Grand Mountain Adventure 2: Worth the Ride?

Grand Mountain Adventure 2 builds upon Toppluva's beloved snow sports simulation. Our App Army readers are avid fans of extreme sports—or at least, they enjoy them with a much lower risk of actual injury—so we gave them the game to gather their impressions.

Here is what they shared:

I initially found the game a bit frustrating as it took some time to master the controls. I kept veering off in all directions, colliding with obstacles, and going in circles. However, once I finally got the hang of steering where I intended, I found it to be a solid title. It offers various challenges to complete, with plenty of snowboarding and skiing down the slopes—just watch out for other skiers, who seem to be everywhere. Featuring good graphics and more depth than your average downhill runner, it provides plenty to keep you engaged.

Grand Mountain Adventure 2 is an open-world skiing and snowboarding sequel that continues the outdoor excitement right where it left off. I appreciate how accessible GMA2 is, even for a winter sports novice like myself. I’ve always admired professionals pulling off incredible stunts in cool neon gear, speeding down mountainsides, and with GMA2, I can live out those fantasies. The game establishes a relaxed vibe from the outset, emphasizing that you can progress at your own comfortable pace.

Countless challenges and activities await around every corner, along with new items to unlock. As you explore the wintry world, you’ll notice environments that stand out with impressive details like falling snow and the transition from day to night. I can’t praise the intuitive controls enough. Within minutes, I was landing impressive tricks and could feel the realistic weight of my character moving through the snow. It’s clear to me that the Grand Mountain Adventure series is crafted with genuine passion and deserves a spot in any mobile gamer’s collection.

Grand Mountain Adventure 2 is a ski and snowboarding sim that leans more toward arcade-style fun than serious simulation. Viewed from above, you guide your skier or snowboarder down various mountain courses. Completing challenges earns you passes, which reveal lift locations to take you higher up the mountain. This is a visually appealing game. The touch controls are responsive, allowing you to quickly zip down the slopes and perform jumps effortlessly. The sound design is simple, but the effect of slicing through snow is satisfying. My only critique is that the text can be difficult to read at times, though that might just be my eyesight. Recommended.

I enjoy real-life skiing, though I’ve only done it a handful of times. Let’s address something upfront: you can do a tremendous amount in this game without spending any money. In this open world (or should I say, open mountain?), you can travel up and down the slopes skiing, snowboarding, and even paragliding. You’re free to explore and seek out events and challenges; success rewards you with ski points to unlock more items on the map.

Unlocking all the ski lifts is essential, as they allow you to ascend the mountain further and access more challenges until you reach the summit, where a hot air balloon awaits to transport you to another mountain (this feature becomes available after purchasing the full game). Exploration is key to finding items and unlocking content, so regularly checking your map for glowing points of interest is a must. You can place a marker on the ground and follow the red arrows to reach that destination.

As you progress, you’ll unlock a backpack for carrying additional equipment and a telescope to focus on the surrounding peaks, letting you take in the breathtaking scenery. The game’s graphics are remarkable, and the sound of skis gliding over snow is convincingly authentic, but it’s the gameplay that truly makes you feel present in the snowy environment.

Some challenges function like mini-games, shifting the entire perspective—you might view your character from the side or even from a top-down angle reminiscent of classics I played on my Amiga 500 (remember Ski or Die?). This game is an easy choice to download from app stores, especially since it’s free to try and offers so much content before you decide to buy the full version. Highly recommended.

The graphics are beautiful, but for casual gamers, the controls require more detailed interactive tutorials. For a simulation game like this, attracting a casual audience can be challenging. Perhaps the developer could consider adding a simplified control scheme tailored for casual players. On mobile, your primary market will always be casual gamers.

I dabbled with the first game in the series a while back and thought it was neat but never fully committed. With the sequel, however, I’m ready to invest significantly more time starting now. I love skiing, though I haven’t been in several years. This game perfectly captures the atmosphere of skiing at a Colorado resort! From the ski lifts and fellow skiers to the buildings, it nails the details. Essentially, you play as someone on a ski or snowboard trip at a massive mountain resort.

You have considerable freedom to ski on or slightly off the main trails, though you must watch out for structures, rocks, trees, and other skiers. The sensation of movement is excellent, and there are plenty of items and tricks to master and unlock. The graphics are highly detailed, and sound effects—from the crisp crunch of snow to the thud of an accidental collision—are sharp. The controls work well after a brief learning period. I’m eager to play more than the 30 minutes I managed this busy weekend. The game genuinely feels like a pleasant escape to a ski vacation.

I’m not a huge skiing enthusiast, but this is a very well-made simulation. The controls required some practice, but once mastered, they proved quite effective. Occasionally, going uphill felt like a struggle, and I almost wished I could just take off my skis and walk. However, it served as a good exercise for learning the controls. I enjoyed the ski runs, even though I initially kept running into people, trees, animals, and fences. With practice, I improved. The scenery and graphics are pleasing, with lots of little details to enjoy. I highly recommend trying the demo; chances are, you’ll want the full version.

I never played the original Grand Mountain Adventure. It was always on my list, but I never got around to it. My first impression of GMA2 is its stunning graphics. The attention to detail is remarkable, right down to the tracks you leave in the snow. I’ve played a few hours and am gradually improving. You need to complete objectives to unlock the next area. Figuring out where to go next can be slightly confusing, but the map is very helpful. Little quality-of-life features, like holding the screen to speed up the chairlift, are quite useful.

The controls are straightforward, with additional moves introduced as you advance. You can also collect extra equipment after finding the backpack. So far, the game has been quite challenging, but it motivates me to try “just one more time” to improve. I’m still working on mastering flips and spins. It reminds me a bit of the Alto’s Odyssey games, but set in an open-world environment that adds significant challenge. Overall, I’m thoroughly enjoying the game and plan to keep exploring to unlock new areas. Two thumbs up.

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