{{Short description|1996 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title = Alpine Surfer |image = Alpine Surfer arcade flyer.jpg |caption = North American arcade flyer |developer = Namco |publisher = Namco |platforms = Arcade |released = {{vgrelease|JP|February 21, 1996<ref>{{cite web |title=Alpine Surfer (Registration Number PA0000809625) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>|WW|July 1996<ref name="ah">{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=alpine-surfer&page=detail&id=3355|title=Alpine Surfer|website=arcade-history.com|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref>}} |genre = Sports |modes = Single-player |arcade system = Namco System Super 22 }}
{{nihongo|'''''Alpine Surfer'''''|アルパインサーファー|''Arupain Sāfā''}} is an arcade snowboarding video game developed and released by Namco in 1996. It runs on Namco System Super 22 hardware, and is based on their ''Alpine Racer'' series of skiing games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://product.bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/alpinesurfer/ |title=アミューズメントマシン｜アルペンサーファー |publisher=Product.bandainamco-am.co.jp |access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref> The game also allows two cabinets to be linked together, supporting cooperative play, much like their ''Final Lap'' and ''Winning Run'' series.
==Gameplay== The player controls a snowboarder by using a snowboard controller mounted to the base of the cabinet, which the player is meant to stand atop of.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6872|title=Alpine Surfer - Videogame by Namco|website=www.arcade-museum.com}}</ref> The game features two game modes, "Free Riding Mode" and "Gate Racing Mode", as well as two difficulties, Novice and Expert. In Free Riding Mode, the player is freely allowed to snowboard down a mountain while performing air tricks, and must make it down to the bottom before the timer reaches zero. In Gate Race Mode, the player must race against CPU-controlled opponents and must make it down to the bottom in first place, and again must make it towards the bottom before the timer reaches zero.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/press/namco/1996/1996_july/news_alpensurfer.html|title=PRESS ROOM/「アルペンサーファー」|website=www.bandainamcoent.co.jp}}</ref> Much like the original ''Alpine Racer'', the player can unlock a hidden character by holding down the Selection button while pressing the Decision button seven times.
==Reception== In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Alpine Surfer'' on their August 15, 1996 issue as being the third most-successful dedicated arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=524|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 August 1996|page=21|lang=ja}}</ref> In Europe, the game was popular in British arcades, drawing casual players who do not normally play video games.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Arcade |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=EMAP |issue=190 (September 1997) |date=13 August 1997 |url=https://solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/258/685}}</ref>
''Next Generation'' gave the game three out of five stars: "If the developers had taken the game further, it would have been great. As it is, ''Alpine Surfer'' – the only snowboarding coin-op in the world – is just a good one".<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=21|publisher=Imagine Media|date=September 1996|pages=162, 164}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/583661-alpine-surfer ''Alpine Surfer''] at GameFAQs * [https://www.giantbomb.com/alpine-surfer/3030-26952/ ''Alpine Surfer''] at Giant Bomb * [https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6872 ''Alpine Surfer''] at Killer List of Videogames * [https://www.mobygames.com/game/alpine-surfer ''Alpine Surfer''] at MobyGames
{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alpine Surfer}} Category:1996 video games Category:Arcade video games Category:Arcade-only video games Category:Namco arcade games Category:Namco games Category:Namco System 22 games Category:Single-player video games Category:Snowboarding video games