Developer: Toaplan Publisher: Tengen Release: 05/28/93 Genre: Action
Most remember Toaplan for their legendary shooter lineup. To say that they were one of the masters of the genre is an understatement. But they have just as many great action games in other genres under their belt. Snow Bros. may have been influenced by Bubble Bobble but its mechanics and design set it apart. There were very few ports unlike the title that inspired it. However they are all great. The Sega Genesis version of Snow Bros. oddly never left Japan which is a damn shame. It hits all the right notes and is an excellent version of a great game.
I will admit the game’s story is heart-warming and a bit weird. Unlike the NES version in which princes Nick and Tom are cursed to be snowmen here that is who they are. That does not stop them as they are both engaged to princesses. The evil king scorch is jealous and kidnaps the princesses and the chase is on. Snow Bros. is one in a long line of single screen platformers that has long since died out. I miss the genre and would love to see what they could do with it using modern technology, especially if it is half as creative as this game.
The comparison to Bubble Bobble is unavoidable as the two games are similar. Rather than using bubbles Nick and Tom throw balls of snow. A single hit will stun an enemy but not for long. Piling on the snow will turn them into a snowball which you can roll or kick at which point it will careen around the screen. A kicked snowball can take out multiple enemies and is the quickest way to clear the field. On their own the Snow Bros are slow but a few power-ups even the odds. Potions come in four flavors and offer different benefits. Red increases speed, blue throws more snow, and yellow raises the distance you throw. The rare green potion inflates you into an invincible flying giant briefly. It is less than the game that inspired it but no less effective.
The frenetic pace is where Snow Bros. sets itself apart. You have a minute at most to complete each stage before Pumpkinhead appears. It sounds unfair, especially as most levels have seven or eight enemies. However the level design facilitates clearing the stages as quickly as possible. You can defeat each enemy individually in the allotted time but will frequently brush against the clock. Taking advantage of the numerous slopes and such to kick one giant snowball that wipes out everyone is the way to go. Not only does it provide power-ups and such but it is so satisfying. The pacing of the overall game is also brilliant. Every ten levels the loose theme changes and introduces at least one new enemy. These enemies and their abilities inform the following levels and makes them feel fresh. This design is the game’s greatest triumph and why it is so enjoyable.
Despite being given the tools to succeed you have to accept that you will die a lot. That same pace that makes Snow Bros. so different from its contemporaries can also work against it. Enemies are a zippy bunch and are aggressive. With speed power-ups it is easy to run head first into the same villain you were trying to kill. You need to move fast to beat the invisible clock. But not too fast to make mistakes. At least you can avoid Pumpkinhead a bit. Hitting him causes him to reappear somewhere else. But once he spits out his ghosts it’s a rap. I do wish you had a little more time per level but it is understandable. The challenge is just right; it simply puts up a little more of a fight than you would expect.
The Genesis version of Snow Bros. is already a near perfect arcade port. But it goes above and beyond that to offer more content over its coin op big brother. After the initial fifty levels are complete the game has a cool epilogue in which the titular brothers are instead kidnapped and the two princesses they just rescued now must save them. The additional twenty levels offer new enemies, bosses, and take place in wildly different settings. Even though the princesses have the same abilities as their snowy friends it is still cool to play the heroine rescuing the hero for a change. It also helps that the new stages are excellent. They are the icing on an already delicious cake.
In Closing
Just like Bubble Bobble it is hard to screw up a port of Snow Bros. It is a shame that the Sega game never left Japan as it might be the best version for its time. Genesis owners would do well to fill out their library with this awesome action game.
