Snowboard Kids Plus

Snowboard Kids Plus (also known as Snobow Kids Plus) is the third game in the Snowboard Kids series, and the only one made for the PlayStation console (as well as the only one not released outside of Japan.) The game is basically a revamped version of the original Snowboard Kids for the Nintendo 64, with the addition of features such as new characters, cut scenes, and more options for customization.

Slash Kamei
The spiky-haired hyperactive ring leader, this kid just doesn't shut up! He's always picking fights with the others, constantly bickering with Linda and always starts complaining about the winner if HE loses. Not exactly the quiet type. Regardless, he's hilarious nonetheless, and his high-pitched voice and caffeine-induced antics are enough to make anyone laugh - or at least raise an eyebrow.

Slash's Stats

Speed: 2

Turn: 2

Trick: 2

Nancy Neil
Tiny, meek little Nancy is the one who always denies her impressive snowboarding skills. She has a vast array of awesome and complicated tricks at her disposal, but pretty much keeps to herself about it. She's always playing mediator and is the "voice of reason" whenever any of the kids (especially Slash and Linda or Linda and Nicole) start fighting. Nancy is well liked by the others, except Jam - who for some reason considers her his mortal enemy, although she's never done any harm to him.

Nancy's Stats

Speed: 1

Turn: 3

Trick: 3

Jam Kuehnemund
The dreadlocked hip-hop star wannabe with a chip on his shoulder. Egocentric Jam likes to refer to himself as the "Trick Master", and apparently wants the others to do the same. His ultimate goal is to prove to Nancy that he's the best in the bunch at tricks, although all his attempts have been to no avail.

Jam's Stats

Speed: 1 1/2

Turn: 1 1/2

Trick: 1 1/2

Linda Maltinie
Linda was once frail and sickly when she moved to Snow Town, but as her health improved, so did her snowboarding skills. The daughter of billionaire entrepreneur parents, she is forever comparing herself to the others and depicting herself as this perfect snowboarder. Nancy is the only one who seems to be able to tolerate Linda's gloating, and is forever trying to tell her to keep her attitude down a notch.

Linda's Stats

Speed: 2 1/2

Turn: 1 1/2

Trick: 1 1/2

Tommy Parsy
Easygoing, peaceful Tommy isn't really one to shoot his mouth off...perhaps because it's full of food most of the time. This heavyset young snowboarder rarely discusses his own abilities, but has everybody talking about his impressive speed. He and Slash get along great, although Slash does enjoy poking fun at his wide girth once in a while.

Tommy's Stats

Speed: 3

Turn: 1

Trick: 1

Sinobin
Mysterious and strange -not to mention rather scary-, silent Sinobin is the scornful older brother/mentor of Kaede. He seems to get his point across without speaking a word, and has the other Snowboard Kids shaking in their schussing gear. Although he has the same stats of his apprentice sibling, he still regards himself as the greater of the two.

Sinobin's Stats

Speed: 2 1/2

Turn: 2 1/2

Trick: 2 1/2

Nicole Couch
Nicole is the ten-year-old daughter of the Couch Company's founder, and attends an elementary school in a different town. While she's on good terms with the others, Nicole has been picking fights with Linda ever since she called her "Upstart Girl." She's also the one who kicks off this new tournament, and if she wins, Nicole will force Linda to snort spaghetti through her nose!

Nicole's Stats:

Speed: 2 1/2

Control: 1 1/2

Trick: 1 1/2

Pamela Rasteri
Ten-year-old Pamela is a popular child actress in Hollywood who doesn't visit often because of her busy schedule. The girls at school fawn over her only because of her celebrity status, but she is unaware of this. Unlike the rich girls Linda and Nicole, Pamela lacks an inflated ego, and she often becomes their foil. She enters the tournament not for money, but because she wants to witness the ridiculous dares of Linda eating spaghetti with her nose and Nicole eating peanuts with her eyes.

Pamela's Stats:

Speed: 2

Control: 3

Trick: 1 1/2

Ruby Green
Ruby is the overly flamboyant and overly buff ten-year-old who refers to himself as "Nice Guy." When he's seen with the other kids, people often mistake him to be their chaperone, which he finds troubling. Nobody really seems to think much of him, but Ruby is too narcissistic to care as long as they don't insult his hair or muscles. He enters the tournament only to win the prize money for himself.

Ruby's Stats:

Speed: 3

Control: 1

Trick: 1 1/2

Kaede
The mysterious ninja Kaede seemingly appears out of nowhere. Though she shares the same snowboarding prowess as fellow ninja Shinobin, Kaede doesn't seem as mature. Who knows why she entered the tournament?

Kaede's Stats:

Speed: 2 1/2

Control: 2 1/2

Trick: 2 1/2

Auto-Pilot
When crossing the finish line, the computer will automatically steer your character towards the lift-in. This option can be disabled.

New Board Designs
Along with the standard 14 paint jobs that were in the first game, Snowboard Kids Plus adds two more: one with a frog design and the other with shooting stars.

Bleach Booth
One would suppose that even Jam would get tired of his mass of crazy dreadlocks being the same color all the time. Therefore, in Snowboard Kids Plus, there's one more interesting option left in the Shop category; the Bleach Booth!

For 500 G, you can change the color of your character's hair. Some characters' hair color design options actually sell in patterns; Ruby has one that is entirely pink except for the front part of his pompadour dyed green. Slash even has one that dyes his hair crimson red with yellow highlights in the center of the spikes, giving the illusion that the kid's head is on fire!

Wear Booth
You have to admit, sometimes not even game characters can't get away with wearing the same old outfit all the time. So why not doll 'em up a bit? If you've got cash left over from previous races, you can buy some new duds for any of the characters. There's the default outfit, three other outfits available for sale, and then a hidden one that you can unlock by buying all three outfits before defeating White Mountain. (These hidden outfits are a little startling at times, though; Linda's is just a tiny white slip, Pamela's is a light blue bikini, and Ruby's is nothing but a Speedo swimsuit and shoes!)

Event Viewer
Probably the biggest difference between the original game and Plus is the addition of cut scenes. While nearly all story scenes in the game consist of still pictures with voice overs, the introduction that plays when you first load the game is fully animated. You get a scene when you first start a new game, and whenever you complete the game with one of the characters. The first time you finish the game, you will be able to replay the credits as well. The Event Viewer is within the game's Option menu.