Nintendo 64, £39.99
Snowboarding is very much a grunge thing and the cool aficionados of the sport will cringe at the sight of this cute little snow-racer from Atlus. Snowboard Kids, as the name suggests, is not the most realistic snowboarding game ever invented but it has its moments. While the main objective is to finish first, your other task is to take out as many of your opponents as possible . . . successfully accomplish this and you can slip-slide your way to an easy victory.
You depend not so much your ability to pull off half pipes or airs as on getting the finish area first and in one piece. You and the other competitors can all pick up power-ups on the piste. Although too cute for words, your opponents don't shy away from using nasty and suspect tactics in their efforts to dethrone you.
Flying frying pans are a favourite: a clatter from one of these could end your aspirations to being the number one boarder. Even the undead can be called upon for help. Ghosts can be deployed ahead of the pack, slowing down the race leader, while you, or the opposition, could be transformed into a snowman, making you stationary for a time.
To collect power-ups, you must accumulate coins strewn down the course, then smash into the jack-in-the-box-like Clown Shops to buy the power-ups. The coins collected can also be used in the Board Shop to upgrade and paint your board.
Snowboard Kids gives the game player a choice of five characters - each with individual strengths, weaknesses and special moves - nine courses and a dozen different boards to choose from. There are three modes of gameplay: the one-player mode is sub-divided into Speed, Shot and Trick. In Battle mode, you can take on three friends, or foes, for a compelling afternoon's entertainment. There is also a Time Attack mode in which you can fine-tune your racing skill against the clock.
Snowboard Kids is not for the purist but is nonetheless a worthy debut from Atlus. The graphics are well up to scratch and the later tracks are original and will keep you busy, while the multi-player mode is excellent. If you can put up with the Mario Kart-Diddy Kong likeness, it might do the trick for you.