awaited (even more than Death Stranding and Cyberpunk) ferie and is ready to organize for the lunch of Ferragosto with friends and family.
The only thing that really haunts us is this damn hot, especially if you are, like me, in seaside resorts. The solution: barricade yourself indoors with fans or air conditioners and play games winter themed titles. For this, today I want to propose to you 7 video games that will make you forget this infernal heat!
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Returns (Snow Levels)
The first title can only be a classic: I'm talking about Crash Bandicoot 2: The Return of Cortex for PlayStation and, in particular, its levels set in the mountains of N. Sanity Island, now covered with snow for the arrival of winter. With this new climate, many new enemies have arrived such as penguins, seals and porcupines, not exactly characteristic of the locality since the island is located near Australia. However, it is always a video game, right?
Snow Go, Bear It, Snow Biz and Snow Down are just some of the snow-setting levels of this magnificent platformer. Some of them we will even face them riding the cute polar bear "Polar" (what a fantasy in the names, Naugthy Dog!). Of course you can also relive this experience in the recent N. Sane Trilogy collection in HD quality!
Metal Gear Solid (Shadow Moses)
Let's stay on the PlayStation theme first with another title: Metal Gear Solid. Soldier Solid Snake is sent on a mission in the (fictional) archipelago of Shadow Moses, in Alaska to neutralize a terrorist threat led by twin brother Liquid Snake. He intends to activate the latest model of Metal Gear, the Rex, as a deterrent weapon for the purpose of obtaining the remains of Big Boss from the United States.
The external environments of the game map they are covered by the icy snow. A perfect scenario for stealth but also for the very long bossfights. The wind, the sound of footsteps on the snow and the excellent soundtrack transmit, despite the years, an unparalleled identification. Anyone should try this title at least once. Especially in the height of summer, it is a cure-all.
In case the polygonal Shadow Moses of the first chapter is not enough, you can return to visit it in its "high definition" version in a mission of Metal Gear Solid 4 or you can play the remake, in our opinion not up to the standard. original, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes.
The SSX saga
What's better than a nice snowboard descent (or skiing in later titles) in one of the chapters of SSX. In these titles we can choose different snowboarders, each with their own skills, and tackle tracks full of obstacles and trampolines. Between slalom, jumps and crazy (and very often unrealistic) stunts.
Nothing is as satisfying as a beautiful snowy track covered with a great soundtrack. In the various SSX we find, among others, songs by Iron Maiden and Avenged Sevenfold.
In addition to the usual arcade races, we will also be able to face the career mode to unlock new skins, skis and snowboards. Among the various chapters, we advise against playing the first one, which is still too immature. Instead, catch up on SSX Tricky, SSX 3 and SSX On Tour, all excellent games that send realism to that country for high-quality arcade fun, especially fun to play in shared screen with friends.
Steep (Alps and Alaska)
We give space to extreme sports: in Ubisoft's Steep, in addition to the skiing, the snowboard and tobogganing we can tackle wingsuit flights, paragliding, base jumping, rocket wing and speed riding for a total of eight winter-themed activities.
The game, unlike classic titles such as the aforementioned SSX, takes place in open areas in two different locations: the Alps and Alaska. Added to these are South Korea and Japan with the Steep: Road to the Olympics expansion. We can choose to catapult ourselves to any point on the map to start an activity.
The title bases its core about online multiplayer features and sharing video clips. Players are indeed gifted with real GoPro cameras with which to record the best performances.
Fade to silence
Let's completely change context with Fade to Silence, a survival set in a cold post apocalyptic world. The protagonist, Ash, awakens from sleep guided by a mysterious voice, a demon, who seems to be linked in some way with the scourge that changed the world.
This sprawling disease it has corrupted most forms of life turning them into menacing creatures. Our task will be to fight it, but it will not be the only pitfall: the greatest enemy it will be the cold. And this is where the game comes in survival mechanics: we will have to find food, materials and sources of heat to shelter ourselves and the survivors from the freezing cold of the continuous storms. A game that will surely make us forget the incessant heat of these days.
Frostpunk (surviving an ice age)
We abandon the action context, but not survival with this one interessante city builder a tema steampunk named Frostpunk, from the authors of This War of Mine, is set in a parallel timeline in which, in 1883, there was a violent eruption of the Krakatoa volcano. This phenomenon has darkened the sky of the entire globe causing the arrival of an ice age.
The game follows different scenarios in which groups of survivors organize themselves into small communities in constant search of food and materials. In the role of union governor we will have to help them survive very often by resorting to rigid rules or by forcing them to work even for whole days. We will have to manage discontent and guarantee hope amid epidemics, overpopulation and, of course, also deal with the incessant cold. A game that we recommend to all management enthusiasts.
Fahrenheit (snowy New York)
To conclude, we cannot fail to mention the graphic adventure of Quantic Dream (the authors of Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls.
The setting is a New York of 2009 submerged in snow. One of the game's protagonists, Lucas, wakes up in the bathroom of a diner to discover that he has just killed a man.
In his shoes we will have to escape from police inspectors Tyler Miles and Carla Valenti, the other two protagonists.
The game alternates exploratory mechanics with quick time events and confronts us with choices that will lead us up to three different endings. We recommend Fahrenheit despite his age for the excellent atmosphere and history, truly enjoyable. We have explored the events of this game in a special retrogaming that you find clicking here.
Other titles with "fresh" levels
In addition to these seven titles, we cannot fail to mention some that only feature small parts of the game set in the snow. One example is the last generation Naughty Dog titles Uncharted 2 that brings us in the icy mountains of Nepal and The Last of Us whose chapter set during the winter gives us spectacular moments of history and gameplay.
Then there is the setting of Max Payne, which like Fahrenheit is set in a winter New York as well as the first chapter of Mafia 2.
As for the indie panorama we cannot fail to mention Celeste, entirely set in a mountain and the town of Snowdin by Undertale, characterized from a nostalgic Christmas atmosphere.
Obviously these are just some of the many winter-themed locations that the gaming world offers us. We hope that reading this article has managed to distract you a little from the asphyxiating heat these days.
>> Read also: 5 mobile video games to admire the landscape and shed the pounds
