14 DAY TRIAL // If you've always wanted to do a headstand, a quick and dangerous back flip or a spin on nothing but your flimsy hat and the bone-hard shell of your head, then here's your chance. The Nintendo DS is coming to the rescue of all would-be-but-never-been fly boys with an upcoming title from Smackdown and PlayLogic. It's called Red Bull BC One and will let you breakdance your way into the high scores list with dazzling moves and exciting gameplay.
For some time now, Red Bull has been the main supporter of the break-down scene, with its BC One initiative gaining tremendous support since its launch in 2004. The most recent final took place in 2007 in South Africa and featured some very nice moves which you can check out on the site of Red Bull BC One.
And now there's a game for all those of us couch potatoes that can't really pull the gravity defying stunts you've seen in the videos. Whether you are a B-boy or a B-girl, you can pick up the game and take part in a very intense breakdown tournament and experience. The breakdancer is controlled by solving some puzzles in very strict time limits. The player has to draw geometrical shapes that will in turn power the break-dance moves. As the game progresses, the moves become more and more complex and you'll need a very steady hand on the DS stylus and quick reflexes to get some of the hardest moves available. The puzzle sections will alternate with other minigames to make the game more attractive.
The graphics are rather stylized, with the developer trying to capture the feel of a breakdown contest rather than create realistic, accurate characters and movements. The soundtrack is very urban oriented.
There's a demo version of the game on the site above and players are encouraged to play it and send in their comments and suggestions. You might even see your name in the credits if your idea gets picked up by the developers. Red Bull BC One is set to challenge your stylus to breakdown sometime in Summer. Until then, check out these screens of the game in its prototype stage...
