Line #1 VideoGame/CoolBoarders


1	[[quoteright:326:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coolboarderscodealiencover_2270.jpg]]
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3	''Cool Boarders'' is a series of snowboarding-based [[RacingGame racing games]] developed by UEP Systems and (in its latter installments) Idol Minds / 989 Studios in the late 90's and early 2000's for the Sony Platform/PlayStation and Platform/PlayStation2.
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5	Each installment of the series allows players to take control of various snowboarders in a quest to conquer several different courses in various locales across the world, via various gameplay modes. The first game, released in 1996, offered three tracks (plus two hidden maps), two selectable characters and a handful of boards to try, with players being encouraged to beat time or stunt records on each course. The second game (released in 1997) introduced the staple Competition mode, where players competed against CPU-controlled opponents to advance through several [[TrialAndErrorGameplay increasingly]] [[TimedMission difficult]] stages, interspersed with qualifying events where players try to get the best stunt and trick scores. The third added six different modes for each course, in addition to a wider selection of characters (including real-life snowboarders who lent their likenesses to the game). Later installments allowed the player to enhance their abilities by beating certain challenges or modes.
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7	The games included tracks in various locations, including mountains, [[BenevolentArchitecture villages]], caves and more, and secret characters with enhanced abilities could be unlocked by completing difficult courses or beating time/stunt records
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9	The franchise ended after ''Cool Boarders 2001'', released in 2000 for the [[MultiPlatform PlayStation and PlayStation 2]].
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11	The series includes the following installments:
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13	* ''Cool Boarders'' (1996)
14	* ''Cool Boarders 2'' (1997)
15	* ''Cool Boarders 3'' (1998)
16	* ''Cool Boarders 4'' (1999)
17	* ''Cool Boarders Burrrn'' (1999, released in the U.S. as ''Rippin' Riders Snowboarding'' and in Europe as ''Snow Surfers'')
18	* ''Cool Boarders Pocket'' (2000)
19	* ''Cool Boarders: Code Alien'' (2000, Japan-only)
20	* ''Cool Boarders 2001'' (2000, re-released for the [=PS2=] in 2001)
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22	Not to be confused with CoolBoard.
23	----
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25	!!This series has examples of the following tropes:
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27	* {{Acrofatic}}: Burg in ''3'' and ''4''.
28	* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Irin and Cindy in ''2''.
29	* AnnouncerChatter: The first two games are full of it (as well as ''Burrrn''). Thankfully excised starting with the Idol Minds-developed games.
30	* AntiFrustrationFeatures: It's a lot easier to land tricks in ''3'' through ''2001'', due to an entirely new game engine and revamped controls.
31	* BraggingRightsReward:
32	** The Snowman character in the original game, ''2'' (unlocked by getting 100 tricks in the Master Big Air event), ''Burrrn'' and ''2001''.
33	** The Gray Alien in ''2'' (unlocked by scoring 37.9 points or higher in the halfpipe), ''Burrrn''' and ''2001''.
34	** In ''2'' and ''3'', the "Boss" character is unlocked by beating Mirror Mode.
35	* BrutalBonusLevel:
36	** "Dive Into The Cave" in ''2''. [[spoiler:It's part of the Competition in Hard Mode.]]
37	** "Avalanche" in ''3''.
38	** "Dancing Devils" in ''Burrrn''.
39	* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: In ''2'', Boss is the most fluidly-controlled of the characters, has obscene stats for all fields (unlike the starting characters) and never makes a mistake or ever slows down in the later races, forcing the player to get first place in the last few qualifying events if they want a chance in Hell of beating him.
40	* ContinuityNod: The practice course from ''2'' can be unlocked in ''Burrrn'' by beating the game, and in ''2001'' by beating all 5 standard courses (beating the top score in this stage unlocks the Snowman hidden character from the first three games).
41	* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption: Players in ''3'' and ''4'' have the option of punching CPU characters who get too close in the face (and they never hit back). This becomes a necessity in later courses where the AI becomes unfairly fast and overpowered.
42	* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: Falling off a cliff or hitting water in most games does nothing other than make you lose a few seconds of time. [[LampshadedTrope Lampshaded]] by the announcer in the first game, who says, "[[NoOneCouldSurviveThat I thought you were history]]!"
43	* DifficultButAwesome: Jin in ''2'' is the fastest of the default characters, and has terrible handling and stability to boot. However, if one learns how to control him effectively (by using constant adjustments while riding and always crouching), Jin can easily get enough of a lead in the early races that the other CPU opponents will never catch up to him.
44	* DiscOneNuke: The Gray Alien in ''2'' has better stats than all the human characters, can be unlocked near the beginning of the game with enough practice, and makes several of the jumps and races much easier.
45	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The original game is a far cry from the later installments, and looks like a glorified demo in comparison. There were no characters to choose from besides a male/female model that look similar, a limited handful of boards, no competition mode, no competitors, terrible hit detection (with the players sometimes bouncing out of control between walls in tight spaces if they hit the sides), no training modes and bugs galore (the characters can disappear for a couple seconds while jumping). Notably, it was also the only one of the first four games not to receive a [=PlayStation=] Greatest Hits release.
46	* EndlessGame: Even if you get through 100 tricks in Master Big Air, earning the best title, the game will keep throwing instructions at you until you fail.
47	* ForeignReScore: The first two games had completely different soundtracks when imported to the U.S.
48	%%* FragileSpeedster: Jin in ''2''.
49	%%* GirlishPigtails: Irin in ''2''.
50	* HarderThanHard: The Japanese Mirror Tournament mode and Master Big Air event in ''2'', where the win conditions are much more strict than the American/European versions.
51	* InternalHomage: ''2'' reuses large sections of levels from the original game in its opening courses.
52	* JokeCharacter:
53	** The Snowman in every installment besides ''4''.
54	** The Gray in ''2'', ''3'' and ''2001''.
55	** Bob (a cowboy), Cool (a Music/MichaelJackson-wannabe with an afro) and Burg (an obese man, who also qualifies as a LethalJokeCharacter) in ''3''.
56	* LemonyNarrator: The announcer in ''2'', who throws out phrases like, "This next race features the freshest of the fresh riders around!" and "There's the finish line! Don't eat it now!"
57	* NoFairCheating: In ''3'', after you put in the password that unlocks everything, a voice says "Cheater!" The game still lets you use the code, though.
58	* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: The crashes and drops off massively-high cliffs.
59	* NostalgiaLevel: The training course from ''2'', which is unlocked in ''2001'' if the player beats all of the standard courses.
60	* ObstacleSkiCourse: ''3'', ''4'' and ''2001'' have courses full of obstructions like broken branches, logs, entire villages, rocks, crystals, ravines, etc.
61	* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: The announcer in the original game and ''2''.
62	* ProductPlacement: Burton Snowboards, Swatch and Butterfinger (among others) in ''3''.
63	* SloMoBigAir: During the replays of various qualifying events.
64	* SplitScreen: Beginning with ''2''.
65	* StoppedNumberingSequels: The last three installments for the series dispensed with the numbering scheme and decided on one-off titles (''Pocket'', ''Code Alien'', ''2001'').
66	* TimeTrial
67	* TitleScream: The first two games - "''Coooooooooool BOARDERS!''"
68	* ToBeAMaster: You can only get the title "Cool Boarder!" if you can execute all 100 tricks in Master Mode, which takes a significant amount of time and practice.
69	* TotallyRadical
70	* UndergroundLevel: At least one in each game after the original.
71	* UpdatedRerelease: ''2001'' for the [=PlayStation=] 2.

Context VideoGame / CoolBoarders