Of all the Nintendo 64's launch titles, it was probably WaveRace 64 which best showcased the remarkable graphical oompfah of the machine. The stunning water effects were like nothing ever before seen on a home games machine, and quite literally made our trousers fall down.

WaveRace's development team has been quietly beavering away on a follow-up for the last however long it's been. Though it's a racegame of sorts, the water has made way for snow, and the jetskis have become ironing boards.

The '1080' in the title of 1080 Snowboarding doesn't refer to the year in which the game is set, but to 1080-degree twisty stunts the game demands of you. You see, while the developers have once again exhibited an astonishing knack for producing a visually stunning game, deliberately absurd stunts are the order of the day.

Courses are absolutely massive, and avoid the usual snow-blinding whiteness of snowboard and skiing games by featuring more on-course and trackside detail than you could imagine.

From trees to beautiful torch-lit sections, frozen waterfalls and rivers - the game is packed with breath-stealing moments. Many of the finest examples of visual loveliness come from the many ingenious shortcuts which litter the tracks.

Five boarders with stupid names and puffy-esque clothing are yours for the choosing in the game, and each has his own special ability. A choice of boards further customises the handling of the game.

1080 Snowboarding is out already in Japan and the US, but with the snowy season long gone in Europe, Nintendo has decided to hold off releasing the game here until the autumn. Possibly also because they hate you.