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|title    = Snow Bros.
|title    = Snow Bros.
|image    = Snow Bros. arcade flyer.jpg
|image    = Snow Bros. arcade flyer.jpg
|developer = [[Toaplan]]
|developer = [[Toaplan]]{{efn|Game Boy version developed by Dual; NES version developed by Soft House.}}
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/EU|Toaplan|NA|[[Romstar]]}}
|publisher = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|Toaplan}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP/EU|Toaplan|NA|[[Romstar]]}} '''Game Boy'''{{vgrelease|JP|[[Kaga Create|Naxat Soft]]|NA/EU|[[Capcom]]}} '''NES'''{{vgrelease|NA/PAL|Capcom|JP|Toaplan}} '''Mega Drive'''<br>[[Tengen (company)|Tengen]]<br>'''iOS, Android'''<br>ISAC Entertainment}}
|composer  = Osamu Ōta
|composer  = Osamu Ōta
|series    = ''Snow Bros.''
|series    = ''Snow Bros.''
|platforms = [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Game Boy]], [[iOS]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]]
|platforms = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Game Boy]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
|released  = {{vgrelease|JP|April 1990|NA|May 1990|EU|1990}}
|released  = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|April 1990}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|April 1990|NA|May 1990|EU|1990}} '''Game Boy'''{{vgrelease|JP|24 May 1991|NA|January 1992|EU|1992}} '''NES'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 1991|JP|December 1991|EU|1991}} '''Mega Drive'''{{vgrelease|JP|28 May 1993}} '''iOS, Android'''{{vgrelease|WW|2012}}
}}
|genre    = [[Platform game|Platform]]
|genre    = [[Platform game|Platform]]
|modes    = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
|modes    = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}
}}


{{nihongo foot|'''''Snow Bros.'''''|スノーブラザーズ|''Sunō Burazāzu''|lit. "'''''Snow Brothers'''''"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1990 [[Platform game|platform]] [[arcade video game]] originally developed by [[Toaplan]] first published in Japan, then in North America by [[Romstar]] and later in Europe. Starring the eponymous [[snowmen]] twins Nick and Tom, players are tasked with travelling through 50 stages, throwing and building [[snowball]]s, jumping on and off platforms to navigate level obstacles while dodging and defeating monsters in order to rescue the [[princesses]] Puripuri and Puchipuchi from captivity.<ref name="CN201">{{cite magazine|title=Arcadias: Snow Bros.|magazine=[[Club Nintendo#Mexico|Club Nintendo]]|issue=201|publisher=[[:es:Editorial Televisa|Editorial Televisa]]|date=August 2008|pages=46–47|lang=es}}</ref> Although first launched in arcades, the game was later [[Porting#Porting in gaming|ported]] across multiple [[Video game#Platforms|platforms]], each one being created by different [[third-party developer]]s and featuring several changes or additions compared with the original version. [[Video game conversion|Conversion]]s for various [[microcomputer]]s were in development but none were officially released to the public.
{{nihongo foot|'''''Snow Bros.'''''|スノーブラザーズ|''Sunō Burazāzu''|lit. "'''''Snow Brothers'''''"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1990 [[Platform game|platform]] [[video game]] developed and published by [[Toaplan]] for Japanese [[arcade video game|arcades]]; it was distributed by [[Romstar]] in North America and Europe. Players control [[snowman]] twins Nick and Tom as they travel through 50 stages, using [[snowball]]s as weapons while navigating obstacles and battling monsters in order to rescue the princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi.<ref name="CN201">{{cite magazine|title=Arcadias: Snow Bros.|magazine=[[Club Nintendo#Mexico|Club Nintendo]]|issue=201|publisher=[[:es:Editorial Televisa|Editorial Televisa]]|date=August 2008|pages=46–47|lang=es}}</ref> The game was later [[Porting#Porting in gaming|ported]] to multiple [[Video game#Platforms|platforms]], each one by different [[third-party developer]]s and featuring several changes or additions. Versions for various [[microcomputer]]s were in development, but were never officially released.


''Snow Bros.'' was met with mostly positive reception from critics and players alike, earning an award from ''[[Gamest]]'' magazine and gaining a [[cult following]] since its initial release. In 1994, a sequel titled ''[[Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves]]'' was released by Hanafram, serving as the last game by Toaplan prior to their closure. The rights to the title are owned by Tatsujin, a Japanese company formed by Masahiro Yuge. A modernized version of the game titled ''Snow Bros Special'' was developed by CRT Games and published by Daewon Media Game Lab and Clear River Games for [[Nintendo Switch]], and was released in May 2022. A third installment in the series, ''Snow Bros. Wonderland'', was released in 2024.
''Snow Bros.'' was met with mostly positive reception from critics and players alike, earning an award from ''[[Gamest]]'' magazine and gaining a [[cult following]] since its initial release. In 1994, a sequel titled ''[[Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves]]'' was released by Hanafram, serving as the last game by Toaplan prior to their closure. The rights to ''Snow Bros.'' are currently owned by Tatsujin, a Japanese company formed by Masahiro Yuge. A modernized version of the game, titled ''Snow Bros Special'', was developed by CRT Games and published by Daewon Media Game Lab and Clear River Games for [[Nintendo Switch]], and was released in May 2022. A third installment in the series, ''Snow Bros. Wonderland'', was released in 2024.


