Mario Kart on snow (Snowboard Kids (N64))

Member Name: benm

Product:	Snowboard Kids (N64)
Date:	04/01/03 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, Excellent multiplayer, Much like Mario Kart

Disadvantages: too easy, too short, dated graphics

If Nintendo could have made "Mario Board", it would have been very similar to this.

With powerups galore peppering the track, playable levels, and cutesy characters you can see the similarities.

But there are also some interesting differences.

The coin system used to buy powerups and upgrade your boards is a neat way of combining prizes for winning races, collecting coins littered about the courses, and coaxing you into pulling off outrageous special stunts.

There are also various game modes to keep you entertained from just straight racing, including a stunt mode, time trial, and a 'shooting range', where you hurtle down a mountainside shooting snowmen with icicles from the front of your board.

But mountainsides aren't the only thing that you travel down. You can 'snowboard' on grass, sand, gravel, and even water. The tracks are interestingly designed with plenty of action happening around you while you are racing and multiplte routes and secret traks to keep you coming back for more.

The multiplayer mode is also really fun where 4 of you can shoot missiles at each other, that if they hit, will send your opponent into the air attached to a parachute, with an aganosing fall to the ground awaiting them.

Try it on the edge of a jump - it will drive them crazy!

Although the graphics look dated and blocky in comarison to the likes of Twisted Edge Snowboarding and of course Nintendo's own 1080 Snowboarding, this is definitely the most fun snowboarding game on the 64, and the only one with 4 players. It might be worthwhile looking into the sequel to this game, as it will no doubt be the samer game but improved, although I have never come across it myself.

Altogether, this is a thoroughly enjoyable game with excellent multiplayer and decent solo player modes too that will keep you entertained for ages.

Summary: