COOL BOARDERS
 (SCEA)
System: PSX

   Much like the first and only time I ever went skiing, the first time I played Cool Boarders on the PlayStation, I tumbled almost the entire way down the mountain. And while my inability to make it down a Cool Boarders slope without careening off the rock walls like a human pinball is no real reflection on my skiing incompetence, the truth is that it’s incredibly difficult to remain upright while shushing down a Cool Boarders hill--primarily due to the dreadful combination of high speeds and poor control. The gameplay here, at least in theory, is relatively simple--snowboard down a long, rocky, twisty-turny mountain. Try to reach the finish line before the clock runs out and attempt a trick now and again for bonus points. You can choose either a male or female boarder (each with four different outfits) and pick from four types of boards (each with four colors)--but unfortunately only three courses (novice, advanced and expert) are available. The game provides a hair-raising sense of speed and some solid overall snowboarding action, despite the beating you’ll undoubtedly take on the way down.