Ice Realm

The Ice Realm is the fourth realm seen in Speed of Silence. It is seen as a group of 'minisodes' that are in both Speed of Silence AND Breaking Point.

### Potential Hazards

#### **Icy Roads**

The track in the Ice Realm has a thin layer of snow and ice on it which makes it difficult for a car to get a good grip on it. Adding in the tight, winding turns and the snow banks makes can make this a hard realm to master. Take your time and avoid high RPMs. This can make your car's back end slide out when you least want it to. A helpful tip is to alternate between pumping the brakes and the gas. It can keep your car at the same relative speed as well as help you maintain control!

### The Track

#### **Starting Section**

Similar to when you first see the Ice Realm, you enter on top of a huge chunk of ice. To prevent you from flying off, a large snowbank was added to slow you down. At this point, the realm has two different paths which meet up later.

#### **Karma's Route**

You take Karma's route if you wish to follow the actual track. Line yourself up with it as you drive across the ice. When you land onto the track, it will curve downwards and level out to a straight section. Make sure to keep your car stable and watch your speed. Some snow banks will be here and there along the track. The track will first turn right and then bank left heavily followed by another heavy bank to the right. It is easy to spin out on these turns. After that is one more turn to the left as the area opens up. The track curves downwards again towards a loop. Be VERY mindful of your speed here. You have a small margin of error. Too slow and you wont make it. Too fast and you'll have too much speed for the banked 270o turn coming up. After said turn, you'll be face with a bunch of straight sections that slowly get smaller with very sharp U-turns between each of them. Slow speeds are highly recommended. Something that may help is to be in a low gear and rev high before each U-turn so that your rear end slides out from behind you. If you time it right, you can take the U-turn with relative ease. When the U-turns are finished the track turns 90o to the right and gradually increases in slope. Accelerate here with some caution. A small jump happens right when you level off which leads immediately to a right turn. After a left turn, the two routes finally join together.

#### **Taro's Route**

To take Taro's route, instead of following the track in the ice, drive off the right side of the ice. You'll fall into a small valley. Follow it and you'll see a jump at the end. Nitrox2 is recommended but it will be difficult to maintain your speed on the bumpy terrain. If you take the jump successfully, you'll and in a cave that's completely covered in ice. So long as you don't get turned around, this is a good place to have some fun with drifting and sliding your car. Once you exit the cave, you'll land on a large sheet of ice surrounded by huge mountains of snow. Drive across the ice through the path the snow carves out for you. It's very slippery here so don't rev high. Near the end of Taro's route, you can see snow gradually building up with the track at the end. Drive up the snow bank and jump back onto the track. Mind your speed though because it's closer than it seems!

#### **Ending Section**

Once the routes converge, the track will curve up slightly and then level off. There is a snow bank on the left side. The track will then curve right and left multiple times as it winds through the huge mountains. Keep your turns wide so you can aim your car at the next turn better. After the final turn, the portal will be in sight. It's ok to start speeding up but be careful because snow banks cover the track but it isn't that much of a problem. After getting past the snow banks you should feel proud! You survived the Ice Realm by learning how control your car on icy terrains!

### Difficulty

The Ice Realm has two different difficulty ratings depending on the route you take.

#### **Karma's Route**

Karma's route in the Ice Realm earns a difficulty rating of 'Moderate' because it is has numerous sharp turns to really test your abilities. However it isn't very punishing since you do not fall into an abyss if you fall off the track. All it takes is to drive up the nearest snow bank and you're back on the track.

#### **Taro's Route**

Taro's route in the Ice Realm earns a difficulty rating of 'Easy' because you avoid some of the most time consuming parts in Karma's route and for the most part you are driving in an open area. The most difficult obstacle that is unique to Taro's route is the jump into the ice cave. When you join up with the main track, it's easy to get back on the track if you fall off. Little risk with a higher reward.

### Hidden Car

The hidden car in this realm is Rivited. What follows are some hints that will gradually narrow down its location.

#### **Hint 1**

The hidden car is resting on snow. Not the track or ice.

#### **Hint 2**

The hidden car is near where you can see the track at the end of Taro's route (while facing the actual track while on Taro's route, the car will not be to your left).

#### **Hint 3**

While going past on the route where the car is hidden, it will be at a height level close to yours.