An updated remake of the 1976 Arcade classic of the same name, Breakout for the PlayStation dispenses with the simplistic lines and dots of the original game and adds power-ups, 3D interactive worlds, multiple levels (that must be unlocked) and, of course, a storyline. Only the basic objective remains the same: maneuvering a paddle to keep a ball in play so it can ricochet off a wall of bricks (or other items in this case), effectively eliminating the bricks from the playfield.
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Breakout took me by surprise. I went into this game expecting it to be a normal brick-breaking game that used its 3D elements to make interesting structures to break apart. What I got was a game that prioritizes creating interesting gimmicks unique to each stage.
The game offers a story mode where you experience these stages. You take the role of Bouncer, whose friends and girlfriend have been kidnapped by Batnix, an evil pong paddle. Oh, yeah, all the characters are pong paddles, and you get to see how they run around and make shocked faces at things. It's jarring but also really funny at the same time.
You have six worlds to explore, each having multiple stages with each stage having its own gimmick. Some stages are going to be as simple as defeating all enemies or breaking all the bricks, but they keep things interesting by doing things like having enemies approach you in a Space Invaders style, or have characters come and lay down more bricks to replace ones you've destroyed. There are also stages where you're running from things chasing you, climbing towers, and shifting across conveyer belts to launch balls into a wall. The game is surprisingly varied, and I was always eager to see what the next stage would be.
Along with these gimmicks, there are also some interesting ways to control the paddle. You can switch between two paddle styles on the fly, offering different ways to angle shots. You can also hold down the shoulder buttons to angle the paddle to try to line up shots properly. I wasn't expecting this much depth in a brick-breaking game, so I was pleasantly surprised by these additions. It made me wish more games like this tried to offer mechanics like these to allow for a higher skill-ceiling.
As you progress through the 6 worlds in the main game, you'll unlock other paddles to use. Each one is different in specific ways, with some being larger but slower and others being smaller but faster. There's one that has magnetic properties, effecting how the ball travels when it passes by the paddle. You can also switch between characters in the middle of a stage at any time, so this on top of the paddle mechanics I mentioned earlier allow for a lot of experimentation in regard to how you would want to approach a stage.
As you clear stages, you'll be given a rank. It's not based on how quickly you clear a stage or anything. It's more like a combo system. Every time you beat a stage, your rank goes up. Every time you lose all your lives in a stage, your rank goes down. It doesn't seem to effect gameplay at all, but it is a neat incentive to try to be better at the game.
As for what I didn't like about this game, there's a few things. First off, at the start of the game there's a tutorial where you're introduced to a character called Coach Steel, who is a ball who teaches you the mechanics of the game and manages your rank. The tutorial feels like it goes on longer than it should have, but I can forgive it slightly since the mechanics are important to learn and are rarely seen in other brick-breaking games.
What I can't forgive is the noises Coach Steel makes when you lose a stage. In each stage, you get three lives, with the ability to get extra lives if you collect power-ups that have them. When you lose them all, your rank lowers, which is fine. What isn't fine is Coach Steel making an annoying taunting noise every time you game over. You never want to hear it again after the first time and every time after that is just grating. When I beat this game, I came out of it happy to know I wouldn't hear that sound again.
My only other gripe is how short the game is. You can easily beat the story mode in around an hour or two, leaving you wanting for more stages. It doesn't help that as far as I am aware, there's no other game that controls like this one, so this may be all that you get.
Breakout was a surprise I never saw coming. It did things with the mechanics that I feel did a great job of evolving on this formula and had really fun stages, to boot. I just wish I could find more games that played like this, because there is definitely a ton of potential in the gameplay presentation this game offers. I highly recommend people give this game a shot!
The game offers a story mode where you experience these stages. You take the role of Bouncer, whose friends and girlfriend have been kidnapped by Batnix, an evil pong paddle. Oh, yeah, all the characters are pong paddles, and you get to see how they run around and make shocked faces at things. It's jarring but also really funny at the same time.
