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Arkanoid

Genre: Action
Publisher: Taito Developer: Taito

Release Date(s): US: 2009-09-07

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Arkanoid Review

by Eduardo Vasconcellos - IGN.com | 05 October 2009 12:00

The classic is back and as good as ever.

Chances are good that you have played Arkanoid at some point or another -- and if not exactly Arkanoid, then some variation of the classic Breakout formula. Though Arkanoid for the iPhone doesn't have any groundbreaking new gameplay or feature, this version is very clean and very smartly designed specifically for the platofrm, making it a true pleasure to play.

For the uninitiated, Arkanoid has players control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, deflecting a ball up to destroy an array of bricks. Once all of these bricks are cleared, it's on to the next level. In its iPhone release, everything is present and accounted for, but it's the little things that make this version so appealing, like small tweaks to the various levels and smartly-placed controls. Arkanoid is presented with a story, and though it's laughable, it sets the scene for the way the various stages are rolled out. For the iPhone, the game utilizes a branching system -- when you clear one zone, you choose between two zones, resulting in a game where you won't be able to see everything in a single go. That makes for a good amount of replay value. The levels have a nice variety between them, too. Yes, you'll be faced with the task of destroying bricks to progress, but you'll also have to deal with various enemies or different types of bricks on your journey.

Hey, I know that guy!

The enemies in the game don't do much by way of hurting you, but they can change the trajectory of your ball, ruin a volley, or even collapse into pieces that destroy bricks, helping you clear a level that much faster. Just like other installments to the series, there are several types of bricks -- you face pieces that will take a few hits before collapsing or bricks that won't break at all. In fact, the stages incorporating the unbreakable parts provide some great challenges -- the task of getting around the unbreakable bits to reach your objective is some of the best fun the game has to offer.

The controls are well done -- specifically because they keep your fingers from obstructing your view. There's a little border below the action field with a button that controls your paddle, keeping your digits from ever blocking your view of the action. It's even more welcome when multiplayer comes into play. You can challenge a pal on the same phone. Each player controls a side of the playing field in something that bears a resemblance to pong, and using the controls where fingerss remain off the playing field, it works really well. It's hardly a revolutionary system, but it's just plain ol' smart.

Arkanoid was reviewed with version 1.0.0.

Closing Comments
A lot of thought was put into Arkanoid for iPhone, reminding me of the recent Space Invaders Extreme. The controls are right on the money, the branching system adds nice replay value, and the clean presentation makes it worth the $4.99 cost of entry. This is a solid improvement on a classic formula and a welcome addition to my iPhone mainstays.

Supplied by IGN.com

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