Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Cool Boarders 4 delivers a robust mix of downhill speed runs and gravity-defying trick challenges. With 16 pro-riders to choose from and the option to create your own custom boarder, the game caters both to newcomers and series veterans. Each character comes endowed with unique stats, ensuring that speed demons and freestyle fanatics can pick a rider that suits their preferred style on the slopes.

The game’s 30 courses are spread across a varied mountain landscape: from narrow, winding trails that reward precise line choices to open halfpipe environs and big-air ramps that beg for spectacular flips. In downhill mode, clean runs and tight cornering are essential, while halfpipe, slope style, and big air events emphasize timing and creativity. It’s especially satisfying to link combos, chaining grabs, spins, and flips into one seamless routine.

Tournament mode ties everything together by having you compete across all five events. This mode not only adds structure and a sense of progression, it gives you a tangible goal: beat the CPU’s best aggregate score to claim the championship. The constant ebb and flow between speed-based and trick-based contests keeps you engaged and pushes you to refine both facets of your riding.

Multiplayer options further extend replay value, letting up to four players challenge each other in split-screen showdowns. The addition of analogue control support is a welcome upgrade, giving riders unprecedented precision over carve angles and trick execution. Whether you’re gunning for the fastest time or pulling off the flashiest combo, the controller response is tight and intuitive.

Graphics

For a PlayStation title of its era, Cool Boarders 4 presents crisp, colorful courses that capture the feel of alpine runs and urban halfpipes alike. Each environment is richly detailed, from sun-dappled snowfields to pine forests dusted with powder. Course designs are memorable without feeling repetitive, and each slope has its own visual personality.

Character models are well-defined and sport an array of slick jackets, goggles, and snowboards. The rider animations—be it carving through a berm or launching off a kicker—are smooth and believable. When you nail a trick, the camera pulls in for a close-up, letting you appreciate the rotation and style of your stunt.

Snow effects and particle trails give the impression of speed and spray. Though draw-in pop occasionally occurs on the more distant mountain peaks, it rarely impacts your run or obscures track hazards. The frame rate holds steady even in intense multiplayer sessions, ensuring that split-second inputs register faithfully.

Lighting and weather conditions add further variety: morning fogs blur distant outlines, whereas late-afternoon runs bathe the slopes in a warm, golden glow. While there’s no dynamic snowfall mid-run, the static representations do enough to set the mood and deliver a consistently polished presentation.

Story

As a sports simulation, Cool Boarders 4 doesn’t follow a traditional narrative arc, but it crafts its own brand of underdog drama through progression. You begin as an up-and-coming boarder, carving out your reputation on smaller events before earning a spot in the full-fledged tournament where the big names compete. This career ladder functions as a loose storyline, making each victory feel earned.

The sense of trajectory—from rookie runs to pro-caliber showdowns—creates an implicit narrative of hard work and triumph. Unlockable boards and attire serve as rewards that punctuate your journey, giving tangible milestones to look forward to between competitions. Watching your custom rider evolve from a raw talent into a stylish pro adds a sense of personal investment.

Ambient details like announcer callouts and crowd cheers help sell the atmosphere of a high-stakes competition. While you won’t find cutscenes or voiced plotlines, the game uses race intros, podium ceremonies, and trophy unlock sequences to frame each event as part of a larger championship. This is enough to keep you motivated without bogging you down in unnecessary storytelling.

Ultimately, the “story” here is what you make of it: a personal quest to conquer every halfpipe, set record times on each downhill run, and out-trick your friends in multiplayer. That open-ended structure is perfect for a sports title, giving you the freedom to focus on the events you love most.

Overall Experience

Cool Boarders 4 stands out as both an accessible entry point for newcomers and a deep challenge for seasoned players. The variety of events, coupled with robust character and board customization, means there’s always a new line to master or a trick combo to perfect. The analogue controls feel ahead of their time, granting you the sensitivity needed for nuanced moves and precise carving.

Multiplayer enhances the experience by letting friends face off in both racing and trick competitions, turning your living room into a mountain resort. Split-screen performance remains solid, and the competitive tension is palpable whether you’re chasing the fastest downhill time or outscoring each other in a big air contest. It’s a perfect party game for winter sports fans.

On the downside, the lack of dynamic weather changes and a formal narrative might feel sparse to players seeking a story-driven adventure. And while the graphics remain charming, some might notice texture draw-in on the more distant terrain. Yet these are minor quibbles in an otherwise well-rounded package.

In the end, Cool Boarders 4 offers a compelling mix of speed, style, and replayability. Its balance of downhill thrills and trick-centric halfpipes ensures each session feels fresh. Whether you’re building your custom rider’s legend or battling friends for bragging rights, this installment in the franchise remains a high point in console snowboarding.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10