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
[[File:Snowbrosscreenshot.png|thumb|left|Arcade version screenshot]]
[[File:Snowbrosscreenshot.png|thumb|left|Arcade version screenshot]]


''Snow Bros.'' is a platform game reminiscent of ''[[Bubble Bobble]]'' and ''[[Tumblepop]]'', where players assume the role of snowmen twins Nick (P1) and Tom (P2) through 50 increasingly difficult stages, each with a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] at every tenth stage that must be fought before progressing any further, in an effort to rescue twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi from captivity as the main objective.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual">''Snow Brothers'' instruction booklet (Game Boy, US)</ref><ref name="SBNESmanual">''Snow Brothers'' instruction manual (Nintendo Entertainment System, US)</ref><ref name="SBSMDmanual">''Snow Bros. (スノーブラザーズ): Nick & Tom'' manual (Sega Mega Drive, JP)</ref> The plot summary of ''Snow Bros.'' varies between each region and version.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/><ref name="SBflyer">''Snow Bros.'' arcade flyer (Toaplan, JP)</ref> In the NES port, King Scorch cursed [[prince]]s Nick and Tom by turning them into snowmen, while he also captured the princess twins Teri and Tina, leading the brothers to defeat the king to save their land.
''Snow Bros.'' is a platform game reminiscent of ''[[Bubble Bobble]]'' and ''[[Tumblepop]]'', where players assume the role of snowmen twins Nick (wearing blue overalls) and Tom (wearing red overalls) through 50 increasingly difficult stages, each with a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] at every tenth stage that must be fought before progressing any further, in an effort to rescue twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi from captivity as the main objective.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual">''Snow Brothers'' instruction booklet (Game Boy, US)</ref><ref name="SBNESmanual">''Snow Brothers'' instruction manual (Nintendo Entertainment System, US)</ref><ref name="SBSMDmanual">''Snow Bros. (スノーブラザーズ): Nick & Tom'' manual (Sega Mega Drive, JP)</ref> The plot summary of ''Snow Bros.'' varies between each region and version.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/><ref name="SBflyer">''Snow Bros.'' arcade flyer (Toaplan, JP)</ref> In the NES port, King Scorch cursed [[prince]]s Nick and Tom by turning them into snowmen, while he also captured the princess twins Teri and Tina, leading the brothers to defeat the king to save their land.


Each player can throw snow at enemies until each one is completely covered and turns into a snowball, but partially covered enemies in snow cannot move until they shake it off.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> Once an enemy has been turned into a snowball, players can roll or throw the snowball, which will rebound off of walls until eventually shattering against a wall.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> Any enemies the snowball rolls into are eliminated and other stationary snowballs start rolling when the rolling snowball touches them.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> If players manage to take out all enemies by kicking one snowball (this one snowball may be used to make others bounce around as well and increase the chances to pull this trick off), bonus money will fall from the sky.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> If the player takes too much time to complete a level, an evil pumpkin head will come and try to kill the players. It is invincible but can be stunned and sent to appear elsewhere in the level with snowballs or snow shots.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> The evil pumpkin head will eventually spawn ghosts that travel freely through the level and seek the player character. These ghosts cannot be killed or stunned and players must avoid them while killing the rest of the enemies.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/>
Each player can throw snow at enemies until each one is completely covered and turns into a snowball, but partially covered enemies in snow cannot move until they shake it off.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> Once an enemy has been turned into a snowball, players can roll or throw the snowball, which will rebound off of walls until eventually shattering against a wall.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> Any enemies the snowball rolls into are eliminated and other stationary snowballs start rolling when the rolling snowball touches them.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> If players manage to take out all enemies by kicking one snowball (this one snowball may be used to make others bounce around as well and increase the chances to pull this trick off), bonus money will fall from the sky.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> If the player takes too much time to complete a level, an evil pumpkin head will come and try to kill the players. It is invincible but can be stunned and sent to appear elsewhere in the level with snowballs or snow shots.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/> The evil pumpkin head will eventually spawn ghosts that travel freely through the level and seek the player character. These ghosts cannot be killed or stunned and players must avoid them while killing the rest of the enemies.<ref name="CN201"/><ref name="SBGBmanual"/><ref name="SBNESmanual"/><ref name="SBSMDmanual"/>
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Despite receiving almost no support from [[Toaplan]], the team at Ocean France wanted the Amiga port of ''Snow Bros.'' to be as close as possible to the arcade original, playing the coin-op machine from start to finish while using it as reference when taking notes about certain elements such as animations, graphic techniques and enemy [[Artificial intelligence|AI]].<ref name="CUAmiga14"/> Work on the conversion was primarily done on Amiga and [[Atari ST]]-based systems, while custom software was written to animate [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]s and build stages as a [[jigsaw puzzle]] using low memory, which allowed an easier coding process to implement every element from the arcade version like hidden bonus secrets.<ref name="CUAmiga14"/> [[Video game artist|Artist]]s Philippe and Lionel Dessoly, as well as Francis Fournier adapted the arcade artwork for the conversion, using a ST set-up for maps and sprites, while Pierre Loriaux was responsible for [[sound design]].<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="JStick13">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=30&num=664&album=oui|title=News Preview: J'Arosse Mon Jeu Tous Les Jours, Il Est Bienot Grand|magazine=[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]|issue=13|publisher=[[:fr:Anuman Interactive|Anuman Interactive]]|date=February 1991|pages=30–31|lang=fr}}</ref>
Despite receiving almost no support from [[Toaplan]], the team at Ocean France wanted the Amiga port of ''Snow Bros.'' to be as close as possible to the arcade original, playing the coin-op machine from start to finish while using it as reference when taking notes about certain elements such as animations, graphic techniques and enemy [[Artificial intelligence|AI]].<ref name="CUAmiga14"/> Work on the conversion was primarily done on Amiga and [[Atari ST]]-based systems, while custom software was written to animate [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]s and build stages as a [[jigsaw puzzle]] using low memory, which allowed an easier coding process to implement every element from the arcade version like hidden bonus secrets.<ref name="CUAmiga14"/> [[Video game artist|Artist]]s Philippe and Lionel Dessoly, as well as Francis Fournier adapted the arcade artwork for the conversion, using a ST set-up for maps and sprites, while Pierre Loriaux was responsible for [[sound design]].<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="JStick13">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=30&num=664&album=oui|title=News Preview: J'Arosse Mon Jeu Tous Les Jours, Il Est Bienot Grand|magazine=[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]|issue=13|publisher=[[:fr:Anuman Interactive|Anuman Interactive]]|date=February 1991|pages=30–31|lang=fr}}</ref>


