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Brick-Breakers Recap


On 01/31/2025 at 01:32 PM by KnightDriver

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This month is over and so is my journey into brick-breakers. Here's what I found memorable. 

Doughlings Arcade (available everywhere) - A very playable, fun, cartoony, Breakout clone with lots of interesting twists. You can unlock new paddle-characters that each have different abilities. Blocks are also mini-characters that drop powerups and poisons as they progress towards you. There are a lot of levels. I still haven't seen them all 'cause I got stuck on one. There is also a level editor so you can create your own and upload it for others to play and play their's. The soundtrack is super catchy. It's easily my favorite Breakout-style game. 

Neo Breakout (within The Atari 50 collection) - This is a realy fun reimagining of Breakout. You progress as far as you can rogue-like style from simpler to more complex screens. There are often specific goals for each screen too. It's in a minimalist style but has good controls which is key. 

Breakout Recharged (available everywhere) - This is a solid Breakout game. There are a great variety of challenges, powerups, and interesting gameplay additions here. The controls are a bit fast and overprecise (if that's the right way to express it) but it's mostly good. I am currently stuck on a particular challenge level, but it's fun to revisit it. 

Arkanoid Eternal Battle (available everywhere) - This is like three games in one. The original arcade version, an online version sort of like Tetris 99, and a Neo updated version of the original. It's very good but hard. I find the controls so quick and precise that an analog stick can't really keep up. What I mean is that my thumb is not the most precise digit on my hand. If I had a dial controller, or if I could tweak the speed just a bit, I think I could get farther in it. 

Arkanoid on NES and DS - Both of these are excellent Arkanoid games. The NES version is great but I want that dial controller it originally came with for probably the best controls. The DS version is hot across both screens and has customizable features and a banging soundtrack covering every style of music. I have reestablished my love for the DS by playing this.  

Alleyway (on Game Boy and the Switch subscription service) - A very simple Breakout clone but with, surprisingly, the only side scrolling bricks I found. I like it because it seems to play a tiny bit slower than most, making it easier for me to get anywhere in it. 

Block Block (on Capcom Classics Collection and Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium) - Capcom's Arkanoid game is darn good with some pinball elements in the mix like bumpers. It has a sort of story and an overworld map. You complete screens to complete part of the world map. I don't know what happens when you clear a full map because it takes a long time to get through so many screens. 

Off the Wall (Atari 2600 and Atari 50 Collection) - This is a strange variant of Breakout. Your paddle is a person with a stick. You knock the ball back into play to break down the wall and get at the dragon at the top. Various enemies and powerups rain down towards you as you play. I really liked this and returned to it several times this month. 

Breakout (Playstation) - A 3D Breakout with a story and enemies to knock down. It's a very interesting attempt. I found myself fighting the controls just a bit though. I don't know what sort of tweaking is needed when using a dual shock controller (analog sticks moved by thumbs) but I wish I could do it. 

Next will be a short recap of my journey into other 70s derived games. You can only play so many break-breakers in a month before you get a little bored. I found myself in that last week just begging for the next month so I could start my twin-stick shooter journey. 

 


 

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