Block-breaking PlayStation Mini BreakQuest: Extra Evolution is being remastered for a native PlayStation Vita release this week in Europe and next week across North America. Being native to Vita rather than a Mini, the game will benefit from the addition of online scoreboards and trophies as well as “near” gifts and redesigned art that’s sure to look even more spectacular lighting up that beautiful OLED screen.

Of course the big news is Beatshapers’ decision to switch to a freemium model for the Vita-specific edition. Downloading the free version will provide 33 balls to try the game out with. After that, additional packs of 100, 200 and 500 balls will be available along with an Infinite Ball unlock–although it is currently unclear how much these will cost.

BreakQuest: Extra Evolution already was “a smashing success” as a Mini. Having it native to the Vita should only make it even more of a brick-busting blast.

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If you own a modern PlayStation gaming device, whip out your paddle and get ready to break some bricks. Our giveaway this week, courtesy of Beatshapers, is the excellent brick-breakin’ PlayStation Minis title BreakQuest: Extra Evolution. Check out our recent review to see why you’re going to want to win a code–and if you don’t win, you should buy it any way!

We’ve got PlayStation Network codes for both North America and Europe, so enter now if you’d like a chance to win. Here are the rules:

Contest Details:

Prize: 4 download codes for BreakQuest: Extra Evolution, including 2 for the U.S. PlayStation Store and 2 for the European PlayStation Store. Game is valued at $3.99 and is compatible with PS3, PSP, and Vita.

How to enter: Tell us which regional PSN version of the game you would like to win in at least one of the following ways:

1) Leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

2) Follow VGBlogger and Beatshapers on Twitter @vgblogger and @Beatshapers and RT your entry with this message

3) ‘Like’ us on our Facebook page and then ‘Like’ and comment on this post

4) Email us at contests@vgblogger.com with the subject line “BreakQuest Giveaway”

Only ONE form of entry is required, but entering through multiple channels will increase your odds of winning. Please remember to include the PSN region you are vying for in your comments/entries.

Entry Period: Monday, November 12 – Friday, November 16 at 12:00 PM EST. 4 total contest winners will be selected at random and announced after entry deadline on Friday, November 16.

In late 2009/early 2010, Beatshapers released the first BreakQuest PlayStation Mini. I played it briefly, but remember the controls being a bit too squirrelly for my tastes, and after a few attempts at trying to play even the first level (out of 100) I regrettably dismissed the title. Beatshapers has followed up its bite-sized brick breaker this fall with an extra evolved sequel, and this time I wasn’t going to make the same mistake of casting it aside. Turns out, being stuck on a 4-hour plane flight with not much else to do provided the ideal circumstance to load up BreakQuest: Extra Evolution on my Vita. I was immediately hooked.

The concept to brick breaking games hasn’t changed much over the decades.  You’re still just moving a paddle left and right across the bottom of the screen to deflect a ball up and break floating brick patterns.  Add in special modifiers that drop down and enhance the paddle so that it is wider, is magnetic or can shoot bullets, and any given board can go from being a boring slog to an experiment in how quickly the area can be cleared.

BreakQuest: Extra Evolution adds some neat twists to the base concept.  Similar to the first title, you are presented with 100 new boards to clear, which are displayed in a ten by ten grid.  The first board in each row is unlocked and as each additional board is completed the next one unlocks.  In addition, at the end of each row, the 10th board then provides a bonus boss level to complete.  Some boards resemble a very traditional brick pattern, while other boards are more abstract and the objects being “broken” are flower petals or simply little pellets that are consumed à la Pac-Man as the ball travels over them. The constant change of audiovisual styles is one of this game’s main draws.

Any fan of brick breaking games will tell you, the worst part of playing any board is trying to get that last brick.  BreakQuest: Extra Evolution offers a wonderful solution to this.  If the level seems to drag on for a set period of time and no additional bricks are destroyed, a random enhancement will drop allowing a GPS missile (or scatter gun) to fire up at the lone brick that has managed to escape destruction.  This is a wonderful helper feature that kept me playing more and more levels as I never felt frustrated by not being able to finish a board.

One other new feature that has been introduced is a shield mechanic.  The moment the first ball is launched from the paddle, a small line is drawn across the bottom of the screen.  Once the line is drawn completely to the middle, the L1 and/or R1 buttons can be pressed to shift the line up a space and then a secondary line begins to draw across the bottom again.  Once the first line has shifted up to the second space, the line acts as a protective shield capable of deflecting two hits before being destroyed. Managing the shields and utilizing the various modifiers that drop, combined with the wonderful, constantly changing levels, makes BreakQuest: Extra Evolution a Mini with a surprising amount of depth and variety, despite its sub-100 MB size.

While Minis don’t offer Trophy support, there are in-game achievements which add to the addictive nature of the game. Achievements are earned by taking down the bosses at the end of each row, as well as by earning various point totals (which are added cumulatively over the course of the game).  Obviously the game doesn’t offer leaderboards either, but one thing I wish that the Vita would allow is at least the option to take screenshots while playing Minis.  At least that way I could take a screenshot and Tweet the pic from my Vita instead of having to brag and not be to back up my claims.

But overall, BreakQuest: Extra Evolution is a wonderful game with addictive brick-busting gameplay and a dynamic presentation that changes visual styles and sound themes with each new level unlocked.  With over 100 levels to play, and at a price of less than a large caramel latte, this Mini is a smashing success.

Pros:
+ Great audiovisual style changes with each level
+ Improved ball and paddle handling doesn’t feel squirrely
+ In game achievements

Cons:
– I know it’s a Mini, but no online leaderboards is still a drag
– Can’t capture screenshots

Game Info:
Platform: PlayStation Minis (PS3, PSP, Vita)
Publisher: Beatshapers
Developer: Beatshapers
Release Date: 10/16/2012
Genre: Brick Breaker
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Players: 1
Source: Review code provided by publisher

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