"Slalom" was originally released in 1986 in the arcades as part of the Nintendo VS. System and was titled "Vs. Slalom". This release featured an upright cabinet, a joystick, one jump button, monaural sound, and standard raster graphics. There was also an optional controller upgrade that featured two physical ski poles and shortened skis that the player could stand on and use to control the skier onscreen. The NES version was released by Nintendo in North America in March 1987 and in Europe on October 15, 1987. "Slalom" was Rare's first video game developed as a new company. It was also the Stamper brothers' first video game console release.