The crew also included new additions such as [[cutscene]]s between stages and Adane was also able to replicate the original gameplay speed, though alterations had to be made to make the game more playable.<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="Z19">{{cite magazine|last=Lakin|first=Paul|url=https://archive.org/stream/zero-magazine-19#page/n25/mode/1up|title=Under Wraps: A Drop In The Ocean - Snow Brothers|magazine=[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]|issue=19|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=May 1991|page=26}}</ref> Adane said that co-op play was removed in order to maintain a stable [[frame rate]] during gameplay, which was deemed by Djan as "probably the most important factor".<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="Z19"/><ref name="TO31">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/theone-magazine-31/TheOne_31_Apr_1991#page/n13/mode/1up|title=News - Snow Brothers|magazine=[[The One (magazine)|The One]]|issue=31|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=April 1991|page=14}}</ref>
The crew also included new additions such as [[cutscene]]s between stages, and Adane was also able to replicate the original gameplay speed, though alterations had to be made to make the game more playable.<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="Z19">{{cite magazine|last=Lakin|first=Paul|url=https://archive.org/stream/zero-magazine-19#page/n25/mode/1up|title=Under Wraps: A Drop In The Ocean - Snow Brothers|magazine=[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]|issue=19|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=May 1991|page=26}}</ref> Adane said that co-op play was removed in order to maintain a stable [[frame rate]] during gameplay, which was deemed by Djan as "probably the most important factor".<ref name="CUAmiga14"/><ref name="Z19"/><ref name="TO31">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/theone-magazine-31/TheOne_31_Apr_1991#page/n13/mode/1up|title=News - Snow Brothers|magazine=[[The One (magazine)|The One]]|issue=31|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=April 1991|page=14}}</ref>


== Release ==
== Release ==
''Snow Bros.'' was first released for arcades in April 1990, in Japan by [[Toaplan]]<ref name="B!MD7">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1990-04.pdf&page=101|title=極楽VGブラザーズ: 東亜プラン - Yukida•Man|magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|issue=7|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=April 1990|page=99|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name="MBASICM95">{{cite magazine|last1=Miki|first1=Koji|last2=Yamashita|first2=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-05#page/n234/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game! - '90 AOUアミューズメント・エキスポ — スノーブラザーズ|magazine=[[:ja:マイコンBASICマガジン|Micom BASIC Magazine]]|issue=95|publisher=[[:ja:電波新聞社|The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation]]|date=May 1990|page=237|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name="ATVGL:JaO1971-2005">{{cite book|last=Akagi|first=Masumi|url=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n51/mode/1up|title=東亜プラン (Toa Plan); Romstar; S|work=アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005)|edition=1st|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement News Agency]]|date=13 October 2006|page=50|isbn=978-4990251215|language=ja}}</ref> and North America by [[Romstar]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Machine Catalog: Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=78–85 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/84/mode/2up}}</ref> and later in Europe the same year.<ref>''Snow Bros.'' arcade flyer (Toaplan, EU)</ref> The game ran on a proprietary arcade board manufactured by Toaplan, which was notable for its small size.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2482|title=Snow Bros. - Nick & Tom|website=arcade-history.com|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007040044/https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2482|archive-date=7 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=969&page=1#19151|title=Toaplan Unique Hardware (Other)|website=system16.com|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916045003/http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=969&page=1#19151|archive-date=16 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Soundtrack#Video game soundtracks|soundtrack]] was composed by Osamu Ōta.<ref name="VGMdb">{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/album/642|title=PCCB-00044 &#124; Out Zone • Snow Bros.|work=vgmdb.net|publisher=VGMdb|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111195646/http://vgmdb.net/album/642|archive-date=2017-01-11|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year on 21 October, an album containing music from the title and ''[[Out Zone]]'' was co-published exclusively in Japan by [[Scitron]] and [[Pony Canyon]], featuring an arranged soundtrack composed by Ōta.<ref name="VGMdb"/>
''Snow Bros.'' was first released for arcades in April 1990 in Japan by [[Toaplan]]<ref name="B!MD7">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1990-04.pdf&page=101|title=極楽VGブラザーズ: 東亜プラン - Yukida•Man|magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|issue=7|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=April 1990|page=99|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name="MBASICM95">{{cite magazine|last1=Miki|first1=Koji|last2=Yamashita|first2=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-05#page/n234/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game! - '90 AOUアミューズメント・エキスポ — スノーブラザーズ|magazine=[[:ja:マイコンBASICマガジン|Micom BASIC Magazine]]|issue=95|publisher=[[:ja:電波新聞社|The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation]]|date=May 1990|page=237|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name="ATVGL:JaO1971-2005">{{cite book|last=Akagi|first=Masumi|url=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n51/mode/1up|title=東亜プラン (Toa Plan); Romstar; S|work=アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005)|edition=1st|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement News Agency]]|date=13 October 2006|page=50|isbn=978-4990251215|language=ja}}</ref> and North America by [[Romstar]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Machine Catalog: Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=78–85 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/84/mode/2up}}</ref> and later in Europe the same year.<ref>''Snow Bros.'' arcade flyer (Toaplan, EU)</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2025}} The game ran on a proprietary arcade board manufactured by Toaplan, which was notable for its small size.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2482|title=Snow Bros. - Nick & Tom|website=arcade-history.com|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007040044/https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=2482|archive-date=7 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=969&page=1#19151|title=Toaplan Unique Hardware (Other)|website=system16.com|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916045003/http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=969&page=1#19151|archive-date=16 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Soundtrack#Video game soundtracks|soundtrack]] was composed by Osamu Ōta.<ref name="VGMdb">{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/album/642|title=PCCB-00044 &#124; Out Zone • Snow Bros.|work=vgmdb.net|publisher=VGMdb|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111195646/http://vgmdb.net/album/642|archive-date=2017-01-11|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year on 21 October, an album containing music from the title and ''[[Out Zone]]'' was co-published exclusively in Japan by [[Scitron]] and [[Pony Canyon]], featuring an arranged soundtrack composed by Ōta.<ref name="VGMdb"/>


