Britney's Dance Beat @ Amazon.com
Just showing the price - $29.99 for PS2
They are releasing it May 9, 2002.
Its getting good reviews!
If there's one thing I've learned since becoming a hardcore gamer, it's that if you make an action/adventure title, and put some decent production values behind it, it will proceed to sell by the bucket loads. Yup, if you want to make some serious cash, just throw a cool character into an adventure jam-packed full of intrigue, deception and insane stunts. Nowadays, it's the closest you can get to a sure thing.
Now, having gotten that out of the way, the game you're about to read about is NOTHING like those aforementioned games. If there's one other thing I've learned since becoming a gaming fan, it's that game publishers rarely achieve any serious success on so-called "fringe" titles. There are many kinds of games that fall into that category, but there's a game on the horizon that's poised to change all of that in an instant.
That game, is none other than the upcoming THQ Inc. production, Britney's Dance Beat (BDB). You may all commence mocking now.
OK, done? Good. Now that you've gotten that out of your system, allow me to explain why this title is set to light the gaming world on fire. Chances are you've had the good fortune to, at one point or another, experience the wonderous Bust A Groove or Dance Dance Revolution. Everyone that's played those titles, comes away with one simple reaction... wow, that was really fun. These days, fun is an aspect of game design that is severely lacking. Developers are so worried with graphics and plot, that the fun of yesteryear just doesn't show up all that often. BDB aims to change all of that. The first videogame to feature the superstar known as Britney Spears, BDB allows you the player to start out as a young dancer with one lone dream in mind, to make it to the big times. You start off as a lowly nobody, who is struggling to make ends meet. Then, one day, your big break arrives. After endless auditions and rejections, you're finally given the opportunity to prove yourself amongst the big boys. The game's premise is that pop superstar Britney Spears needs new dancers for her world tour and you are on the list of hopefuls. Will you make it to the big show, or will you be stuck simply auditioning and waiting tables for the next 20 years? Now, mind you, the game doesn't exactly come out and say these things... it's more of a vibe you get while sitting there. For some reason, it just strikes a chord deep within your imagination.
Bust A Groove developer Metro Graphics has designed an engine for the game that mixes the pop diva's greatest hits with an engine that has learned from two previous titles... the aforementioned Bust A Groove and another rythm-based title, Dance Summit 2001. Using a system that has you hitting buttons in rhythm, you must prove your skills to the lovely, but initially rarely seen Ms. Spears. You compete against a second dancer, who seems determined to dash any hopes you may have of becoming a professional dancer. As you progress through the ranks, you'll eventually make your way to the stage right alongside Britney herself, in front of thousands of screaming fans, finally achieving your dream. It just makes you want to scream out "Hey Mom! Look at me!!" It's quite a feeling, to say the least.
"But what happens when you do finally make it," you ask? Well, that's when the game really starts to shine. You like extras? This game is jam-packed full of them. And they are some of the coolest extras ever. If you've followed this title's journey since it was originally announced early last year, it was originally conceived to be merely an interactive concert simulator, whereby you were the director, and could control the camera. Well, the technology that would have made that version of the game possible has been retained and is available as a side game of sorts. In it, you play the role of a cameraman in the midst of a real live Britney Spears Concert. You sit in the stadium and watch her sing and perform with her dancers, all in real-time. The catch, however, is the camera control. Utilizing an amazing proprietary technology that reminds me somewhat of the Matrix movies, you're able to manipulate the camera in full 360 degrees, and everything keeps moving as if you were right there in the audience live! Trust me when I say that it needs to be seen, to be believed. No matter where you move the camera through the crowd, you can always turn back around, and see Britney slamming the beats on-stage. Like I said, it's a very impressive effect. You can also zoom in and out of anything you like, allowing for many hilarious situations to be sure. The developers of the game state that their goal is to include a zoom of up to 10x after optimization. One can only hope... A 2-player mode will extend the game's wares with players battling each other for the best moves and other extra features that can be unlocked include multiple behind the scenes movies, music videos, collectable tour photos, and other goodies that have yet to be implemented.
The visuals in the game are sharp, and pleasing to the eye... even when Britney isn't on-screen. It all runs at a smooth, consistent 60fps with no slowdown, even when beautiful particle-type effects are being thrown about the screen with wreckless abandon. Britney herself has been modeled with very impressive intricacy, even down to her oh-so-popular navel. The game's design was obviously well planned, because load times are fairly short and infrequent and the game requires a miniscule 51kb on your memory card. In a game of this type, one of the most important factors is the music, and once again, BDB does not disappoint. The list of songs in the game is impressive, and includes tons of Britney's biggest hits, including "…Baby One More Time" and "I'm A Slave 4 U". However, if you weren't a fan of her songs before, this probably won't do much to change your opinion on that matter.
The funniest thing I've seen about this game is the reaction every single member of the press has had after playing it. Every preview I've read on it has started out by saying how they were shocked by how fun it actually is. On the other hand, I've wanted this game to be good since the day I first heard it announced, which is why it pleases me so to be able to pass on such good news about the project. For those of you who aren't a Britney Spears fan, but did enjoy previous dancing games, then take solace in the fact this game is going to sell like hotcakes, which in turn will cause more developers to make more games like it. In that instance, I think we can all agree that Britney and THQ have done a great thing here.
Capture from Dance Beat Trailer 
