Cool Boarders 2001

Overall: B
Violence: B
Sexual Content: A
Language: A
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
ESRB rating: E

Cool Boarders 2001's introductory images triggered a flashback. Suddenly I was a kid again, perched atop Paskapoo, our local oversized well-manicured mogul of a ski hill, looking anything but cool in my fake-fur lined plastic jacket, and standing on two scuffed up picket fence boards called skis. I distinctly recall thinking to myself , "I am going to die!" Many things have changed in the decades that have followed; Paskapoo has been transformed into Canada Olympic Park, I try to dress a little trendier, and downhill skiers have had to move over and clear a path for a new breed of outdoor winter enthusiasts--the snow boarder.

Forgetting the drab ski rentals of yesteryear, today's extreme athletes (who obviously have never contemplated their mortality) willingly lock both feet onto a snowboard and set out to be king of the hill. Cool Boarders 2001 allows players to assume the identity of their favorite pro or amateur, each with their own unique performance characteristics (including agility and speed). Winning a challenge or an event increases the attributes and skills of the rider, unlocks a greater selection of higher caliber competitors (16 in total), and opens new courses with plenty of obstacles to rail on--like downed trees and ski lift cables.

Although Cool Boarders 2001 includes a one- or two-player Quick Race, the real meat and potatoes of game play can be found in the single player Career Mode. This selection contains a plethora of events that may be unlocked as entry requirements are met, and ultimately leads to the Vans Triple Crown. Learning to master sequence tricks such as the "rail-to-rail," "jump-over-the-barn," and the "bonk-off-of-snow-cat" (to name just a few), is a sport within itself. Gam'ateurs likely won't have the innate skills necessary for tweaked grabs or riding the rails, but the Trick Newbie challenge event offers an on-screen display of button combinations while professional tutors like Tara Dakides or Kevin Jones demonstrate the stunt and call out instructions.

Only players with a lot of patience will be rewarded with the spectacular stunting this difficult game is capable of (for everyone else, SSX's snowboarding simulation may prove an easier place to start). Those who find themselves frustrated have a couple of options: sit back and enjoy the view (the program features grand, expansive, non-repeating backgrounds, and special effects like wind rippling jackets--even if the in-motion action-heroes' graphics seem to flicker a little), or engage in a boxing match (game designers have thrown in the ability to punch or be punched by cheating opponents).

The solid game works hard on sound effects--such as boards swishing along the snow and whistling wind--and heats up the slopes with the fast-paced music of bands like Stone Temple Pilots, but the repetitious banter from the game's characters may be enough to cool you down or at least cause you to hit the mute button.

For winter sport participants like myself, who cleared a path for others to follow (usually on my backside while screaming uncontrollably), my sage advice is stay warm in your living room and let the virtual daredevils of Cool Boarders 2001 carve up the slopes for you.

Melanie Law

©2001 One Voice Communications. All Rights Reserved