What's the best ice or snow level? | Team Talk

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With hot weather relentlessly overheating PS5s across the land, we decided it's time to cool down a bit, and what better way than thinking about the best ice, winter and otherwise chilly levels to lose ourselves in?

The ideal ice and snow experience should transport you into a wintery wonderland, perhaps there's a snowman, or some snow-covered trees? There's plenty to choose from, so which would you choose?

Let us know in the comments, or chip in on our Discord.

by Team PTC

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​@pass_controller

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Hellfire Peaks (Icy Side) – Banjo Tooie | James Parry

The first snowy experiences which came to mind were the snowy caps of The Grizzlies in Red Dead Redemption 2, the blizzard-swept planet E.D.N. III in Lost Planet and even the vast Frozen Wilds in Horizon Zero Dawn.

One icy locale which sticks in the mind more than all of these though, is Hellfire Peaks (Icy Side) from Banjo Tooie.

The dual level, which also has a lava side, works even more effectively because of the contrast with it's fiery twin, making it all the more fun when you discover the secrets and moments it has in store.

For one, you can meet Sabreman, the first protagonist from the company that would become Rare's very first game, Sabre Wulf, who seems to have been stranded since 1984, and there's bags of personality designed into every nook and cranny throughout.

Weapon design ties into the level too, challenging you to use the right sort of eggs, either ice or fire, to take on various enemies and complete challenges.

The charm and fun of the level sears Hellfire Peaks into your brain, and anyone who hasn't checked it out on Rare Replay should get on it straight away.

Who doesn't want to chill out in the snow with a bear and a bird?​

Sherbet Land – Mario Kart 64 | Liam Andrews

I always enjoy a good snow level, usually because they’re a departure from a game’s regular environ/setting and so have something a little extra special about them. I almost went with Cliffhanger from Modern Warfare 2 because of this. Up until that point, the series had taken place in a desert or woodland setting, so a mission set in an arctic tundra was a nice change of pace.

It was the same in the original Metroid Prime. The first few hours are spent exploring temple ruins and then volcanic underground caverns, so emerging from these comparatively dark settings into the open skies and snow-covered rocks of the Phendrana Drifts was a memorable moment.

But I’ve decided to go with Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64, because, like most Mario games, it encapsulates the magic of snow/winter. It also happens to be a very good track, with a nice mix of enclosed and open areas and cheery music.

I always particularly enjoyed trying to jump the water inlets at the edge of the lake, which was great for shaving off seconds from your time if you could pull it off. The only annoyance were the penguins, which, while cute, could also be right bastards by getting in your way just at the wrong moment.​

​Winter – Bully | Chris Brand

It was a pleasant surprise when winter rolled around and I saw Bullworth Academy covered in snow. I imagine it was close to the feeling of someone seeing snow for the first time, blissfully unaware that the rather pretty white blanket which covers everything means that traffic is a bitch, certain places are inaccessible and some of the steeper streets are now one way unless you own climbing gear. Thankfully, video games rarely focus on that aspect.

In Bully, there's none of that Game of Thrones bullshit, winter simply means snowball fights. Just throwing a single snowball is enough to draw in everyone in the immediate area, similar to how you can start a food fight. These kids need very little encouragement to get up to mischief. It's a minor addition that lends a greater touch of immersion as, just like in our world, it's impossible for a snowball to be thrown unanswered.

Aside from having one more way to cause chaos, the winter season also stands out as it's the most visually distinct and that, small but unexpected, change is just enough to make everything feel new.

An honorary mention goes to GTA V. There's nothing quite like seeing a bunch of folks dressed as Santa Claus, beating the ever-loving Christmas out of each other with baseball bats in a frost-coated car park.​