Snowboard Kids
Encyclopedia
Snowboard Kids, originally released in Japan as , 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
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the first 6 courses, then in the 7th, and again in the 8th), 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.
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. It was developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
by Racdym and published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
. 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
Mario Kart
is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed by Nintendo as a series of spin-offs from its trademark Mario series of platformer adventure-style video games...
series. Snowboard Kids supports the Rumble Pak
Rumble Pak
The is a removable device from Nintendo which provides force feedback while playing video games. Games that support the Rumble Pak cause it to vibrate in select situations, such as when firing a weapon or receiving damage, to immerse the player in the game. Versions of the Rumble Pak are available...
.
Plot
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.Gameplay
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
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms is one of the oldest and largest international marriage agencies still in operation today. It was established in 1974 as a picture catalog, but has now switched entirely to a web-based format...
.
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.
Slash
Speed: 2 starsCorner: 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.
Nancy
Speed: 1 StarCorner: 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.
Jam
Speed: 1.5 StarsCorner: 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.
Linda
Speed: 2.5 StarsCorner: 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.
Tommy
Speed: 3 StarsCorner: 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.
Shinobin
Speed: 2.5 StarsCorner: 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 the first 6 courses, then in the 7th, and again in the 8th), 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.
Rookie Mountain
- 5 Laps
- 541m
- Difficulty: 1 Star
The first course of the game, it is the second shortest. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Jam, and Tommy.
Big Snowman
- 2 Laps
- 1750m
- Difficulty: 1.5 Stars
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.
Sunset Rock
- 3 Laps
- 1706m
- Difficulty: 2 Stars
When its length is multiplied by the Laps, it makes the longest overall course. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Jam, and Linda.
Night Highway
- 3 Laps
- 1368m
- Difficulty: 2.5 Stars
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.
Grass Valley
- 3 Laps
- 1490m
- Difficulty: 3 Stars
This is the first non-snow course, instead being set in a valley. Its standard computer players are Slash, Nancy, Linda, and Tommy.
Dizzy Land
- 3 Laps
- 1490m
- Difficulty: 3 Stars
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.
Quicksand Valley
- 3 Laps
- 1638m
- Difficulty: 4 Stars
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.
Silver Mountain
- 3 Laps
- 1664m
- Difficulty: 3 Stars
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.
Ninja Land
- 9 Laps
- 382m
- Difficulty: 2 Stars
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.
Skill Game Courses/Levels
- Rookie Mountain [Speed Cross, Shot Cross] - 1 Lap
- Big Snowman [Speed Cross, Shot Cross] - 1 Lap
- Sunset Rock [Speed Cross, Shot Cross] - 1 Lap
- Animal Land [Trick Game only] - 1 Lap
Trivia
- In 1999, a sequel was released. It was released as Super Snobow Kids in Japan, and Snowboard Kids 2Snowboard Kids 2Snowboard Kids 2, released in Japan as , is a snowboarding video game developed by Racdym and published by Atlus. But unlike the first game, It was not released in Europe. Even though, it wasn't released there, a PAL version still exists and that was released in Australia.-Plot:The game is set in...
in North America. - Similar to another 5th generation video game AstalAstalAstal, known in Japan as Kisuishou Densetsu Asutaru, is a 2D side scrolling platformer game for the Sega Saturn...
, the only dub artist in this game is Lani MinellaLani MinellaLani Minella is a voice actress who has voiced in over 500 computer and video games as well as several TV and anime series. She is best known for voicing Nancy Drew, Millie Strathorn, Loulou the Parrot and Freddie in the Nancy Drew computer games, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur video game...
(better known as Rouge the BatRouge the Batis a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, who is a determined treasure hunter and part-time government agent who plans to make all the gems and treasures of the world hers. Her main jewel obsessions are the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds...
and Omochao in the Sonic The Hedgehog series from 2001-2004 and Nancy DrewNancy DrewNancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
from the Nancy Drew Computer Games). She voiced Slash, Nancy, Jam, Linda, Mr. Dog, and the announcer. The rest (Tommy and Shinobin) kept their original Japanese voices overseas. - On January 21st 1999 an enhanced port called "SnoBow Kids Plus" was released in Japan only for the Sony Playstation