=== Ports ===
=== Ports ===
The [[Game Boy]] conversion, titled ''Snow Bros. Jr.'', was developed by Dual and first released in Japan by [[Kaga Create|Naxat Soft]] on 24 May 1991 and later in North America by [[Capcom]] in January 1992.<ref>{{cite web|author=CRV|url=http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Dual|title=Dual|website=gdri.smspower.org|date=24 November 2009|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009184154/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Dual|archive-date=9 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1991.html|title=GAMEBOY Soft > 1991|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112249/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1991.html|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf|title=Game Boy (original) Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=2020-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111407/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> It is single-player only and changes the story to compensate for this by having one of the titular snowmen twins be kidnapped while the other sets out to rescue him.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/> Several other aspects of the game were changed due to the technical restrictions of the Game Boy, such as bosses that originally fought in pairs in the arcade version now fight alone and potions are now given different shape due to the lack of color display on the original Game Boy. The Game Boy version also adds an extra set of 10 levels after the 50 levels adapted from the arcade version are cleared.
The [[Game Boy]] conversion, titled ''Snow Bros. Jr.'', was developed by Dual<ref>{{cite web|author=CRV|url=http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Dual|title=Dual|website=gdri.smspower.org|date=24 November 2009|access-date=2019-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009184154/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Dual|archive-date=9 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and first released in Japan by [[Kaga Create|Naxat Soft]] on 24 May 1991,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1991.html|title=GAMEBOY Soft > 1991|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112249/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1991.html|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and in North America by [[Capcom]] in January 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf|title=Game Boy (original) Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=2020-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111407/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> It is single-player only and changes the story to compensate for this by having one of the titular snowmen twins be kidnapped while the other sets out to rescue him.<ref name="SBGBmanual"/> Several other aspects of the game were changed due to the technical restrictions of the Game Boy, such as bosses that originally fought in pairs in the arcade version now fight alone and potions are now given different shape due to the lack of color display on the original Game Boy. The Game Boy version also adds an extra set of 10 levels after the 50 levels adapted from the arcade version are cleared.


The [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version, titled ''Snow Brothers'' in western regions, was developed by Soft House and first released in North America by Capcom in November 1991, then in Japan on December of the same year by Toaplan as well as in Europe.<ref name="TFf25v9">{{cite magazine|author1=Iona|author2=VHS|author3=K-HEX|title=東亜プラン FOREVER|magazine=Floor 25|volume=9|date=June 2009|pages=1–70|lang=ja}} ([https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332 Translation] by Gamengai. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010170328/https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332|date=2020-10-10}}).</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|title=NES Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=2020-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|archive-date=2014-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1991.html|title=FAMICOM Soft > 1991|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020234346/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1991.html|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> It features a new story sequence at the beginning which depicts an origin story unique to this version in which Nick and Tom are established to be human princes who were cursed into becoming snowmen by an evil demon named King Scorch.<ref name="SBNESmanual"/>
The [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version, titled ''Snow Brothers'' in western regions, was developed by Soft House<ref name="TFf25v9">{{cite magazine|author1=Iona|author2=VHS|author3=K-HEX|title=東亜プラン FOREVER|magazine=Floor 25|volume=9|date=June 2009|pages=1–70|lang=ja}} ([https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332 Translation] by Gamengai. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010170328/https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332|date=2020-10-10}}).</ref> and first released in North America by Capcom in November 1991,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|title=NES Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=2020-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|archive-date=2014-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref> then in Japan in December of the same year by Toaplan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1991.html|title=FAMICOM Soft > 1991|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020234346/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1991.html|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as in Europe.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} It features a new story sequence at the beginning which depicts a unique origin story; Nick and Tom are established to be human princes who were cursed into becoming snowmen by an evil demon named King Scorch.<ref name="SBNESmanual"/>


The [[Sega Mega Drive]] version was released only in Japan by [[Tengen (company)|Tengen]] on 28 May 1993 and the only console version of the game to be developed by Toaplan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC2_MD1993.html|title=MEGA DRIVE Soft > 1993|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827211027/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC2_MD1993.html|archive-date=27 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It features a new opening story sequence at the start of the game, as well as 20 additional levels set after the original 50 levels, in which the player switches controls from Nick and Tom to the twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi after the snowmen twins themselves get kidnapped by a new adversary. The Mega Drive version is included on both the Japanese and Asian versions of the [[Sega Genesis Mini]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cano|first=Jorge|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350722934/sega-mega-drive-mini-confirmado-el-listado-final-de-42-juegos/|title=SEGA Mega Drive Mini: Confirmado el listado final de 42 juegos - Se han anunciado las últimas incorporaciones, como Dynamite Headdy, Tetris, Kid Chameleon, Eternal Champions, Columns, Strider, Virtua Fighter 2 y Light Crusader, entre otros|work=[[Vandal (website)|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=2020-01-02|language=es}}</ref>
The [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]] version was released only in Japan by [[Tengen (company)|Tengen]] on 28 May 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC2_MD1993.html|title=MEGA DRIVE Soft > 1993|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-10-06|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827211027/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC2_MD1993.html|archive-date=27 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and was the only console version of the game to be developed by Toaplan. It features a new opening story sequence at the start of the game, as well as 20 additional levels set after the original 50 levels, in which the player switches controls from Nick and Tom to the twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi after the snowmen twins themselves get kidnapped by a new adversary. The Mega Drive version is included on both the Japanese and Asian versions of the [[Sega Genesis Mini]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cano|first=Jorge|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350722934/sega-mega-drive-mini-confirmado-el-listado-final-de-42-juegos/|title=SEGA Mega Drive Mini: Confirmado el listado final de 42 juegos - Se han anunciado las últimas incorporaciones, como Dynamite Headdy, Tetris, Kid Chameleon, Eternal Champions, Columns, Strider, Virtua Fighter 2 y Light Crusader, entre otros|work=[[Vandal (website)|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=2020-01-02|language=es}}</ref>