You have six worlds to explore, each having multiple stages with each stage having its own gimmick. Some stages are going to be as simple as defeating all enemies or breaking all the bricks, but they keep things interesting by doing things like having enemies approach you in a Space Invaders style, or have characters come and lay down more bricks to replace ones you've destroyed. There are also stages where you're running from things chasing you, climbing towers, and shifting across conveyer belts to launch balls into a wall. The game is surprisingly varied, and I was always eager to see what the next stage would be.
Along with these gimmicks, there are also some interesting ways to control the paddle. You can switch between two paddle styles on the fly, offering different ways to angle shots. You can also hold down the shoulder buttons to angle the paddle to try to line up shots properly. I wasn't expecting this much depth in a brick-breaking game, so I was pleasantly surprised by these additions. It made me wish more games like this tried to offer mechanics like these to allow for a higher skill-ceiling.
As you progress through the 6 worlds in the main game, you'll unlock other paddles to use. Each one is different in specific ways, with some being larger but slower and others being smaller but faster. There's one that has magnetic properties, effecting how the ball travels when it passes by the paddle. You can also switch between characters in the middle of a stage at any time, so this on top of the paddle mechanics I mentioned earlier allow for a lot of experimentation in regard to how you would want to approach a stage.
As you clear stages, you'll be given a rank. It's not based on how quickly you clear a stage or anything. It's more like a combo system. Every time you beat a stage, your rank goes up. Every time you lose all your lives in a stage, your rank goes down. It doesn't seem to effect gameplay at all, but it is a neat incentive to try to be better at the game.
As for what I didn't like about this game, there's a few things. First off, at the start of the game there's a tutorial where you're introduced to a character called Coach Steel, who is a ball who teaches you the mechanics of the game and manages your rank. The tutorial feels like it goes on longer than it should have, but I can forgive it slightly since the mechanics are important to learn and are rarely seen in other brick-breaking games.
What I can't forgive is the noises Coach Steel makes when you lose a stage. In each stage, you get three lives, with the ability to get extra lives if you collect power-ups that have them. When you lose them all, your rank lowers, which is fine. What isn't fine is Coach Steel making an annoying taunting noise every time you game over. You never want to hear it again after the first time and every time after that is just grating. When I beat this game, I came out of it happy to know I wouldn't hear that sound again.
My only other gripe is how short the game is. You can easily beat the story mode in around an hour or two, leaving you wanting for more stages. It doesn't help that as far as I am aware, there's no other game that controls like this one, so this may be all that you get.
Breakout was a surprise I never saw coming. It did things with the mechanics that I feel did a great job of evolving on this formula and had really fun stages, to boot. I just wish I could find more games that played like this, because there is definitely a ton of potential in the gameplay presentation this game offers. I highly recommend people give this game a shot!
In my entire life I have never felt such incedible HATE toward a videogame character like I do against COACH STEEL in this godless game.
I always consider this the sequel to PS1 pong. It is very similar but more of a single player game than pong. (it has multiplayer but it isn't good imo) This is much shorter and easier than pong and it actually has a story and cutscenes this time.
Imo this is also very representative of the late PS1 game aestethic. Those late releases have something about them that is hard to decribe.
Also everytime you lose a stage you get downranked by Coach Steel. The most unlikeable demon I have ever seen. The second wolf level is where this game peaks tbh
I always consider this the sequel to PS1 pong. It is very similar but more of a single player game than pong. (it has multiplayer but it isn't good imo) This is much shorter and easier than pong and it actually has a story and cutscenes this time.
Imo this is also very representative of the late PS1 game aestethic. Those late releases have something about them that is hard to decribe.
Also everytime you lose a stage you get downranked by Coach Steel. The most unlikeable demon I have ever seen. The second wolf level is where this game peaks tbh
Still own a physical copy of this, somehow.
If you're looking for something short and kinda fun to play while waiting, this is pretty decent. Every stage is unique and there are some interesting ideas like chickens trying to kill you in a space invader type style. Just don't expect anything too revolutionary, it's still breakout at the end of the day, plus a few late stages are a pain. Also this got a PC port with mouse support which most likely controls way better.
This game is amazing