Generally I'm not a fan of sports games, and this includes skiing/snowboarding. However, Snowboard Kids looks to be a very fun game, and I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually add it to my DS collection. From all the available media i've been able to scope out it seems like this game is sort of a Snowboarding + Tony Hawk + Mario Kart hybrid. If any combination of those three tends to ignite your interest, then you probably should check this game out.
The storyline behind the game seems to be simple enough, there is a snowboarding contest and various kids from different backgrounds decide to enter it for one reason or another...Pride, money, take your pick. The manual for the game shows six different Snowboard Kids to choose from, most of them are rich kids entering the tournament, however there is also the token ninja character. Tsk tsk, ninjas just have to dominate every sport known to man...Where will it stop?
While I made the comparison to this game being like Mario Kart, most of the races are just straight downhill dashes to the finish line. However while on your way to the finish you can pick up items and weapons that will help your progress or hinder your opponents (like question mark boxes in Mario Kart). As for the Tony Hawk comparison, while racing down the hills you can perform different tricks to earn more points. There are basic tricks to perform or special tricks which require the consumption of a "special meter" or SBK meter as it is called. When your SBK meter is full you can then initiate a special move after you super jump. Afterwards you are called to perform a quick task on the touch screen such as "tap this many times" or "trace the pattern" in order to pull it off.
Single player modes in the game include World Tour Challenge, which centers around you competing againts the other tournament applicants, Slalom mode, which has you dodging in and out of hoops while you race towards the finish, and lastly the Boss Battle mode...Which if you ask me sounds like the most fun out of the three. In boss battle mode you chase after various boss monsters, firing shots at them while avoiding the obstacles they leave in your path. There is a training mode as well, so you don't always have to hit the slopes as a novice. To top it all off, the game sports multi-cart VS. modes as well as single cart. Bravo!
What would a game be in today's market without some kinda of collection or customization built in? SBK offers a shop mode where you can spend your accumulated points on all sorts of nifty items. Some of the things you can spend your hard earned points on are: Hidden characters, new outfits, new weapons, different boards, new courses, and even cheat codes can be unlocked in this shop...Now thats a hardcore store! The different boards you can purchase each have there own way of handling (they arent just for looks), so its up to you to find the best one that suits your play style.
The graphics look to be vibrant and well represent the style which they are intended. The top screen is your 3D plummet to the bottom of the course while the lower screen shows the map and positions of all the contestants. Touchscreen usage is scattered here and there, for menu navigation and some interaction during the race. At the start of the race if you tap the screen at just the right time you get an extra burst of speed, while other interactions include the varios tasks you must complete when you attempt to pull off a super move. For the most part the game is controlled with the D-pad.
Like I said before, i'm not much of a sports game fan, however Snowboard Kids looks to have enough extra content to sway even the toughest of sports games haters. There are so many unlockables to be had, that alone should keep many people coming back, and the support of single cart multiplayer is always a plus (even if it is a bit limited). Cool graphics, tons of unlockables, mulitplayer support, and a snowboarding ninja chick...Whats not to love?
