How in the world did the Snow Bros. manage this kind of a comeback? What started as a small arcade franchise that got a little bit of love on the NES long ago has now snowballed (ahem) into a number of releases in this generation. The original Snow Bros. got a Special treatment a while back, which has been a huge success. Then came the unique Snow Bros. Wonderland, a 3D adventure that was better than expected. Now comes Snow Bros. 2 Special, and, indeed, it too is a frozen juggernaut.
Originally released in arcades in 1994 by Toaplan, the game is a real comfort at home. Available in both arcade and remastered form, Snow Bros. 2 Special offers simple but joyous snow-shooting fun.
The action itself is pretty simple – create snowballs and then crush enemies with them – but there are some cool new aspects. Up to four players can take part in the madness, even online. And the new modes are cool, including Time Attack and Sky Run, adding some nice touches to the original formula.
Though there are tedious boss battles and hiccups with some of the odder characters, Snow Bros. 2 Specialcontinues to add to the wintery magic. Bring your friends and have a snow day.
Snow Bros. 2 Special Brings the Bro Power
Man, that pesky Demon King. He’s gone and captured the princess, forcing the Snow Brothers and their buddies to jump into action. This leads to a weird character select screen featuring baby faces, but…hey, whatever. It’s Toaplan. From there, you’ll take on each ice cold level, knocking down enemies and picking up items. These include speeding up, increasing firepower and more.
It’s classic gameplay formula through and through, and with Snow Bros. 2 Special, it still works. The game feels great, even with the little JoyCons; and its challenge level is gradual and never unfair. Not to mention the game is a gas with friends, as you can play up to four either locally or online. It works seamlessly, though some characters act a bit…odd in some levels. Especially with the remaster design. Not the end of the world, though.
Along with the original arcade mode, Snow Bros. 2 Special features others to try out. Survival Mode is a bit of a challenge; and the new Sky Run mode is very cool. You can also take on Time Attack or go all out with the Monster Challenge mode, where you play as the enemies. All of these are great, though the bosses take forever to defeat. They just take a whopping amount of damage before they go down. Maybe it was just part of the classic design, who knows.
Though the gameplay doesn’t evolve (it remains in…the ice age, heh), it’s pure classic arcade fun. And anyone who’s dug into the Snow Bros. games in the past (or jumped in to Wonderland) will be more than pleased here. Plus the four-player sessions are an absolute gas, provided you don’t get lost in the snowstorm.
Snowed Over By New Presentation Options
What’s great about Snow Bros. 2 Special is that it offers something old and new alike. The original ’94 arcade game is here and restored to perfection. It’s ideal for nostalgic gamers or those that always wanted the original edition. But the remake is very cool as well.
It spruces up the sprites and makes the levels brighter than ever. Plus it runs beautifully, even with four players on the screen at once. It definitely sits proudly alongside other old-school releases from the era…and makes me wonder what Tatsujin can do with other Toaplan franchises. A remake of Zero Wing would definitely hit the spot. “For great justice!”)
The audio is quirky but fine for a game such as this. The music is definitely on its own level, like other Snow Bros. games, with enjoyable beats. And the sound effects, though a bit squeaky, deliver as needed.
So, yeah, kudos to the job done here. No complaints, provided you don’t mind what Snow Bros. has to offer.
Enjoy the Winter Wonderland
If Snow Bros. wasn’t your thing to begin with, well, Snow Bros. 2 Special likely won’t sell you. It’s more of the same. However, Tatsujin packs it with modes and options aplenty, including a highly enjoyable multiplayer set-up. Some of it can be a bit tough, especially boss battles, but overall it’s still worth getting into this blizzard.
The only question is what happens now. Snow Bros. 3 perhaps? Hey, we’re ready for the snowball fight. Bring it on.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Clear River Games for the review code! Snow Bros. 2 Special is available now for Nintendo Switchand Steam/PC.
Want more wintery goodness? Don’t forget to check out our review of Snow Bros. Wonderland!