ISAC Entertainment released an enhanced version of ''Snow Bros.'' for [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile devices in 2012. ''Snow Bros.'' was included as part of the ''Toaplan Arcade 1'' compilation for [[Evercade]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/05/evercade-is-getting-an-exp-upgrade-complete-with-irem-and-toaplan-collections|title=Evercade Is Getting An "EXP" Upgrade, Complete With Irem And Toaplan Collections|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|publisher=Nlife Media|date=May 31, 2022|access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref>
ISAC Entertainment released an enhanced version of ''Snow Bros.'' for [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile devices in 2012.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} ''Snow Bros.'' was included as part of the ''Toaplan Arcade 1'' compilation for [[Evercade]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/05/evercade-is-getting-an-exp-upgrade-complete-with-irem-and-toaplan-collections|title=Evercade Is Getting An "EXP" Upgrade, Complete With Irem And Toaplan Collections|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|publisher=Nlife Media|date=May 31, 2022|access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref>


=== Cancelled ports ===
=== Cancelled ports ===
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| ''[[Power Unlimited]]''
| ''[[Power Unlimited]]''
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| 72/100<ref name="PUNESsb">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=60|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031019120954/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=60|title=Review - Snow Brothers - NES|magazine=[[Power Unlimited]]|archivedate=October 19, 2003|issue=2|publisher=[[VNU Media]]|date=September 1, 1993|lang=nl}}</ref>
| 72/100<ref name="PUNESsb">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=60|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031019120954/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=60|title=Review - Snow Brothers - NES|magazine=[[Power Unlimited]]|archivedate=19 October 2003|issue=2|publisher=[[VNU Media]]|date=September 1, 1993|lang=nl|access-date=23 October 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
| {{N/A}}
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|}
|}


''RePlay'' reported ''Snow Bros.'' to be the eleventh most popular arcade game at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software|magazine=RePlay|volume=14|issue=9|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=June 1990|page=4}}</ref> ''Game Machine'' also listed the title on their 15 June 1990 issue as being the eleventh most popular arcade game in Japan at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=382|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 June 1990|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref> Donn Nauert of ''[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]'' gave a positive outlook to the arcade version.<ref name="VG&CEARCsb">{{cite magazine|last=Nauert|first=Donn|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVG%26CE_US_18.pdf&page=94|title=Destination Arcadia - Snow Brothers: Nick and Tom by Romstar|magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]|issue=18|publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications|L.F.P., Inc.]]|date=July 1990|pages=94–95}}</ref> In the September 1990 issue of Japanese publication ''Micom BASIC Magazine'', the game was ranked on the number eight spot in popularity.<ref name="MBASICM99">{{cite magazine|last=Yamashita|first=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-09#page/n238/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information - Video Game! (ビデオゲーム) - Hot 30|magazine=[[:ja:マイコンBASICマガジン|Micom BASIC Magazine]]|issue=99|publisher=[[:ja:電波新聞社|The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation]]|date=September 1990|page=245|lang=ja}}</ref> ''[[Den of Geek]]'' noted it to be one of the titles from [[Toaplan]] in which the company pursued other game genres besides their [[shoot 'em up]] endeavors.<ref name="DOGsb">{{cite web|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/games/58480/toaplan-the-rise-and-fall-of-japans-greatest-shooting-game-company|title=Toaplan: the rise and fall of Japan's greatest shooting game company|work=[[Den of Geek]]|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=21 June 2018|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621073806/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/games/58480/toaplan-the-rise-and-fall-of-japans-greatest-shooting-game-company|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The arcade original has gained a cult following since its release.<ref name="AP18"/>
''RePlay'' reported ''Snow Bros.'' to be the eleventh most popular arcade game of June 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software|magazine=RePlay|volume=14|issue=9|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=June 1990|page=4}}</ref> ''Game Machine'' also listed the title as Japan's eleventh most popular arcade game of June 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=382|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 June 1990|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref> Donn Nauert of ''[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]'' gave a positive outlook on the arcade version.<ref name="VG&CEARCsb">{{cite magazine|last=Nauert|first=Donn|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVG%26CE_US_18.pdf&page=94|title=Destination Arcadia - Snow Brothers: Nick and Tom by Romstar|magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]|issue=18|publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications|L.F.P., Inc.]]|date=July 1990|pages=94–95}}</ref> In the September 1990 issue of Japanese publication ''Micom BASIC Magazine'', the game was ranked on the number eight spot in popularity.<ref name="MBASICM99">{{cite magazine|last=Yamashita|first=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-09#page/n238/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information - Video Game! (ビデオゲーム) - Hot 30|magazine=[[:ja:マイコンBASICマガジン|Micom BASIC Magazine]]|issue=99|publisher=[[:ja:電波新聞社|The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation]]|date=September 1990|page=245|lang=ja}}</ref> ''[[Den of Geek]]'' noted it to be one of the titles from [[Toaplan]] in which the company pursued other game genres besides their [[shoot 'em up]] endeavors.<ref name="DOGsb">{{cite web|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/games/58480/toaplan-the-rise-and-fall-of-japans-greatest-shooting-game-company|title=Toaplan: the rise and fall of Japan's greatest shooting game company|work=[[Den of Geek]]|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=21 June 2018|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621073806/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/games/58480/toaplan-the-rise-and-fall-of-japans-greatest-shooting-game-company|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The arcade original has gained a cult following since its release.<ref name="AP18"/>
 
