Snowboard Kids

"Mario Kart on a Snowboard"

This game is basically, Mario Kart with snowboards. This doesn't make the game bad however. In fact, it is great fun-just grab a few mates and go nuts!
It has several flaws-the graphics and sound are terrible, but if a game has great graphics and sound, but shoddy graphics, the game will suck. All hail game play! Or something like that.

Graphics:
This has the same problems that plagued other N64 games released around the same time. Fog, blur, Fog, blur. Everything is so blurry, even the character models. Many things pop-up out of nowhere, and nearly everything are basically 2D sprites. This certainly doesn't push the N64 AT ALL. The extended blur in the Spilt screen mode comes close to ruining the mode. Should of been a lot better, really.
4/10

Sound:
Again, this isn't pushing the N64 what-so-ever. It sounds like the sound was programmed for the Snes. Poor MIDI plonking sways throughout. But pretty soon, you might without warning start HUMMING the tunes, uncontrollably! It is truly a sign that you are going insane. The sound effects are going through the motions also-my personal favourite sound is from the fat kid, Tommy. It's just some uncontrollable moan of pain, which makes me chuckle once. Then it grates. Oh it grates.
3/10

Game play:
This is where the game picks up. Basically a Mario Kart clone, this has a few new tricks up its sleeves...but not many. Like MK, items are available from two different shops on the track--shooting items, and random items. My personal favourite is the pan, which clears out everyone else on the slope except for you. Very useful.

The tracks in the game involve going down a slope, collecting items to slow the other competitors, do tricks off jumps, and win the race. This is great fun in a multi-player mode, where your friends will continually pummel you with pans, bombs, and parachutes.

A Stunt mode is also available in the 1-player mode, which is a nice distraction from the circuit races. The tricks are simple to pull off, so you'll be getting huge scores in no time. Again, great fun.

Another feature to the game is the different boards available,which have three key areas-Tricks, Speed and Handling. These boards are available in three classes-Freestyle, which is good for tricks, All-Around, which is good in all areas, and Alpine, which is the fastest board. You will need to master all these boards to get all the secrets in the game.

The tracks are well-designed, and often involve going down on surfaces that aren't even snow! One track has you going through a theme-park, while another going through a desert. Very strange.
8/10

Overall, this game doesn't add anything innovative or original to the racing genre, but its good fun. This could have been a classic for the 64, but poor graphics and sound take it down a few notches. But if your after rock-solid, fun game play in your racers, rather than flashy graphics, this is a wise purchase.
Of course, not many of you have N64's anymore, but if you see it cheap, seriously consider purchasing it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/22/05