Rising Star Games has snapped up the rights to publish SBK: Snowboard Kids in Europe.
The game shipped to US stores only a week ago and now Rising Star Games will be bringing the hotly anticipated DS title to European stores in 2006.
The game follows on from previous versions of the Snow Boards Kids franchise; its last outing being all the way back on the classic N64 console. For those not in the know, the game focuses on downhill snowboarding action with Mario Kart style dynamics to create a unique racing title with the main emphasis been on 'trick-happy' fun!
Players take to the slopes with one of six cute and charming characters, racing to the finish along impressively detailed courses whilst attempting to maximise scores and generate income by performing whatever tricks they can along the way. Competition is intensified with a strategic distribution of powerups around the courses and the inclusion of personal special moves for all players, which include flaming fireballs and pace shattering freeze attacks. Special tricks are also available, bringing the handheld's unique features to the fore with an innovative touchscreen method for activating them. Special tricks can be used to deflect opponents' attacks and maintain speed during the races, which often turn into frenetic battles for first place as players race along undulating alpine tracks festooned with ramps and jump points, used for flying over vertigo-inducing chasms and crevasses.
The points earned from racing can be spent at the in-game shop on a variety of features, from new snowboards and special moves to new courses, new characters and even new game modes, details of which are to be revealed at a later date.
"SBK: Snow Board Kids is a great acquisition for us and fits into our remit perfectly as well as being our first collaboration with its Japanese publisher Atlus, which up a wealth of possibilities for Rising Star Games' future," said Owe Bergsten, CEO, Rising Star Games. "We'll be making more announcements about other distinctive titles in our lineup over the next 12 months. 2006 is going to be an amazing year for Rising Star Games. We're really going to hit our stride."