The Game Boy port was met with positive reception from critics. Fan reception was positive: in a poll taken by ''Family Computer Magazine'', it received a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.<ref name="PSMjpGBNESsb">{{cite book|title=超絶 大技林 '98年春版: ファミコン - スノーブラザーズ; ゲームボーイ - スノーブラザーズ|work=[[:ja:PlayStation Magazine|PlayStation Magazine]]|volume=42|type=Special|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten Intermedia]]|date=15 April 1998|pages=68, 489|language=ja|id={{ASIN|B00J16900U|country=jp}}}}</ref>


The NES conversion was also met with positive reception from reviewers. Fan reception was also positive: it garnered a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.<ref name="PSMjpGBNESsb"/>
The Game Boy port was met with positive reception from critics and fans. In a poll taken by ''Family Computer Magazine'', it received a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.<ref name="PSMjpGBNESsb">{{cite book|title=超絶 大技林 '98年春版: ファミコン - スノーブラザーズ; ゲームボーイ - スノーブラザーズ|work=[[:ja:PlayStation Magazine|PlayStation Magazine]]|volume=42|type=Special|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten Intermedia]]|date=15 April 1998|pages=68, 489|language=ja|id={{ASIN|B00J16900U|country=jp}}}}</ref> The NES conversion was also met with positive reception from reviewers and fans, garnering a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.<ref name="PSMjpGBNESsb"/>


The Amiga version of ''Snow Bros.'' was met with positive reception from critics prior to its cancellation.<ref name="AMAGAsb">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Amiga-Magazine-25/page/n63/mode/1up|title=Game Show: Snow Bros - Ocean|magazine=Amiga Magazine|issue=25|publisher=Gruppo Editoriale Jackson|date=July 1992|page=64|lang=it}}</ref>
The Amiga version of ''Snow Bros.'' was met with positive reception from critics prior to its cancellation.<ref name="AMAGAsb">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Amiga-Magazine-25/page/n63/mode/1up|title=Game Show: Snow Bros - Ocean|magazine=Amiga Magazine|issue=25|publisher=Gruppo Editoriale Jackson|date=July 1992|page=64|lang=it}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
A sequel, titled ''Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves'' (known in Japan as ''Otenki Paradise: Snow Bros. 2'') was launched in 1994 and served as the final arcade project developed by [[Toaplan]], as the company filed for bankruptcy during the game's release.<ref name="TFf25v9"/><ref name="DOGsb"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1994-04.pdf&page=33|title=Be Mega AM Network|magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|issue=55|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=April 1994|pages=30–31|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Overseas Readers Column - Toaplan Goes Bust|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=472|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 May 1994|page=26|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル 特設ページ|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=27 October 2011|access-date=2020-05-07|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215231114/https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|archive-date=2020-02-15|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072400/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/|date=2019-10-02}}).</ref> A game of a similar style titled ''[[Nightmare in the Dark]]'' was developed in 2000 by AM Factory and published by Eleven/Gavaking and [[SNK]] for the [[Neo Geo|Neo Geo MVS]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamesTechMagazine/GamesTech%2011#page/n60/mode/1up|title=Dossier: Neo Geo Y SNK — Otros|magazine=GamesTech|issue=11|publisher=Ares Informática|date=July 2003|pages=63|lang=es}}</ref>
A sequel, titled ''Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves'' (known in Japan as ''Otenki Paradise: Snow Bros. 2''), was launched in 1994 and served as the final arcade project developed by [[Toaplan]], as the company filed for bankruptcy during the game's release.<ref name="TFf25v9"/><ref name="DOGsb"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1994-04.pdf&page=33|title=Be Mega AM Network|magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|issue=55|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=April 1994|pages=30–31|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Overseas Readers Column - Toaplan Goes Bust|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=472|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 May 1994|page=26|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル 特設ページ|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=27 October 2011|access-date=2020-05-07|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215231114/https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|archive-date=2020-02-15|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072400/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/|date=2019-10-02}}).</ref> A game of a similar style titled ''[[Nightmare in the Dark]]'' was developed in 2000 by AM Factory and published by Eleven/Gavaking and [[SNK]] for the [[Neo Geo|Neo Geo MVS]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamesTechMagazine/GamesTech%2011#page/n60/mode/1up|title=Dossier: Neo Geo Y SNK — Otros|magazine=GamesTech|issue=11|publisher=Ares Informática|date=July 2003|pages=63|lang=es}}</ref>


In 2002, a Mexican company known as Syrmex Electronics created a hack of the original ''Snow Bros.'' running on similar hardware called ''Snow Brothers 3: Magical Adventure'', replacing Nick and Tom with [[soccer player]]s who shoot [[soccer ball]]s instead of snowballs, while featuring levels similar to those of the original despite new graphics and artwork added to the levels' backgrounds. It was the only game developed by Syrmex.<ref>{{cite web|last=Castro|first=Emmanuel|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/retro/snow-bros|title=Retro: Snow Bros. — Recordamos la mítica recreativa de Toaplan|work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=8 July 2011|access-date=2020-05-07|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sol|first=Bruno|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/retro/snow-bros-dos-heroes-bajo-cero|title=Retro - Snow Bros: dos héroes bajo cero — Recordamos otro clásico incombustible de los bares y recreativos|work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=17 November 2017|access-date=2020-05-07|language=es}}</ref>
In 2002, a Mexican company known as Syrmex Electronics created a hack of the original ''Snow Bros.'' running on similar hardware called ''Snow Brothers 3: Magical Adventure'', replacing Nick and Tom with [[soccer player]]s who shoot [[soccer ball]]s instead of snowballs, while featuring levels similar to those of the original despite new graphics and artwork added to the levels' backgrounds. It was the only game developed by Syrmex.<ref>{{cite web|last=Castro|first=Emmanuel|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/retro/snow-bros|title=Retro: Snow Bros. — Recordamos la mítica recreativa de Toaplan|work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=8 July 2011|access-date=2020-05-07|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sol|first=Bruno|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/retro/snow-bros-dos-heroes-bajo-cero|title=Retro - Snow Bros: dos héroes bajo cero — Recordamos otro clásico incombustible de los bares y recreativos|work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=17 November 2017|access-date=2020-05-07|language=es}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 23:26, 12 November 2025

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Template:Nihongo foot is a 1990 platform video game developed and published by Toaplan for Japanese arcades; it was distributed by Romstar in North America and Europe. Players control snowman twins Nick and Tom as they travel through 50 stages, using snowballs as weapons while navigating obstacles and battling monsters in order to rescue the princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi.[1] The game was later ported to multiple platforms, each one by different third-party developers and featuring several changes or additions. Versions for various microcomputers were in development, but were never officially released.

