This Nintendo 64 Game Rivaled Mario Kart, but It Got Left in the Dust

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While Mario Kart 64 was the go-to party game for many Nintendo fans and really set the standard for competitive couch gaming, another racing game on the Nintendo 64 stole my heart. This game, created by Atlus in the late 90s, combined the excitement of racing with the cool vibe of snowboarding, and featured characters I really connected with. Though it didn’t have the same level of popularity as Mario Kart, it was just as fun, if not more so.

Man, I still remember playing Snowboard Kids on the N64 – it was seriously one of those hidden gems that didn’t get enough love. It was made by Racdym and published by Atlus, and it basically took everything awesome about Mario Kart 64 – the crazy items, the fun tracks, the frantic multiplayer – and put it on a snowboard. The sequel, Snowboard Kids 2, was even better. It took that original idea and really ran with it, proving it was more than just a Mario Kart copy – it quickly became one of my all-time favorite N64 games.

Snowboard Kids: The Hidden Gem That Rivaled Mario Kart

Released in 1998, Snowboard Kids might not have had the same big marketing push as Nintendo’s own games, but it captured the same fun and exciting feeling as Mario Kart 64. Some people called it a copycat, and the original game’s idea was fairly basic. However, it was incredibly enjoyable: you raced down snowy (and occasionally other types of) mountains with five unique kids, all trying to win while pulling off cool tricks. I have many fond memories of playing this game with my brother.

What made Snowboard Kids special was its unique flow. Unlike Mario Kart 64, which featured short, winding tracks, Snowboard Kids offered long, downhill courses that felt like little adventures. Each run was a fun mix of speed, unpredictable moments, and opportunities to get creative. The tracks weren’t just for racing—they were like playgrounds with jumps, obstacles, and secret routes. Players raced through snowy towns, amusement parks, and even a Japanese village, all while avoiding obstacles and collecting coins. The game also stood out for its humor, something Mario Kart 64 didn’t really have.

One of the smartest features in Snowboard Kids was its coin system. Instead of simply collecting item boxes, you had to gather coins during the race and use them to buy power-ups at special stations. This added a level of strategy that Mario Kart didn’t have – do you save for a powerful item, or spend your coins right away for immediate protection? It was a small change, but it made every race more thoughtful and surprising, as you had to make quick decisions while heading back up the mountain on the lift.

Unique Mechanics and Power-Ups That Set It Apart

A year after the original, Snowboard Kids 2 built upon the first game with new characters, a story mode featuring boss races, and fresh courses. These new courses introduced dynamic elements like weather, time of day, and shifting hazards. While Mario Kart 64 required skill, Snowboard Kids 2 let you truly master the game’s mechanics and see the impact of doing so. Successfully performing tricks not only added points and boosted your speed, but could also be used to block incoming items, adding a deeper layer of strategy.

I especially loved the power-ups in the game. While fans of Mario Kart are familiar with red shells and banana peels, Snowboard Kids had its own unique and creative items. You could use spinning frying pans to knock racers off course, place snowmen to block the path, or even drop parachutes to hilariously slow down your opponents. Each attack was fun and memorable, and the game struck a good balance between offensive and defensive items, making multiplayer matches truly competitive. As a kid, I often used these power-ups just to make my friends laugh, even if it meant sacrificing a win!

Even today, thinking about Snowboard Kids brings back fond memories. It wasn’t simply about winning races; the game was fun because of how it felt to move, its delightful world, and the unexpected twists in every race. It perfectly embodied the magic of playing multiplayer games with friends on the couch, especially back in the 90s. Seeing how well Mario Kart World is doing makes me think Nintendo could benefit from some competition, perhaps from a long-standing rival.

Why Atlus Didn’t Continue the Series & Why It Should Now

Even though Snowboard Kids received positive reviews and had a dedicated following, it never became as popular as Mario Kart. The second game expanded on the original with new and exciting features, which critics and fans both loved. However, Atlus, the game’s developer, surprisingly stopped supporting the series. It’s disappointing, because Snowboard Kids had everything needed to become a long-lasting hit – its unique appeal, engaging gameplay, and competitive spirit would likely be very successful even now.

After a long hiatus, a new SNBK: Snowboard Kids game appeared, but it wasn’t quite the same as the originals. Released on the Nintendo DS in 2005, this version lost much of the charm that fans loved. The characters were redesigned with a more contemporary, anime-inspired style. While the gameplay was okay, the game lacked the personality of its predecessors and didn’t resonate with longtime players like the originals. Reviews were average, and sales were disappointing, ultimately leading to the series being shelved.

With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still incredibly popular and Mario Kart World getting good feedback, now is a perfect time to bring back Snowboard Kids. Atlus, the company behind the hit game Persona 5, is in a strong position with plenty of resources and a large fanbase to take a risk on reviving the franchise. I envision a new game using the Unreal Engine for stunning graphics, with online multiplayer, regular seasonal events, and extensive customization options. Atlus could keep the fun, original gameplay and lovable characters while adding modern features. I’m so eager for a new Snowboard Kids game, I’d do almost anything to make it happen!

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2025-10-29 20:14