| Snowboard Kids | |
|---|---|
North American cover art |
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| Developer(s) | Racdym |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | 1-4 Players |
| Rating(s) | CERO: A ESRB: Kids to Adults (KA) OFLC (AU): G ELSPA: 3+ |
| Media/distribution | Cartridge |
Snowboard Kids, originally released in Japan as Snobow Kids (スノボキッズ), is a snowboarding video game for the Nintendo 64. It was developed by Racdym and published by Atlus. The game features 10-year-old children (excluding Linda, who is 11) who snowboard down various courses, not necessarily involving snow. Many reviewers compared its style to that of the Mario Kart series. Snowboard Kids supports the Rumble Pak.
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The kids are arguing about their snowboarding skills. The debate escalates to the point where they decide to hold a snowboarding tournament to determine who is the best. One character, Shinobin, has no involvement whatsoever until he is unlocked by the player.
In addition to the usual gameplay of a snowboarding game, Snowboard Kids adds "Shots" (special weapons used to attack players) and items which can help the player, hinder other players, or both.
The game has nine main courses. Although some of the courses are snowy mountains, many are courses that would be unorthodox for snowboarding in the real world. Such courses include an amusement park, a desert, a vast valley, a dark highway, and a Japanese village during the cherry blossom festival.
There were several game mechanics that were unique to Snowboard Kids from other snowboard games and racing games at the time. One was the addition of the second item slot, allowing each player to carry a shooting item and support item (such as a rock, or invisibility) at the same time. Also, players needed to pay 100 gold in order to grab an item during the race, which could be obtained either through performing tricks or collecting coins scattered across the course. All courses also required players to race down the hill for multiple laps. Once a player had reached the bottom of the hill, he or she would need to pass through the lift gate to be transported back to the top of the hill, and could not be attacked by other players in this transition.
Speed: 2 stars
Corner: 2 stars
Trick: 2 Stars
Slash is an all-round character, and the main character of the series. In Snowboard Kids, he is 10 years old. As a computer player, he appears in all courses but Night Highway.
Speed: 1 Star
Corner: 3 Stars
Trick: 3 Stars
Nancy is a corner and trick specialist, with the highest stats in each. She is 10 years old in this game. Though being excellent at turns and tricks, she is the slowest character of all.
Speed: 1.5 Stars
Corner: 2.5 Stars
Trick: 2.5 Stars
Jam is all-round/corner and trick type. He is ten years old, and is often used for beginners, due to higher corner than Slash, but better speed than Nancy.
Speed: 2.5 Stars
Corner: 1.5 Stars
Trick: 1.5 Stars
Linda is all-round/speed type. She is the oldest character on the game, at 11 (Though Shinobin's age is unknown). She needs more control, but offers good speed. She is effectively the opposite of Jam in terms of stats. As a computer player, she appears in each course as standard, despite Slash being the main character.
Speed: 3 Stars
Corner: 1 Star
Trick: 1 Star
Tommy is a Speed type. He is 10 years old, and is effectively the opposite of Nancy in terms of stats. He has the lowest corner and trick stats in the game, but the highest speed.
Speed: 2.5 Stars
Corner: 2.5 Stars
Trick: 2.5 Stars
Misspelled "Sinobin", he is all-round, but is 0.5 stars higher than Slash on each stat. He also has the highest stat total of all, with 7.5. He is the only unlockable Character in the game, and can be unlocked by gaining each pass (by getting gold in every course), then beating him and two others in a final race in Ninja Land. Despite all the positives of this character, there are negatives. Firstly, he can only use his own three boards (ironically, these boards spell his name correctly), and can't go to the board shop. Therefore, special boards can't be used/bought while he is selected, and his boards can't be re-painted.
The first course of the game, it is the second shortest. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Jam, and Tommy.
The Longest course in the entire game, and the one with the least amount of laps. Its standard computer players are Slash, Jam, Linda, and Tommy.
When its length is multiplied by the Laps, it makes the longest overall course. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Jam, and Linda.
The only course set at nighttime, and the only course without Slash as one of its standard computer players, with Nancy, Jam, Linda, and Tommy taking his place.
This is the first non-snow course, instead being set in a valley. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Linda, and Tommy.
This is set in a theme park, and its standard computer players are Slash, Jam, Linda, and Tommy. Dizzy Land is a parody of Disneyland.
The first unlockable course, available by getting gold in the first six courses. After being presented the "Copper Pass", this course will appear. Moving quicksand makes this course very difficult, the most difficult in the game, in fact. The standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Jam and Linda.
The second unlockable course, this is available by getting the Silver pass (get the Copper Pass, then get gold on Quicksand Valley). It is shrouded in a constant fog, restricting the players' view to around half the distance. The standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Linda and Tommy.
The final course in the game, and the one with the most laps. It is the only course that Shinobin can appear on as a computer player. It is also the shortest course. Shinobin has the best overall stats in the game, and so defeating him will take skill. The standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Linda and Shinobin.
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