Dbbum's Full Review: Snowboard Kids for Nintendo 64
When one thinks of a snow boarding game, the Winter Olympics in Nango, or The X Games usually comes to mind. One game that turns to tables is Snowboard Kids. It gives you the basic satisfaction of a snow boarding with a pinch of comedy. Snowboard Kids is definitely a good choice for your young ones!
Characters
In Snowboard Kids, you'll find that the choices for characters are far from normal. Since this game is targeted more for children, the characters have a cartoonish look to them. There are several choices to make, both male and female. As you can see from the box shot, the snow boarder has a big nose and goofy black hair! This is one of the cartoonish looks that make the game so fun. Each character as their own special feel and personality. Whether it's doing a trick jump, or just winning the game, you'll notice a difference with each character.
Gameplay
In Snowboard Kids, there are a few modes of play. You can choose from a single player games or a multiplayer game. Within single player there are several options:
Time Trials-Race on any given track to test your time. With a memory card, you are able to save best times.
Single Race-Race on any given track once, with a full field of racers.
Competition-This is the biggest part of the single player game. You are able to pick a character and board and race a "season" to get money for better boards. Along the way you will open
up other tracks to race on.
Skills Race-Consists of competition for high scores for a certain objective (i.e.. Speed Race, Tricks Race, Kills Race). In a Speed Race, you must finish in the fastest time, and there are
special fans to help you go faster. A Tricks Race consists on doing as many tricks along the way to get points. Finally a Kills Race is basically target practice using you snowman weapons.
Controls
With the easy to handle N64 controllers, controlling your snow boarder is a cinch. Using the analog stick to steer, and the AB buttons to shoot weapons, even a child could play with ease.
Sounds
Nothing to extraordinary about the sounds in Snowboard Kids. You'll find the music in game and in the menus to be sound. As I've said, this game appeals to children, so the music has a cartoonish effect that is quite soothing. While snow boarding along, you'll hear a constant SHHH as your board skims the snow/grass. This doesn't seem to get annoying, which I was surprised to find out. One funny thing I noticed, was that whenever you hit another player with a weapon you'll noticed a SMACK sound which the receive know you mean business. Each weapon used as it's
own unique cartoonish effect.
Graphics
Again, nothing to extraordinary about the graphics. You'll notice right away this is nothing realistic! The characters and surroundings of the levels are far from "real". The graphics do give a nice cartoonish feel to the game, which for me is better than a real snow boarding game. Right away you'll notice this game is much like a mix between MarioKart 64 and snow boarding.
Features
A few extra features aside from the above:
-You are able to buy/upgrade existing boards. When doing a competition season, you can buy new boards depending on your skill level. If you do in fact want to beat the game, you will most likely need to buy the expert boards.
-After each race, there is an automatic replay which shows a nice race by camera angel replay of your run. Since races are somewhat long, watching a full replay is not recommended.
-Along with just racing, you are able to buy/pick up weapons along the way. There are special boxes on the track that allow you to buy weapons, but they are not always defined. Of those weapons include [snowmen, ghosts, bombs, umbrellas, speed fans, smacks, and more..]. Each of these can be thrusted out from the snowboard for used internally. Nothing beats tossing a bomb at a fellow snow boarder, LOL. Not to worry though, these are fairly harmless weapons. After such an attack, your character will pop back up and continue along as if nothing happened. There is absolutely no blood or gore, so I say it's just friendly child fun.
-Multiplayer: I mentioned this above, but didn't expand on it. You can play up to 4 players, in a race. This screen is spilt in 1/4th but you are still left with enough space to see what's going on
[unlike MarioKart 64].
Conclusion
So if you are wanting a game for your children, or yourselves, this can be a hit. With the multiplayer options, you can spend a few hours each week to board it out with a few friends. The cartoonish look makes this more appealing to younger children, and the subtle violence with weapons is minimal [only harmful weapon in real life is the bomb]. So if you are into sports or just want some funny gameplay action this would be a great game to have. Snowboard Kids II is already out, so you may want to read those reviews as well.
BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED w/ VERTICAL SEAM NINTENDO 64 SNOWBOARD KIDS MINT - FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION - RARE!! AUTHENTIC US RELEASE NO RIPS or DENTS...More at eBay
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