Snowboard Kids

Maybe they should have named this one "Battle of the Boards." The characters sure look cuddly, but when armed to the goggles with missiles and other sinister power-ups they're about as friendly as a courtroom full of Hollywood lawyers. Add good play control and buttery smooth graphics and you've got an impressive early entry in a crowded lineup of snowboard games for winter/spring 1998.In the one-player Battle Race mode, you race a circuit of six courses against three other characters. Each character has a unique combination of top speed, handling and trick-pulling abilities. The boards have different attributes, too. However, the coolest character and swankiest snowboard aren't worth last week's slushball if you don't follow a smart strategy. You'll have to shrewdly gather and deploy the many power-ups scattered along each course.Unlike other race games, though, you can't just grab any power-up in your path. You must first snag gold coins festooning the course. Then, coins in hand, you literally smash into Clown Shops -- which look a bit like oversized jack-in-the-boxes -- to buy power-ups. When you have a clear shot at a rival, launch a missile power-up to freeze, blow up, knock down or otherwise wreak havoc on the poor sap. Other power-ups drop frying pans on everyone else's head, swipe their coins or give you a speed boost. Certain power-ups target the lead racer or, if you're in front, whoever is hottest on your heels. If you see the flashing exclamation mark that signals an imminent attack, the Invisible power-up will momentarily shield you. You can also jiggle the Control Stick or tap the A Button to sidestep an attack.You can also earn cold cash by pulling off trick moves off jumps. Push a C button to grab your board. The longer you hold it, the more cash you get. Make sure you don't land on your face, though. Individual racers can pull special tricks by holding the A Button and jiggling the Control Stick.Come in first in each of the six Battle Race courses and you'll open up a seventh course. Win there and you'll open an eight course; conquer that course and you'll open a ninth course.Snowboard Kids includes three one-player Skill Games. In Speed Cross, you try to race to the bottom within the target time. In Shot Cross, you use snowmen dotting the course as target practice. In the Trick Game, you try to pile up money by pulling off as many difficult stunts as possible.One to four players can shoot it out on any of the open Battle Race courses. As with a one-player Battle Race, the goal is to outrace the field with the help of coins and power-ups. Your boarding buddies, however, add that highly unpredictable human factor as well as a welcome opportunity to swap taunts. Multiplayer Snowboard Kids is always as fresh as new-fallen powder.

Source:

www.nintendo.com