Review Round-Up: Steep is legitimately different, but it’s not without its frustrations

Steep is an odd case. On the one hand, it's representative of that "newness" we so often whine and complain is lacking from the AAA space. On the other, it's an example of why "new" is not the same as "great," and why big AAA publishers are so risk-averse. This is not to say that Steep is a bad game, it's not; it's just not a great game, and it's one that's likely to be forgotten about in a few months time.

I've been playing it here and there in my space time, and it has this tendency to fluctuate between thrilling, banal, and downright frustrating. It's so hard to put my finger on one thing, but it seems like the game leans a little too much on the simulation side of things, rather than the arcade-style gamification we are so often used to from the genre.

That said, here's a glimpse at what others are saying about Steep:

Digital Spy:

The minute-by-minute gameplay is strong as well. Both the skis and snowboard handle beautifully, with a great sense of speed and a convincing feeling that you're moving fast across different grades of snow and ice. Downhill races are exciting while the trick challenges hit the right tension between epic, painful-looking failure and the promise of a big score if you can only pull that perfect wildcat followed by a frontside rodeo off. The wingsuit events are challenging but white-knuckle thrilling, and if riding the paraglider takes some getting used to, there's something graceful and relaxing about it once you do.

Twinfinite:

When you have something like 100+ challenges, there are bound to be some hits and misses. There are some thrilling tracks that I could have played over and over again to perfect my score, and others that are poorly designed, cheap, and frustrating.

PlayStation Lifestyle:

In an era defined by sequels and reboots, it can be extremely difficult to birth an entirely new brand from scratch. In order for a new series to have the chance at establishing itself, it has to bring something new and unique to the table. Steep is attempting to do so by going all-in on a grounded experience.

As it stands now, Steep's average Metascore sits at 71, but there is only a total of 14 reviews on the PS4 while the Xbox One and PC side have not yet accrued enough for an individual Metascore. It's clear that Steep wasn't at the top of many lists, and coming in at the end of the calendar year isn't much help either. From what I've played to this point, I'd recommend trying before you buy.