The legacy of Snow Bros. actually goes quite a ways. The original game came out in 1990 (!) under Toaplan, and has since become a cult classic. Particularly when you consider the rare home versions, like the NES edition going for a good price. Since then, we’ve seen Snow Bros. 2 pop up, along with various ports. But now Clear River Games has something new up its snowy sleeve with Snow Bros. Wonderland.
Rather than staying with its static puzzle screens filled with enemies, Wonderland provides a nice twist. It’s instead a full-blown 3D adventure, akin to Super Mario 3D World. Here, you’re free to strategize your snowball shots, discover secrets, collect goodies and even customize your characters. The further you go, the more you can unlock for your core character.
In addition, the game thrives in co-op. Sure, you could play alone, but up to four people can join a party. And the more the merrier, as you can try out new tactics to defeat foes. It’s a neat idea, though it’s offline only.
There are minor annoyances that could use ironing over. But overall, this is a nice evolution of the series. Not only do they survive the storm, but made themselves bigger and better. Just like a good snowman should.
Snow Bros. Wonderland Should Be Played In
The game reintroduces us to Nick and Tom, the two heroes-turned-snowmen first introduced years ago. They have British accents here, which may be charming for some but annoying for others. (Depends on your tolerance for their “cuteness” – I didn’t mind it.) You can also play additional characters, expanding your party to four.
One would think the transition from 2D to 3D levels would be tough. But Tatsujin handles Snow Bros.’ transition effortlessly. That’s because each stage has nice layers to it. With it, you can take advantage of accurate snowball rolling at its finest, creating high-scoring combos. There are other tactics that come into play later on as well, including some surprisingly great boss battles.
The single player component is nice, but, I’m telling you, multiplayer is a blast. Having up to four people may seem a bit busy at first. However, it truly pays off, especially as you team up to defeat tougher levels. Plus you can compete for higher scores, just like the original game.
There are tons of secrets to uncover in Snow Bros. Wonderland as well. This includes bonus costume items that let you customize your snowman (or woman) even further. It adds nearly indefinite replay value to the game, which is already getting by on likability as it is.
This is how you properly evolve a classic game formula for today’s standards. Snow Bros. Wonderland is a delight, whether you’re a newbie to the series or a long-time arcade player. Now make yourself a snowball!
This Winter Looks Pretty
To go along with the game’s marvelous control scheme, Snow Bros. Wonderland also wins with its presentation.
There are times that the visuals can be stutter, particularly on Nintendo Switch. However, the worlds are a real romp to venture through. The animations are cute as well, with even the enemies providing some humorous touches. You can also track down plenty of secrets, and enjoy the neat little weather effects scattered throughout. Just be ready for a little bit of slowdown once four players enter the fray.
Along with that, Tatsujin remixes the classic Snow Bros. music tracks very nicely. They have that nostalgic touch, while also fitting today’s platforming standards. They change up beautifully as well, perfect for all ages. As for the voices, they’re not bad, but, again, Nick and Tom may grate on some nerves. (Again, not mine – British chums are the best!)
Tatsujin and Clear River Games do a bang-up job giving this game the modern touch while nodding to the original releases. I don’t mind it at all.
Walking In a Winter Wonderland
Snow Bros. Wonderland has something great for everyone. Old-school fans will easily recognize some of the classic gameplay tactics, brought to a new degree here. New fans will enjoy the easy-to-grasp controls, as well as the enjoyable co-op. And the visuals and sound guarantee a fun time for all.
Some visual clean-up wouldn’t hurt here and there, along with online play. But Snow Bros. Wonderland still deserves a heaping amount of playtime. You may even prefer it to actually playing outside. (And you can stay toasty, too!)
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Clear River Games for the review code! You can get Snow Bros. Wonderland now on Steam,PlayStation and Nintendo Switch!
Need more classic gaming goodness? Check out our reviews of Taito Milestones 3 and Aero the Acro-Bat 2!
