| SBK: Snowboard Kids | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | in-glove Co., ltd |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | |
SBK: Snowboard Kids, released in Japan as Snowboard Kids Party (スノボキッズパーティー sunobo kizzu pātī), is a snowboarding video game for the Nintendo DS released on November 22, 2005 in North America and two days later in Japan. It was also released in Europe on April 28, 2006. It is the fourth in the Snowboard Kids series following three previous games released on the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation. Up to four people can play wirelessly with one game card. Though the name is the same as the other games, the characters are teenagers in this installment.
Very notable is that Linda Maltinie, the character responsible for starting most of the competitions in the previous Snowboard Kids games, is absent and appears to have been replaced by Brad, who is related to her. Mr. Dog, Shinobin, and all the playable characters who have debuted in Snowboard Kids Plus and Snowboard Kids 2 are also absent.
The characters' super deformed, large-nosed style has been discontinued, and in this game the characters take on an appearance that is much more standard anime-esque. Some of the characters have undergone drastic personality changes, the two most noticeable being Nancy and Tommy. They were both mild-mannered, nice to everyone and kind but now, have become mean-spirited and even borderline antagonistic. There is also bad timing in the game as Slash, Nancy, Jam, and Tommy's ages are all different, while all 10 in the first games.
Other changes include the stat layout, introducing an individual shot stat. Also, the stats themselves have altered, such as Tommy being the fastest character in all previous games, now being one of the slowest, and Nancy doing the exact opposite.
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Slash possesses natural athletic ability, and he joined a previous snowboarding tournament to show off his skill. He reached the finals with ease, but his overconfidence caused him to lose to Brad. Determined to redeem himself, Slash followed his new rival to this competition.
Slash's Skills (Average):
Brad's family is one of the wealthiest in the United States, and his sibling is Linda, but he didn't pay to learn how to snowboard - he practiced on the mountains in his backyard. He was introduced to Nancy through his parents, and suddenly had a crush on her. Brad enters the tournament to keep an eye on her. His sibling has appeared in three games (Snowboard Kids 1, Snowboard Kids 2 and Snowboard Kids Plus).
Brad's Skills (Average):
Nancy is from a distinguished background, and she never passes up a chance to let everyone else know that. Luckily for her, she has the talent to back up those claims of superiority. Nancy's reason for entering the tournament is to emerge victorious and make her parents proud. She is used to be sweet but became mean.
Nancy's Skills (Average):
Jam is a national rap battle champion who is in constant search of the latest trends for the purpose of bolstering his ego. No matter what he is doing at the time, he goes all out to impress others. In fact, his only reason for entering the tournament is to prove himself to be the coolest.
Jam's Skills (Average):
After witnessing a snowboarding competition in Japan, Koyuki took interest and began training diligently in the mountains. Seeing her potential, her superiors gave her to the opportunity join a tournament. Koyuki gladly accepted this chance to put her skills to the test.
Koyuki's Skills (Average):
Tommy met Nancy at his parents' company picnic and became smitten with her at first sight. Since then, he has made many attempts to win her over, but they all ended in failure. Desperate to convince Nancy of his worth, Tommy enters the tournament. Despite his lack of experience, he'll use every dirty trick or even hurt the others to get Nancy's attention.
Tommy's Skills (Average):
Hailing from the South Pole, Max is a penguin with almost human intelligence. Becoming bored, he seized the opportunity to join a human competition in the hopes of finding a suitable rival.
Max's Skills (Average):
Jack Frost, mascot of Atlus and well-known demon in the Megami Tensei series, makes an appearance as a hidden character. His reasons for entry are unknown, but it's likely that he's just competing for fun. Black Frost is a more sinister version of Jack Frost with better stats.
Jack Frost's Skills (Average):
Black Frost's Skills (Average):
Reviews of SBK: Snowboard Kids were mostly mixed. With a 63 out of 100 score on Metacritic. GameSpot gave the game a 6.7 out of 10. Praising the game for their lengthy courses and being like an SSX and Mario Kart mix, but criticized the game for having less personality than the previous two games in the series.[1] IGN had also given the game a mixed review, giving it a 6.2 out of 10. Praising the game for the time trials and the slalom missions, yet criticizing it for its lack of focus on real arcade racing balance.[2] Nintendo Power however gave it a positive review giving it a 7.5 out of 10, calling it "Mario Kart on ice."
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