Snow Bros. was met with mostly positive reception from critics and players alike, earning an award from Gamest magazine and gaining a cult following since its initial release. In 1994, a sequel titled Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves was released by Hanafram, serving as the last game by Toaplan prior to their closure. The rights to Snow Bros. are currently owned by Tatsujin, a Japanese company formed by Masahiro Yuge. A modernized version of the game, titled Snow Bros Special, was developed by CRT Games and published by Daewon Media Game Lab and Clear River Games for Nintendo Switch, and was released in May 2022. A third installment in the series, Snow Bros. Wonderland, was released in 2024.

Gameplay

File:Snowbrosscreenshot.png
Arcade version screenshot

Snow Bros. is a platform game reminiscent of Bubble Bobble and Tumblepop, where players assume the role of snowmen twins Nick (wearing blue overalls) and Tom (wearing red overalls) through 50 increasingly difficult stages, each with a boss at every tenth stage that must be fought before progressing any further, in an effort to rescue twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi from captivity as the main objective.[1][2][3][4] The plot summary of Snow Bros. varies between each region and version.[2][3][4][5] In the NES port, King Scorch cursed princes Nick and Tom by turning them into snowmen, while he also captured the princess twins Teri and Tina, leading the brothers to defeat the king to save their land.

Each player can throw snow at enemies until each one is completely covered and turns into a snowball, but partially covered enemies in snow cannot move until they shake it off.[1][2][3][4] Once an enemy has been turned into a snowball, players can roll or throw the snowball, which will rebound off of walls until eventually shattering against a wall.[1][2][3][4] Any enemies the snowball rolls into are eliminated and other stationary snowballs start rolling when the rolling snowball touches them.[1][2][3][4] If players manage to take out all enemies by kicking one snowball (this one snowball may be used to make others bounce around as well and increase the chances to pull this trick off), bonus money will fall from the sky.[2][3][4] If the player takes too much time to complete a level, an evil pumpkin head will come and try to kill the players. It is invincible but can be stunned and sent to appear elsewhere in the level with snowballs or snow shots.[1][2][3][4] The evil pumpkin head will eventually spawn ghosts that travel freely through the level and seek the player character. These ghosts cannot be killed or stunned and players must avoid them while killing the rest of the enemies.[1][2][3][4]

When players bowl an enemy over, it may drop a potion item. The color of said potions lets players know what power-up it is:[1][2][3][4] the red potion increases speed, blue increases the amount of snow thrown to cover enemies in snow easier, yellow increases the distance that snow can be thrown, while green causes the snowmen to inflate like a balloon while having the ability to fly around the screen and knock out enemies for a limited period of time. The game hosts a number of hidden bonus secrets to be found, which are crucial for reaching high-scores to obtain extra lives.[2][3][4] If a single player is downed, their character is immediately respawned at the location they start at on every stage. Getting hit by enemy fire will result in losing a life, as well as a penalty of decreasing the characters' firepower and speed to his original state and once all lives are lost, the game is over unless the players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing.

Development

Amiga version

File:Amiga500 system.jpg
Snow Bros. was converted for the Amiga by Ocean France immediately after porting work on Pang was completed in 1990.

Snow Bros. for the Amiga was created by Ocean France, the French division of publisher Ocean Software that previously worked on other conversions such as Pang and Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2, with Marc Djan managing its development.[6][7][8][9] Ocean Software acquired the license after the European Computer Entertainment Show in September 1990 while work on the port immediately began as soon as programmer Pierre Adane finished his task of converting Pang.[10]

Despite receiving almost no support from Toaplan, the team at Ocean France wanted the Amiga port of Snow Bros. to be as close as possible to the arcade original, playing the coin-op machine from start to finish while using it as reference when taking notes about certain elements such as animations, graphic techniques and enemy AI.[10] Work on the conversion was primarily done on Amiga and Atari ST-based systems, while custom software was written to animate sprites and build stages as a jigsaw puzzle using low memory, which allowed an easier coding process to implement every element from the arcade version like hidden bonus secrets.[10] Artists Philippe and Lionel Dessoly, as well as Francis Fournier adapted the arcade artwork for the conversion, using a ST set-up for maps and sprites, while Pierre Loriaux was responsible for sound design.[10][11]

The crew also included new additions such as cutscenes between stages, and Adane was also able to replicate the original gameplay speed, though alterations had to be made to make the game more playable.[10][12] Adane said that co-op play was removed in order to maintain a stable frame rate during gameplay, which was deemed by Djan as "probably the most important factor".[10][12][13]

Release

Snow Bros. was first released for arcades in April 1990 in Japan by Toaplan[14][15][16] and North America by Romstar,[17] and later in Europe the same year.[18]Template:Better source needed The game ran on a proprietary arcade board manufactured by Toaplan, which was notable for its small size.[19][20] The soundtrack was composed by Osamu Ōta.[21] The same year on 21 October, an album containing music from the title and Out Zone was co-published exclusively in Japan by Scitron and Pony Canyon, featuring an arranged soundtrack composed by Ōta.[21]

Ports

The Game Boy conversion, titled Snow Bros. Jr., was developed by Dual[22] and first released in Japan by Naxat Soft on 24 May 1991,[23] and in North America by Capcom in January 1992.[24] It is single-player only and changes the story to compensate for this by having one of the titular snowmen twins be kidnapped while the other sets out to rescue him.[2] Several other aspects of the game were changed due to the technical restrictions of the Game Boy, such as bosses that originally fought in pairs in the arcade version now fight alone and potions are now given different shape due to the lack of color display on the original Game Boy. The Game Boy version also adds an extra set of 10 levels after the 50 levels adapted from the arcade version are cleared.

