It's alright. At its core it's clearly meant to be a sort of zen game where you just relax and take in the sights/sounds while riding the bike, and I appreciate that about it. It's definitely my favorite part of the game. That said, my biggest issues come when attempting to complete the various challenges, which are required to unlock mountains, trails, bikes, etc. Once there were actual stakes such as completing trails within a certain amount of time or with a limited number of crashes allowed, there were so many small annoyances that really added up and bothered me while playing, primarily how janky the bike controls sometimes and how easy it is to crash.

Wir brauchen mehr Fahrrad Spiele. Wirklich.

Das Spiel ist trotz etwas sperriger Steuerung schön frisch. Selbst knapp 5 Jahre, nachdem ich es das letzte mal spielte.
Auch wenn man die Nischen-Sportart Downhill jetzt nicht gerade kennt, versteht man das Spielprinzip nach kürzester Zeit.
Zuerst strecke erkunden und dann beim zweiten Durchlauf mit Bestzeit durch Checkpoints. Wie da hin? Egal. Hauptsache durch den Checkpoint. Ohne Minikarte im HUD versteckt. Man kann vorher die Karte sehen und etwas studieren. Das muss reichen. Hauptsache man radelt schnell oder waghalsig durch die Gegend.

Im Grundegenommen Spaß ohne Ende. Die Physik ist leider hier und da ein Arschloch und die verschiedenen Radtypen teils unberechenbar. Von 'normalen' Rad, über Downhill, Offroad oder Rennrad, ist vieles mit bei. Man muss es allerdings erst freispielen. Die Entscheidung, welches man als nächstes bekommt, ist zum Glück in freier Hand. Und dennoch muss ich darauf zurück kommen. Die Physik ist tricky. Teils springt das Rad mal willkürlich hoch durch die Gegend, wenn man an einen groben Stein fährt und verliert dadurch sein Leben oder man eckt mit niederer Geschwindigkeit irgendwo an und fällt vom Rad oder oder oder. Es gibt wirklich viele Frustfaktoren bei denen man teils nicht so recht weiß ob man denn gerade WIRKLICH selbst dran Schuld ist. Da ist dann auch gern der Punkt, bei dem ich das Spiel wieder bei Seite legen möchte. Ich kann das Spiel ohne einem Gedanken des Wettstreites spielen und meinen Spaß haben. Wenn ich dann jedoch immer wieder versage und eine Strecke (je nach Challenge) von Grund auf neu wiederholen muss, macht mich das traurig. Die Laune geht flöten und ich will, wenn überhaupt, erst am nächsten Tag das Spiel noch einmal anschauen.
Dennoch sehne ich mich hin und wieder nach einer Runde Downhill. Vor allem die minimalistische Soundkulisse - es gibt keinen Soundtrack - verheißt etwas entspannendes und geborgenes. Wie an einem schönen Frühlingstag los laufen und durch die Berge streifen. Nett.

A pretty-looking and smooth-riding experience, it lacks the thrills of a first-/third person camera due to its isometric view, but amply makes up for it in other regards. The only reason my grade is so “low” is that I quickly found out that these kinds of storyless repetitive sports games aren't really quite for me (I prefer different kinds of repetitive games, e.g. first-person shooters :p ). It also means I haven't made it far into the game and considering I haven't played it once in months, it felt weird to keep it under my actively playing games. But for what it's worth, I still have it installed so I might return to it for a ride or two now and then. That too is a recommendation of a kind.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a meditative, relaxing, speedrunning game. The sound design in particular is both minimalist and exemplary. Slowly pedaling past babbling brooks and cooing doves, through dusty canyons, or atop foggy mountain peaks, the gorgeously lit low-poly dioramas consistently evoke the peace and grandeur of the natural world. However, if the player chooses to push themselves to maximize speed and precision, this game can be an intense and demanding experience with an incredibly high skill ceiling. What really elevates the experience is the flexibility of the challenges, which allow the player to set their own difficulty to perfectly match their mood. While the physics and collision do occasionally create unexpected obstacles, most of the time the meticulously designed courses present exacting, satisfying challenges. This game is a masterpiece.

What starts out as a nice game about cycling down a series of gorgeous looking mountains turns into a game about chasing the quickest segment times, minimising crashes and getting onto the leaderboards.

Its a really simple premise that is executed very well. The pixel art style is minimalist, non distracting and pretty although there are times when the depth of field is questionable and makes everything blurry. Either Switch related or design choice. Not enough to dock stars, but noticeable on the second mountain in particular.

