Side by side with Space Invaders Extreme, Taito and Square Enix have launched Arkanoid DS, a similarly-themed remix of the classic, 22-year-old, block-breaking puzzle game decked out with colorful new graphics, a thumping soundtrack, plenty of modes and a host of unlockable background graphics, borders, paddle designs and other items to customize the look and sound of the game to your tastes.
Compared to all the flashy new stuff Taito crammed into Space Invaders Extreme, though, Arkanoid DS is a little tamer. There really aren’t any crazy new rules to contend with — this is very much traditional Arkanoid gameplay, only adapted to take advantage of the touch screen and dual display.
Located on the top screen, is an arrangement of different colored blocks and on the bottom screen is a paddle you slide back and forth using either the D-pad or stylus (Japan got a sweet paddle controller packed in with the game, but sadly it didn’t make the transition overseas). The objective is easy: use the paddle to bounce a ball into the blocks to break them. Once all blocks have been cleared from the board, you win. If you let the ball slip by your paddle on the way down, you lose. Pure, simple arcade fun — that’s what it is.
In terms of modes, Arkanoid DS has a lot to offer. Clear Game is the main solo mode, consisting of a total of 35 stages at a time, with branching paths that can be taken upon repeated play to unlock a total of 140 stages. Those 140 stages can then be played individually in Quest Game, a mode that tasks you with completing quick-fire challenges usually of the “break all blocks of color X within the given time limit” variety. Rounding out the single-player modes is Vs COM, a head-to-head mode against a computer opponent.
Once you get tired of playing against the AI, you can then hop into the game’s excellent multiplayer modes. Arkanoid DS supports local (with game sharing) and online 2-4 player competition in two match types: Bust All (first player to clear all blocks wins) and Bust Color (first player to clear all blocks of a certain color wins). In a week’s worth of daily play, I’ve yet to be able to find anyone to play four-player matches with (it seems people only want to play two players) so unfortunately I can’t speak on how it performs, but the two-player action is fantastic, I can tell you that. The online performance is much, much smoother and more consistent than the online offering in the DS Space Invaders Extreme, and overall it’s exceptionally fun to take on other live opponents.
At times, completing a stage or coming out victorious in a multiplayer match can hinge a little too much on catching a lucky bounce or having the right power-up drop at just the right moment, and that’s basically my lone complaint. Other than that, Arkanoid DS is simple, addictive fun that’s perfect for portable play in every way. Pick up a copy alongside Space Invaders Extreme, and you’ll be in Taito arcade game heaven!
Pros:
+ Fantastic multiplayer support
+ Simple, addictive gameplay with fluid stylus paddle controls
+ Plenty of stages, modes and unlockable customization options to keep you busy
+ Like Space Invaders Extreme, it’s only $20
Cons:
– Sometimes luck has too much influence over winning and losing
– Square Enix didn’t include the cool pack-in paddle controller that Japanese gamers got
Game Info:
Platform: DS
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Taito
Release Date: 6/17/08
Genre: Arcade Puzzle
Players: 1-4, local and online multiplayer
Source: Review copy provided by publisher
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I was also disappointed to hear that they didn’t pack in the knob controller – would have been great, and worth an extra ~$5 or so.
The game would probably reach a broader audience with the pack-in controller, so I don’t get why they didn’t bring it over. If younger gamers who never played or even heard of the old Arkanoid before walked by it in stores I bet they’d be more apt to give it a try seeing that it had a cool accessory to go with it.