In the modern gaming industry, there is arguably nothing as important as game preservation. The art of resurrecting a franchise is a great way to reignite interest while also introducing it to a brand-new audience. There have been countless brilliant examples of this lately, such as the recent return of Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
Preserving games raises an interesting question: Are there certain games that are better off being left in the past? If a game from the past that didn’t get much success in its era returns without many significant modifications, is it still worth preserving? Usually, I would say yes, but my time with Snow Bros. 2 Special had me doubting that answer.
Snow Bros. 2 is a platforming run-and-gun that was initially released in 1994. For the first time in over thirty years, the game will be available on modern platforms (specifically PC and the Nintendo Switch). Unfortunately, even despite a remake, this isn’t a game that has made a smooth transition into the 21st century, and I found it to be a deeply frustrating experience from beginning to end.
Aged Like Milk
Snow Bros. 2 Special opens with a nameless Princess being kidnapped by a mysterious enemy. You must take control of one of four characters in order to get her back. Along the way, you journey across six different worlds with nine levels and one boss fight. The levels consist of several enemies and platforms to traverse. Once all enemies are defeated, you move on to the next stage.
I will say that I appreciated the enemy designs and how varied they look. The bosses, in particular, don’t really stick to a specific archetype and are instead all over the place. Some enemies aren’t too memorable in their design, while others are as memorable as the protagonists. Speaking of the protagonists, their unique capabilities and combat potential are fun to experiment with.
The arcade-esque style allows you to try different characters and their move sets. For example, there’s a Snowman character who can trap enemies in ice, roll them around like a snowball, and use it to catch other enemies. The character I found the most luck with is one who traps enemies in a wave that cascades around the map. Plus, you can also play as some of the many enemies you encounter throughout the game.
Where the problems start is in the actual moment-to-moment gameplay. For one, a lot of the combat and platforming loses its charm after the first few levels. There isn’t enough variation in the levels, nor any unique strategies and challenges that you’re forced to employ. Throughout most of the game, I felt like I was banging my head against a wall trying to figure out the right approach to a battle.
That frustration only grew in how unintuitive the gameplay can feel. The actual process of using attacks on one enemy to hit others is very difficult to get the hang of, and the game doesn’t do a good enough job of explaining its systems. Additionally, some of the main four characters are not viable at all compared to others.
It doesn’t help that there are a few bugs that detract from the gameplay. Namely, there is a significant level of slowdown that can be felt in the later encounters. I also noticed a little bit of input delay, making the difficulty spike even more frustrating. The three-hour length means that the game ends before it can make a lasting impact. The addition of multiplayer and other new modes, such as Survival and Time Attack, also don’t add enough material to make the game worth replaying.
At the end of the day, the biggest issue with Snow Bros. 2 Special is that it doesn’t hold up at all. While many games are able to establish a new legacy after several decades, this game doesn’t. Not only is the gameplay infuriating, but the story is about as simple as it gets. The remake art style is grating at times and was almost nauseating on most levels. Even the music from boss battles is reused, and the few new tracks aren’t very distinctive.
If this were a game that was offered for 15 dollars that had a chance to appeal to the right audience, then this wouldn’t be a problem. However, Snow Bros. 2 Special is $30, a very steep price considering its short runtime and lack of replayability. As such, this is a game that is very difficult to recommend to people.
Preserved, But At What Cost?
Game preservation is very important, but it has to be handled right. Some games can get away with coming back with very few changes, while some need to have the necessary updates to make it playable for modern audiences. Snow Bros. 2 Special doesn’t fit into either category.
While there is some potential in the actual concepts and arcade style, the game’s problems far outweigh its strengths. Whether it’s the visual style, the aggravating gameplay, or the bugs that actively detracted from the experience, I found myself being irritated by the game for 90% of the runtime. There were very few moments throughout it where I was actually having fun.
Not only that, but there is very little reason to revisit the game after beating it for the first time. While the four-player multiplayer and extra modes are appreciated, they don’t add anything consequential to the runtime and aren’t fun enough to even try out. As a whole, the new additions aren’t enough to justify a purchase. This is a case where it’s not the fault of the remake or the team behind it but a fundamental flaw in the original source material. However, the price point makes even this well-done remake feel flat since there simply isn’t enough quality content.
Perhaps if you like games that combine platforming with a retro run-and-gun loop, you may enjoy it. Unfortunately, all of Snow Bros. 2 Special‘s negative attributes, combined with the fact that it is only three hours long at a price of $30, make it an experience that I cannot recommend.
Disclaimer: Clear River Games provided Final Weapon with a Nintendo Switch copy of Snow Bros. 2 Special for review purposes.
