Snow Bros.

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30 Oct 2003, 12:10 AM
Zerodash

2 Attachment(s)

Snow Bros.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?...S&game_id=9601

http://www.toaplan.com/snowbros/

Its been over a year since I’ve ranted about this game, so for my 2000th post…

Snow Bros.- as far as I’m concerned its one of the finest pieces of entertainment software ever coded.

The game is a bit like Bubble Bobble. You have the joystck and two buttons: one to jump and the other to throw snow. In order to advance to the next single-screen stage, you must eliminate all enemies. To do so, you must either coat them in snow and kick the resulting snowball into a wall. You can kick the snowball at other enemies to kill them as well. After every ten stages, you face a boss.

Simple enough? Perhaps, as the game can be cleared on one credit with a modest amount of practice. However, beating the game is not the real meat of this game…rather, its being able to get 100% chain reactions on each stage. This one dynamic lifts Snow Bros. from a simple romp into a real challenge for mastery. Snow Brothers is both a Bubble Bobble-esque action game, and also a mind-warping puzzle game.

A 100% chain is essentially achieved by clearing an entire stage by kicking just ONE snowball. Snowballs will ricochet with other snowballs, and with proper timing and snowball placement, one can bring swift death to enemies in one single chain reaction. Clearing the entire screen in one chain reaction results in uber-bonus points.

I’ve been playing Snow Bros intensely for about seven years, and I am still a long ways from achieving 100% on every stage. However, the brilliant gameplay dynamic Toaplan inserted into this game makes the path lots of fun, even after 7 years.

The arcade version is the way to go here- the NES version is but a faded shadow of the original. In fact, the NES version has enough stage-design differences to nearly ruin the entire concept and strategy of the 100% chain. There was a Mega-Drive version, that was very accurate to the arcade, and it goes for quite a bit on ebay.

If you can’t find an arcade cab, try it on MAME. I urge you all to at least try to get a few 100%. Then you may see the gaming gem that I see…

Oh, and ignore the HORRIBLE sequel, it is most definitely unworthy of its predecessor.

Play it and Love it!
30 Oct 2003, 12:26 AM
gamevet

I've played the NES version through emulation. I was'nt impressed with it and judging by what you said about the NES conversion, I can see why.

Maybe I'll try the link, when I have more time.
30 Oct 2003, 01:05 AM
kabuki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerodash

A 100% chain is essentially achieved by clearing an entire stage by kicking just ONE snowball. Snowballs will ricochet with other snowballs, and with proper timing and snowball placement, one can bring swift death to enemies in one single chain reaction. Clearing the entire screen in one chain reaction results in uber-bonus points.

Action and puzzle - sweet.

Wasn't this game tossed on some Saturn or Playstation compilation disc?
30 Oct 2003, 03:29 AM
Kinopio

I love Toaplan. I've wanted the megadrive version of Snow Bros. forever now, but its so damned expensive.
30 Oct 2003, 04:05 AM
Grave

I rather liked the NES version when I was younger,, I'd like to try the arcade version if the gameplay si significantly different.
30 Oct 2003, 04:08 AM
Diff-chan

Dude... change the fucking topic. This is a "Let's Zerodash: Snow Bros." thread.
30 Oct 2003, 04:18 AM
Eight One

This game still kicks after 13 years.:)
30 Oct 2003, 04:25 AM
680x0

The GB port was actually pretty nice.
30 Oct 2003, 03:34 PM
Zerodash

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabuki

Wasn't this game tossed on some Saturn or Playstation compilation disc?

I'd love to know what compilation that was...I've heard bits and pieces about it, but have yet to confirm if it exists...
30 Oct 2003, 04:19 PM
padman

Ah Snow Bros is a right soft lad game.

Have you played Snow Bros 3 yet?
30 Oct 2003, 04:22 PM
Shakey

I started a score thread for this game but it died pretty quickly

great game.
30 Oct 2003, 04:36 PM
Gohron

I played it the first time on an arcade machine at a pizza shop about two weeks ago, was a hell of a lot more fun then I thought it would be.
30 Oct 2003, 04:46 PM
Zerodash

Quote:

Originally Posted by padman

Have you played Snow Bros 3 yet?

I thought it was a hoax?

Got details?
30 Oct 2003, 04:50 PM
Recap

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerodash

I'd love to know what compilation that was...I've heard bits and pieces about it, but have yet to confirm if it exists...

Confirmed: It does not exist. Snow Bros' only direct conversion was the MD one. It even wasn't ported to "home arcade" systems like X68000 or FM Towns. MD version was made by Tengen, what makes me wonder if it was a made in Japan product.

MAME doesn't emulate the game properly. Use Raine instead.

Snow Brothers 3 is an unlicensed sequel made in Mexico last year. Crap.

Glad to see an in-depth comment of a relevant game for once. Thanks.
30 Oct 2003, 05:25 PM
padman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerodash

I thought it was a hoax?

Got details?

I'm pretty sure you can play Snow Brothers 3 on MAME. I mean I haven't bothered but you should at least check it out as you're such a big Snow Bros fan.
30 Oct 2003, 07:25 PM
BEBOPlover

What does the PCB go for? If it can even be found
30 Oct 2003, 09:25 PM
Josh

I played the game a few times, but really didn't get anything out of it.

I think I'll give it another shot in a few.
31 Oct 2003, 06:54 AM
padman

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEBOPlover

What does the PCB go for? If it can even be found

Its cheap and easy to get.
31 Oct 2003, 07:07 AM
arjue

its one of my favorites, which is good, as it costs a fraction of what other arcade games cost to play. One of the only arcade games to keep drawing me in (this, Tokyo Wars and Raiden Fighters)
01 Nov 2003, 11:59 AM
Zerodash

I think that Toaplan is dead. Does anyone know if the rights to Snow Bros. is owned by anyone?
01 Nov 2003, 12:40 PM
Changeling

Quote:

Originally Posted by padman

I'm pretty sure you can play Snow Brothers 3 on MAME. I mean I haven't bothered but you should at least check it out as you're such a big Snow Bros fan.

I have Snow Brothers 3 emulated on mame. Pretty much the same as the two other games. Its ok, not crack-cocaine, but ok. If ya want it lemme know. It was on mame dk, but I think that the site is down again.
later
01 Nov 2003, 12:44 PM
Recap

Supposedly, most of the Toaplan game copyrights belong to original authors (now in Raizing and Cave / Gazelle), but I don't think they really care much about them.
01 Nov 2003, 05:04 PM
Almaci

At one point(the game was at a rockbar I frequented) I got so good at snowbros that I finished it on a single credit.
01 Nov 2003, 08:28 PM
Zerodash

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almaci

At one point(the game was at a rockbar I frequented) I got so good at snowbros that I finished it on a single credit.

Ah, yes. But, finishing SB on a single credit is but a small step toward mastery of the game. Now try to get 100% on every stage. The path goes ever onwards...