Thursday 27 October 2011

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): Arkanoid

Year: 1986
Genre: Action
Players: 2 (alternating)
Our Rating: 7/10

Mini Review

Arkanoid for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is one of the retro classics of the ‘80s. There are many versions of the first Arkanoid, each varying slightly in graphic detail. The NES version is a more than adequate rendition of the game though. The basic premise of Arkanoid is to advance to the next level by destroying coloured blocks. You control the pad/bat at the bottom of the screen, your movement options are limited to simple left or right. You must serve a white ball and keep it bouncing against the coloured tiles at the top of the screen. These tiles will be destroyed on impact although some will require multiple impacts.

From time to time a coloured tile will fall to the bottom of the screen. These falling tiles allow a power up bonus to the bat. Some of the power ups include; multi ball, extended bat and an ability to fire bullets. Arkanoid is one of those games that you can’t really go wrong with. It’s simple yet very addictive. Arkanoid was an important retro game for many reasons, it had major appeal for both genders and crosses the age gap of gamers very well. It’s one of the true universal games. As a result it has been copied time and time again. In fact the first “Arkanoid” game I ever played was actually a title called “Amegas” for the Amiga 500 which took the essence of Arkanoid and upgraded the graphics and sound for a new audience. There is a theory though that the original is always the best. I’m inclined to agree that the original releases do have a real lasting retro game charm.





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