Console Archives Cool Boarders (Nintendo Switch 2)

Cool Boarders is among the first wave of titles for the surprising new Console Archives series. Subtitled “Exciting Snowboard Game,” I imagine this would’ve generated some excitement had I rented it as a kid back in 1996. How does it hold up three decades later?

Even though I’ve owned a PlayStation since I was a teenager, for whatever reason, I missed out on Cool Boarders until now. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of snowboarding video games (despite owning several). But considering all the sequels it spawned, I’m surprised it took me this long to play it finally. Have I had a good time doing so?

The answer is…yes. I can genuinely appreciate Cool Boarders for what it was, as someone with a nostalgic fondness for that era.  And that’s who I’d easily recommend this re-release to, PlayStation kids like me. Because, if I’m being frank, I question if this was a “masterpiece” even thirty years ago, classic though it is.

The courses are limited and tight enough that they’re begging for lawsuits from mangled snowboarders everywhere. Watching my racer ludicrously bounce off rocks in ways that defied any known laws of physics, I found myself asking, “Am I a snowboarder or a human pinball?” Over time, I got into a rhythm and appreciated the game’s speed and winter scenery. Changing to the first-person view seemed to make things more manageable (at least on the Novice and Advanced courses), while adding some extra intensity that the default view lacked. Experiment and memorize to earn the best times on the local leaderboards and maximize your fun.

Perhaps the main drawback is the gameplay limitations. Racing “ghost data”  is enjoyable, but not nearly as fun as racing a computer or human opponent, both of which aren’t an option here. The sequels would address this lack of competition, but for now, it’s mainly about stunt points and that odd focus that ends up robbing the game of some legs.

Cool Boarders is buggy, too. Don’t be surprised to get stuck in the scenery or even snowboard backwards. I get the idea behind faithful reproductions, but I wouldn’t mind the option for more gameplay polish. Still, I can’t say it doesn’t add some personality to the title. The unintentional comedy probably makes the game more memorable.

I already mentioned I found the wintery sights pleasant if dated at the seams. These are complemented by a solid selection of fitting music tracks. The sound effects are a bit weak, but I ended up muting the commentator, who is obnoxious and repetitive, both in victory and defeat. I admit this took some of the game’s flavor away, but ultimately it’s more of a positive than a negative. He’ll still talk before and after each race, which can annoy, but less so. 

Speaking of, after each race, even the user interface for Cool Boarders seems rough, as you inexplicably either replay the last race or get booted back to the starting screen without a quick means to simply pick a new course. At least there is the means to remap the controller and Console Archives’ unique settings, such as display options, filters, wallpapers, and more. Thank you, options.

Console Archives Cool Boarders is a good re-release of a classic title, but it’s best enjoyed in shorter bursts. I truly enjoyed it for the nostalgia of that era, even more than for the game specifically. You might want to wait and see what’s next in the Console Archives pipeline, depending on your tolerance level. But if you were a mid-’90s PlayStation kid like me, “the thrill of navigating cliffside courses” is probably worth $11.99.