Gameplay starts off feeling a bit janky, but once you get the hang of it, its tight if not a little unforgiving when you clip a rock. How high you can fall from and survive also sometimes just seems arbitrary.

Its losing half a star because on the Switch the screen occasionally freezes for 1/10th of a second or so which causes stuttering. It doesn’t seem bad until it costs you multiple runs in a row which maybe a try-hard issue but it is frustrating.

Also losing a star for its consistently high price of £20 or so. Its a good game, but 4 years out, thats gotta be coming down. Worth a buy at < £10 or < £15 if you love these types of games at the most.

Almost gained half a star back for the free DLC, but its just an extra track per mountain. A whole new biome/mountain and it would of gained it back.

This knows what it is. No pretense, little gamification other than just whittling down time and crashes. It all ties into understanding the environment and its unique sense of control. I was worried going in about the terrain and the camera, how the two might interact, but it's a beautifully contoured design with the slopes emerging naturally and the obstacles never meaningfully obscuring the camera. It's a reminder that games of movement rely heavily on camera work, and here it's more thoughtfully considered than usual. There's a natural tension living in the off-screen space, but the camera is dynamic in revealing at the right time, pushing in for slower passages, pulling back for steeper ones. There's something deliberate and dance-like about it, and it's central to why I enjoyed the game so much.

And the hills themselves are great. No music. They have their own dramatic pace and identity. Flatter areas interspersed with steeper ones, rocky terrain to be progressed over slowly interspersed with speedy ramp-like cliff faces. Most of these are presented as different options through the same area, and are better conquered by different bikes which have their own identities and handle in their own ways. It's all there to bring you into the actual experience of playing, to engage in a game of constant control, and it makes the optional resting spots feel like a reprieve and discovery.

The minimalism, the instant readability of the terrain and player character is great, but I don't care for the bloomy visuals and tilt-shift focus. It combines into a sometimes bleary and approximate aesthetic, and it keeps the look of the game from feeling as immediate and concrete as the control and mechanics. It's a very present, confident game otherwise. Refreshing in the sea of games that are always trying to be more, to be something they're not, and it deserves all the praise it's received for being more than just a curiosity.

Pretty simple game where you just go down a mountain, but that doesn't stop it from being a great game. Each of the different environments is fun to bike through and has its unique differences that add to the experience. Being able to get into a flow state where you are just gliding through the tracks is a feeling that most games can't compete with. Honestly, I'm not sure how they did it, but the game is just really fun to play and is somehow peaceful and chaotic at the same time. Definitely a game I have fond memories of and something I would play again.

There's something about Lonely Mountains that just tickles my fancy. I'm actually shocked that I've put almost three days into this game, as it seems unreal to me that that is even possible.
I first played it for the chill environments when not caring about speed, this game is so calming. Hearing the rushing water and chirping birds, as well as the lovely block-style scenery, as you slowly make your way along the trail, has a very special feeling to it.
My favorite part about Lonely Mountains is the level design. You would think that the courses would pretty much be linear, but they are so not. There are MANY different paths you can take; some for exploring, some for optimal routes; but taking that process of mastering a track and finding those routes are some of the best parts of the game.
I love how the four courses for each map tie in together with one another, ending at the same rest spot at the end of the hill. I can only imagine the struggle it would take to get all the way up there...
The different Bike types and challenges you overcome on the different levels creates an excellent sense of diversity across the maps, and often has you methodically planning out the best combination for your bike routes.
The speedrunning in this game is great too; typically I'm not a fan of it, but the low-stakes implemented with the checkpoints makes for a great touch, and leaderboards are actually doable to get on!
Each map is unique in its' own way and has its pros and cons. Depending on your mood, there is a map for whatever you're feeling like! I've played two of the free DLC maps as well as the Eldjfall Island DLC (but not 100%'d it), and out of all of them my personal favorite is Misty Peak. I love the jumps and openness of it, as well as the aesthetic. I also like the choice of each DLC seemingly corresponding to a base map. And of course, massive win and props to Megagon for giving out FREE DLC.

In terms of indie chill games, I give Lonely Mountains a Solid 8.5 / 10. This is probably my favorite chill game out there.

This is a very wonderful game that I am astonished has gone a bit under the radar. It just feels so good to play. But not only that, there's also an aspect of puzzle solving and exploration in finding the quickest route through a trail. Performance is buttery smooth and load times are virtually nonexistent. So if I crash I immediately try again. And again... I can't get enough. I get into some kind of zen state trying to perfect a route. On top of all that, there's this wonderful atmosphere in the game with the simple graphics and sounds of nature. It's simultaneously very relaxing but exhilerating.