The Nintendo Entertainment System version, titled Snow Brothers in western regions, was developed by Soft House[25] and first released in North America by Capcom in November 1991,[26] then in Japan in December of the same year by Toaplan[27] as well as in Europe.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". It features a new story sequence at the beginning which depicts a unique origin story; Nick and Tom are established to be human princes who were cursed into becoming snowmen by an evil demon named King Scorch.[3]

The Mega Drive version was released only in Japan by Tengen on 28 May 1993,[28] and was the only console version of the game to be developed by Toaplan. It features a new opening story sequence at the start of the game, as well as 20 additional levels set after the original 50 levels, in which the player switches controls from Nick and Tom to the twin princesses Puripuri and Puchipuchi after the snowmen twins themselves get kidnapped by a new adversary. The Mega Drive version is included on both the Japanese and Asian versions of the Sega Genesis Mini.[29]

ISAC Entertainment released an enhanced version of Snow Bros. for iOS and Android mobile devices in 2012.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Snow Bros. was included as part of the Toaplan Arcade 1 compilation for Evercade.[30]

Cancelled ports

Ocean France had plans to develop Snow Bros. for various microcomputer and console platforms such as the Amstrad GX4000, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1991 but none of these conversions were officially released by Ocean Software.[6][7][8][12] Like the Game Boy port, the Amiga version lacks multiplayer functionality due to gameplay reasons.[8][13] A ROM image of the Amiga version was leaked online in 2006.[31] A PC Engine Super CD-ROM² version was also planned but never released.[32]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
Publication Scores
GB NES AGA SMD
ACE 800/1000[33] — — —
ASM 8/12[34] — — —
AllGame — File:Star full.svgScript error: No such module "String".Script error: No such module "String".[35] — —
Beep! Mega Drive — — — 23/40[36]
CVG 90%[37] — — —
EGM — 26/40[38] — —
Famitsu 23/40[39] 24/40[40] — 23/40[41]
GamePro — 19/25[42] — —
Génération 4 90%[43] — 91%[44] —
Hippon Super! — — — 60/100[45]
Hobby Consolas — 84/100[46] — —
Joypad 93%[47] — — —
Joystick 93%[48] — 92%[49] —
Mean Machines 79%[50] — — —
Mean Machines Sega — — — 83/100[51]
MDAG — — — 59%[52]
MegaTech — — — 86%[53]
Nintendo Power — 12.8/20[54] — —
Play Time 32%[55] — — —
Power Unlimited — 72/100[56] — —
Sega Force Mega — — — 91/100[57]
Sega Pro — — — 79%[58]
Sega Zone — — — 51/100[59]
Super Game — — — 70/100[60]
Superjuegos 77,8/100[61] — — —
Video Games — — — 75%[62]
Awards
Publication(s) Award(s)
Gamest Mook (1998) Annual Hit Game 48th[63]

RePlay reported Snow Bros. to be the eleventh most popular arcade game of June 1990.[64] Game Machine also listed the title as Japan's eleventh most popular arcade game of June 1990.[65] Donn Nauert of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment gave a positive outlook on the arcade version.[66] In the September 1990 issue of Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine, the game was ranked on the number eight spot in popularity.[67] Den of Geek noted it to be one of the titles from Toaplan in which the company pursued other game genres besides their shoot 'em up endeavors.[68] The arcade original has gained a cult following since its release.[8]

The Game Boy port was met with positive reception from critics and fans. In a poll taken by Family Computer Magazine, it received a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.[69] The NES conversion was also met with positive reception from reviewers and fans, garnering a score of 19.7 out of 30, indicating a popular following.[69]

The Amiga version of Snow Bros. was met with positive reception from critics prior to its cancellation.[70]

Legacy

A sequel, titled Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves (known in Japan as Otenki Paradise: Snow Bros. 2), was launched in 1994 and served as the final arcade project developed by Toaplan, as the company filed for bankruptcy during the game's release.[25][68][71][72][73] A game of a similar style titled Nightmare in the Dark was developed in 2000 by AM Factory and published by Eleven/Gavaking and SNK for the Neo Geo MVS.[74]

In 2002, a Mexican company known as Syrmex Electronics created a hack of the original Snow Bros. running on similar hardware called Snow Brothers 3: Magical Adventure, replacing Nick and Tom with soccer players who shoot soccer balls instead of snowballs, while featuring levels similar to those of the original despite new graphics and artwork added to the levels' backgrounds. It was the only game developed by Syrmex.[75][76]

In more recent years, the rights to Snow Bros., its successor and many other IPs from Toaplan are now owned by Tatsujin, a company named after TruxtonTemplate:'s Japanese title that was founded in 2017 by former Toaplan employee Masahiro Yuge, and is part of Embracer Group since 2022.[77][78][79][80] A revival for Nintendo Switch was developed by CRT Games and released in 2022 by Daewon Media Game Lab (downloads) and Clear River Games (physical copies).[81]

A follow-up to Snow Bros. 2, named Snow Bros. Wonderland, was released in November 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The game was developed by Tatsujin and published by Clear River Games.[82]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Snow Brothers instruction booklet (Game Boy, US)
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Snow Brothers instruction manual (Nintendo Entertainment System, US)
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Snow Bros. (スノーブラザーズ): Nick & Tom manual (Sega Mega Drive, JP)
  5. ↑ Snow Bros. arcade flyer (Toaplan, JP)
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Snow Bros. arcade flyer (Toaplan, EU)
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". (Translation by Gamengai. Template:Webarchive).
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (Translation by Shmuplations. Template:Webarchive).
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Script error: No such module "Portal".

Template:Toaplan

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