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Fun, arcade-style game that gets more challenging with each level

Fun, arcade-style game that gets more challenging with each level

Vote: (276 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Wildtangent

Version: 1.0.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(276 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Wildtangent

1.0.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • One of the best variations of Breakout or Arkanoid around
  • A ton of levels to work through, many with clever twists on the traditional formula

Cons

  • Nightlife theme can be a bit distracting
  • Vertical controls can take some getting used to for veteran players

Block Breaker Deluxe is essentially a clone of the arcade classic Breakout, but a fresh coat of paint and a few smart wrinkles breathe new life into the formula. The level of polish invested into this game makes it the best spin on the Breakout formula you'll find, but it's fundamentally still the same game at its course.

Block Breaker Deluxe is essentially a solitaire version of pong or table tennis. The player controls a paddle at the bottom of the screen and uses it to bounce a ball around the space. A number of bricks occupy the top section of the screen, and hitting them with the ball eliminates them. Players set out to destroy all the balls without missing a hit from their paddle. It's a simple formula that's entertained players practically since the birth of the arcade, and those bored with the central concept likely won't find much new to win them over in this game.

The most obvious but potentially least important distinction between Block Breaker Deluxe and Breakout is in the aesthetics. It takes on a theme that evokes nightclubs and casinos, and that makes for a slick interface that's heavy on bright pastels and neon. Fortunately, it's not obtrusive enough to get in the way of the actual game. While users will likely appreciate the smart choice of colors and the stylish backgrounds and menus, they won't have much time to pay attention to them while in the midst of a gameplay session. And while it's not enough to actually interrupt the central game, there are some odd choices here. A loose narrative tasks players with hopping from club to club to flirt with beautiful clubbers, and swimwear and jewelry falls from the top of the level, necessitating that you collect it to unlock new levels. The idea of additional challenges is a nice one, but the choice of collectibles might be off putting to some players.

Luckily, the core experience is rock solid. Block Breaker Deluxe adds a new dimension to the game by allowing players to move their paddles vertically as well as horizontally, and that creates both new strategies and new challenges. Then there are the power ups which bring a new dimension to the game as well. These power ups provide you with more generic advantages like the ability to increase the size of your paddle or the strength of your ball, but they also incorporate flashier and more esoteric options like yo-yo balls and lasers. These aren't going to change the general strategy of a veteran player, but they're enough to provide that added boost you need to push through the harder levels. And that's a good thing here, since there's a lot of content to dig through. Each of the seven themes is broken up into ten different levels with a boss fight at the end.

Pros

  • One of the best variations of Breakout or Arkanoid around
  • A ton of levels to work through, many with clever twists on the traditional formula

Cons

  • Nightlife theme can be a bit distracting
  • Vertical controls can take some getting used to for veteran players