Snowboard Kids
| Snowboard Kids | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Racdym |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus Co. |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Release | March 15, 1998 (US) December 12, 1997 (JP) |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | 1-4 Players |
Snowboard Kids, called in Japan Snobo Kids (スノボキッズ, sunobo kizzu; スノボ is a shortening of スノボード) of, 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.
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 it 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.
Characters
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Snowboard Kids Plus. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2007. |
The characters in the game are designed in a super deformed style, with big heads and small bodies.
Slash Kamei
He has long, black spiky hair and wears yellow and blue goggles. According to the background material, he considers himself to be the fastest in the village. He has too much energy for his own good and is always fighting with Linda.
Nancy Neil
Nancy wears pink clothes, has rabbit-style ears, a blue bow on her back and hearts painted on her face. According to the background material for the game, she regards herself as being very modest, and never brags about her skills, even though she is easily the best at performing tricks.
Jam Kuehnemund
Distinguished by his brown dreadlocks, he also wears blue goggles and a white and purple striped beanie. The background materials tell us that Jam follows the New York Rap Scene and refuses to believe that Nancy is better at tricks than he is, so he desperately wants to beat her.
Linda Maltinie
Linda wears red and blue goggles, a bikini top and leopard skin pants. The background materials describe that when Linda was 7, she moved to Snow Town because she needed to stay at a hospital there to receive treatment for a rare disease. She recovered eventually, but wished to stay in the village because she liked it so much.
Tommy Parsy
Tommy wears bright green clothes and has a bandage on his nose. The background materials state that he's often teased by Slash because of his considerable weight problem. Despite this, the two of them remain friends.
Shinobin
Shinobin is initially found as an opponent in the last level, and is very difficult to beat. Once defeated, he is unlocked as a usable character. He is a ninja wearing a black shinobi shozoku. He has the most unique of snowboards, ranging from scrolls to Kunai.