Let’s build a snowman!
My knowledge of the Snow Bros. franchise is a bit limited. I was more of a Bubble Bobble person, and the originals both existed in the same space. So, when this game came across my inbox, I assumed it was just a remake of the original. I mean that is all the rage these days. Bring back older games with a new coat of paint to re-introduce them to players who have likely never heard of them. Instead, Snow Bros. Wonderland is instead a brand-new title in the franchise that takes the original concept and builds an entirely new game in that mold. It is fun for sure. Single screen puzzle games are a lost art, and revisiting this series has helped me appreciate the older titles even more.
So, what is Snow Bros.? That was my big question coming in, as I had likely played it once or twice years ago but never got into it like other classic puzzlers. Much like Bubble Bobble the goal of these games is to clear a single screen. The catch with Snow Bros. is that players will use a snowball to turn enemies into snowballs and kick them off the screen. Simple right? So how well can they translate this into 3D? Pretty well actually, the game does a nice job of keeping the core mechanics while also adding in a few twists and turns to make it feel modern and fresh.
MSRP: $29.99
Platforms: PlayStation (reviewed), Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
Each mission is still a one-off stage where Nick and Tom are tasked with rolling up enemies into snowballs and rolling them into other enemies. Sure, it is simple, but the idea is to chain these together to create combos, thus reaching higher scores. The controls are simple and smooth, which is essential for a game that relies on high scores. It starts off simple, but by the later stages the challenge ramps up. There are more complex puzzles to solve, and nailing the combos in these later stages becomes nearly impossible. Thankfully I didn’t have to meet any score requirement to move on, but it is addictive to try and master the game’s challenges.
There is also a co-op mode that allows players to team up with a friend, each controlling a different brother. This mode is a lot of fun for short bursts. The core campaign is fairly brief, but the addition of co-op and score chasing make coming back to it worthwhile. There are also Sushi coins that are earned depending on difficulty and performance. These can be used to unlock extra items such as costumes for Nick and Tom, which is definitely something that had me coming back for more. I love being able to unlock extras in games without having to pay for DLC.
Visually the game looks and runs smoothly. They captured the look and feel of the original with some modern designs. Frame rate is rock solid, which is imperative for a precision puzzle game that focuses on score chasing. I loved the designs of the levels and the enemies are creative and clever. It is all wrapped up with cut scenes in between levels. Yes, puzzle games had outlandish stories back in the day. The voice acting is weird, but it works. Nothing here is revolutionary, but it is a nice transition between stages, while also being whimsical and fun.
Snow Bros. Wonderland is a solid puzzle game that stays true to the original, while also bringing enough new tricks to make it feel fresh. Not having nostalgia for the series, I still had a great time. The game does enough to keep it interesting. Not sure why it was a classic, I still think Bubble Bobble is the better game, but I can now appreciate what people loved about the original. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy puzzle games at all.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.