Snowboard Kids
A snowboarding racer with weapons and item slots.
Snowboard Kids is a snowboarding video game for the Nintendo 64, developed by Racdym and published by Atlus. Its style was frequently compared to that of the Mario Kart series by reviewers. An enhanced port, Snowboard Kids Plus, was released in Japan in January 1999 for the PlayStation.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Racdym
- Publisher
- Atlus (WW); Nintendo (EU)
- Designer
- Yumiko Hattori
- Director
- Hideki Yayama; Takeshi Murata
- Producer
- Hiroyuki Tanaka
- Composer
- Isao Kasai; Tomohiko Sato
- Genre
- Snowboarding
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Snowboard Kids adds special weapons called Shots and items that can help the player, hinder others, or both, to the standard snowboarding gameplay. Modes include a single-player adventure game, head-to-head racing for up to four players, and time trials. The nine main courses include snowy mountains as well as unorthodox settings such as an amusement park, a desert, a vast valley, a dark highway, and a Japanese village during the cherry blossom festival. Each track has a unique shape with obstacles, hazards, and short-cuts. Players have two item slots, allowing them to carry a shooting item and a support item simultaneously. To collect an item during a race, players must pay 100 gold, which can be obtained by performing tricks or collecting coins scattered on the course. All courses require multiple laps; at the bottom of the hill, players pass through a lift gate to return to the top and cannot be attacked during this transition. Six characters are available: Slash, Nancy, Jam, Linda, Tommy, and Shinobin, the last being unlockable after completing all nine tracks. Each character has three attributes: speed, corner, and trick, which affect straight-line speed, turning quickness, and hangtime for tricks that earn coins.
Reception
Snowboard Kids was generally well received by critics, though the most common criticism was a lack of originality, with many reviews calling it a Mario Kart clone that fails to offer meaningful innovation for enthusiasts of that series. Most concluded that despite this, it remains a good game. Praises included smooth controls that effectively convey the sensation of snowboarding, inventive and pleasing course designs, and a variety of modes and minigames offering depth and replay value. IGN described it as a solid title incorporating Mario Kart's graphic and gameplay styles into a snowboarding environment, resulting in a satisfyingly cute snow racer. Next Generation stated that despite its lack of originality, it does most things right and is an entertaining title. Computer and Video Games dismissed it as very average and not worth more than a few hours of play. GamePro commented that the game lacks longevity and has a stifling kiddie atmosphere, but found enough underlying depth and fun, especially in multiplayer, to be outstanding for the right players, recommending a rental. The Electronic Gaming Monthly review team was more unreservedly enthusiastic; Crispin Boyer praised the purchase of power-ups and their dynamic balancing of races, while Dan Hsu contradicted the usual assessment by calling it more than a Mario Kart wanna-be, with new features making it stand out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Snowboard Kids?
Snowboard Kids was directed by Hideki Yayama and Takeshi Murata.
Who designed Snowboard Kids?
Snowboard Kids was designed by Yumiko Hattori.
Who composed the music for Snowboard Kids?
The music for Snowboard Kids was composed by Isao Kasai and Tomohiko Sato.
More in Atlus Games of the 1990s
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