Last year Techday had the chance to review Snow Bros. Wonderland which is a reimagining of the 1990 arcade classic called Snow Bros. Unlike the original 2D game, Wonderland is a 3D sequel featuring newer levels and unique gameplay.
Fast forward to 2025, and another Snow Bros. video game has been released for old-school fans. This one is called Snow Bros. 2 Special, and this is a near-faithful remake of the 1994 game called Snow Bros. 2. Unlike Wonderland, this remake retains the original’s style of gameplay but the graphics have been overhauled for the new generation.
The cool thing about Snow Bros. 2 Special is the fact that it includes both the remake and the original game in one package. You can compare the two versions to see which one suits your own preference. While the remake looks better, the original still has an old-school charm that only games from the ’90s can have.
In terms of its story, Snow Bros. 2 is simple because our four heroes have to rescue the princess from the evil Demon King. The four characters that players get to be include Nick, Bobby, Roy, and Richard. Each character has their own unique abilities, so there’s some replay value on offer if you choose someone different.
In the remake, the playable character count increases because you can now play as lots of different creatures. While the original characters are unlocked automatically, the total number of characters you can get eventually increases to 35. You will have to do specific goals and missions if you want to unlock all 35 playable characters!
Gameplay-wise, the Arcade mode in Snow Bros. 2 Special is still simplistic enough for gamers both young and old to play. When you play as Nick, he’s a snowman and he can throw snow onto his enemies. When you throw enough snow, he turns enemies into snowballs and then throws them away.
Playing as Nick is fun because the snowballs ricochet off walls to bump other enemies off their feet. This is helpful because in order to progress in this game, you have to defeat every enemy on the screen before you can continue on with the level.
Aside from an attack button, all characters can also jump in order to avoid enemy attacks. Your goal is to literally reach the top of each level until you encounter a mandatory boss fight. Bosses have larger health bars and can attack you with tons of projectiles. You will need to defeat a boss in order to progress to the next level.
One thing that makes this game so fun is that you can play the game with three other people via multiplayer co-op. If you are struggling to play the game by yourself, the Snow Bros. 2 is much easier when playing with friends and family members. Online co-op is also available if you don’t have extra controllers.
Another thing you can do to make this game easier is that you have unlimited credits and continues. I remember the rabbit boss being so frustrating because I kept dying, but I was able to put in lots of credits to continue the fight and get to the final level. You can also choose to change characters when you lose all your lives too.
While the game is short because it’s based on an old arcade game, the developer has added several new modes to prolong the gameplay. Aside from the classic arcade mode, there’s Survival Mode, Time Attack Mode, and even Sky Run. Sky Run is a unique mode where it’s a 1000-metre level, and your goal is to attain the highest score.
The game also allows players to play as the monsters for a unique experience. This is one of the game’s newest features that was not seen in the original version. Even if you played the original, this remake offers lots of new features to keep the experience fresh and exciting.
Overall, Snow Bros. 2 Special is a fun remake of an arcade classic from the ’90s. The remake offers new features, better graphics, and fun gameplay. Fans both young and old should find some enjoyment with this game.
Verdict: 8.0/10
