Arkanoid - The fun puzzle game with a slight environmental message!
The graphics are quite poor in this game, infact I might even go as far as to say that the sprites are the same ones used in the NES version, but a little tweaked. As some puzzle fans know though, it isn't the graphics that are important in a puzzle game! The backgrounds are a variety of space scenes, spaceship scenes and strange multicoloured scenes, and they do their job with minimum fuss.
The sound is also quite poor, as would be expected. The only real sound FX are the 'plink, plonk' of the ball as it hits blocks or the scout ship, and the explosion sound if you kill an enemy or die yourself. The only music is at the title screen, a brief tune at the start of each level, and of course at the plotline areas. The tune isn't bad, but it isn't great either. But who cares?
The gameplay is, like all other puzzle games, the heart of the experience. You can move your scout ship to the left and right, repelling a small ball which you must use to destroy the offending blocks. The blocks come in various colours but they all have the same properties, with exception to the silver and gold blocks. The silver blocks have to be hit 3 times to destroy them and the gold ones cannot be destroyed at all (they just usually get in the way). There are also enemy ships in various forms although they don't have anything really significant about them. Some can form extra blocks, and some explode taking out nearby blocks with them etc. One thing I almost forgot to mention is that if you fail to repel the ball and it leaves the bottom of the stage you lose a life! To help you on your way some blocks drop powerups when you destroy them. There are many different types including one that allows your ship to shoot lasers to destroy blocks yourself, one that causes your ship to expand and so make it easier to deflect the ball, and one which causes a large number of balls to appear (don't worry however, the balls can leave the screen as long as you manage to save one of them!).
Lastability-wise, this game will have you playing for quite a while. It is very hard and there are 99 levels, including 9 bosses. Even if you do eventually complete it, you'll want to play it again though just for something to do when you're bored...if you're a fan of puzzle games that is!
Overview
Graphics - Quite poor, but not necessary
Sound - Like graphics, quite poor. Tune is catchy though.
Gameplay - Great fun puzzle madness, varied powerups to play with.
Lastability - Very hard game, will take a while to finish and you may even play it again to pass time whem bored.