Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Cool Boarders 2 builds on the momentum of its predecessor by delivering more refined snowboarding mechanics and an expanded roster of tricks. The core experience revolves around carving through powdery slopes, navigating around trees, and finding the perfect launch ramp to soar into the sky. Controls feel responsive for the era—tilting the analog stick to steer, tapping buttons to jump or grab, and combining directions with button presses for spins and flips. While not as deep as modern snowboarding sims, the trick system strikes a satisfying balance between accessibility and skill-based execution.

The game offers seven unique riders, each with their own stats in speed, agility, and trick potential, and eighteen different boards that subtly affect your handling. This variety encourages experimentation: some boards excel in halfpipe combos, while others favor high-speed downhill runs. Freestyle mode divides the action between timed runs—where your score is a balance of velocity and technical flair—and big air and halfpipe events dedicated purely to trick mastery.

For a structured test of all your talents, the Competition mode strings together freestyle, big air, and halfpipe in one relentless contest. It’s a true endurance test, challenging you to maintain consistency across disciplines. If you’d rather hone your skills without the pressure of a clock or score, Board Park mode lets you freely explore courses, practice grabs like the mute or tail grab, and learn the timing for smooth landings.

Multiplayer is a highlight, with split-screen action bringing head-to-head competition right on your TV. For true split-second rivalry, the Playstation link cable support allows you to race friends on separate screens, avoiding the slowdown that can sometimes plague split-screen splits. Whether you’re refining combos or battling a buddy, the multiplayer options add significant replayability.

Graphics

Visually, Cool Boarders 2 represents a clear step forward from the original, with more detailed character models, varied environments, and smoother animations. Riders sport distinct outfits that make each competitor memorable, and your board choice even influences how your gear flexes in midair. There’s a noticeable polish in the way jumps and landings animate, giving a heightened sense of momentum when you whip your board around for a 360 mute.

Environments are colorful and diverse—ranging from snow-clad forests to high-altitude ridges bathed in sunset hues. While background details can appear blocky by today’s standards, the courses boast strong visual landmarks that assist with navigation at high speeds. Draw distance is solid, with few instances of pop-in, ensuring you can spot an upcoming ramp or hazard in enough time to react.

Frame rate holds fairly steady during solo runs, though split-screen mode occasionally suffers dips when both riders enter complex animations simultaneously. Lighting effects, such as sun glinting off snow and soft shadows beneath trees, create an immersive alpine atmosphere. Altogether, the graphics serve the gameplay well—prioritizing clarity and speed over photorealism.

Story

True to most extreme sports titles of its era, Cool Boarders 2 forgoes a traditional narrative in favor of pure competitive progression. There’s no plot to unravel or characters to develop—just you, your board, and the frozen slopes. This minimalist approach keeps the focus squarely on mastering tricks and beating rival times.

That said, there is an implicit journey: starting as an underdog fresh off the beginner slope, you quickly discover tougher courses and more formidable opponents in Competition mode. Unlocking new boards feels like a reward for your growing skill, and the shift from modest freestyle runs to massive halfpipe showdowns provides a satisfying sense of escalation.

For players seeking story-driven motivation, Cool Boarders 2 might feel lean. However, the in-game commentary, flashy intros before each event, and the thrill of posting a high score act as narrative beats that propel you forward. Your “story” is written in points tallied, boards unlocked, and the sheer joy of landing that perfect trick.

Overall Experience

As the swan song of UEP Systems’ involvement, Cool Boarders 2 captures the essence of late-’90s snowboarding games: simple to pick up, challenging to master, and undeniably fun to watch in split-screen showdowns. Its blend of accessible controls, a solid trick library, and multiple game modes ensures there’s something for casual players and devoted trick-seekers alike.

While the lack of a narrative may deter players craving a story-driven campaign, the pure, unadulterated snowboarding action more than compensates. The game’s pacing—alternating between timed runs, big air spectacles, and deep halfpipe combos—keeps the adrenaline high, and the reward loop of unlocking fresh boards and riders remains compelling throughout.

Looking back from a modern standpoint, Cool Boarders 2 can feel dated in areas like texture detail and frame-rate consistency under split-screen stress. Yet its core mechanics hold up: carving, jumping, and landing tricks never go out of style. For anyone interested in the roots of snowboarding games or seeking a nostalgic throwback, Cool Boarders 2 remains a worthy ride down memory lane.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10