Summary
- Release Year: 1987
- Genres: Arcade
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
- Publishers: CRL Group PLC
Ball Breaker (1987)
Ball Breaker is a classic arcade game released by Atari in 1987. It is a brick-breaker game similar to Breakout, but with some unique twists. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it remains popular today as a retro classic.
Gameplay
The goal of Ball Breaker is to break all of the bricks on the screen using a ball and paddle. The player controls the paddle at the bottom of the screen, and the ball bounces around the screen, breaking any bricks it hits. The bricks are arranged in a variety of patterns, and some bricks are more difficult to break than others.
There are a variety of power-ups that can help the player break bricks more easily. These power-ups include:
- Expand: Makes the paddle wider, making it easier to hit the ball.
- Shrink: Makes the paddle narrower, making it more difficult to hit the ball, but also allowing the ball to reach higher parts of the screen.
- Speed: Makes the ball move faster, making it more difficult to control, but also allowing it to break bricks more quickly.
- Fire: Shoots a fireball that destroys all bricks in its path.
- Extra ball: Gives the player an extra ball, allowing them to continue playing even if they lose their current ball.
Levels
Ball Breaker has 100 levels, each with a different arrangement of bricks. The levels get progressively more difficult as the player progresses. Some levels have special features, such as moving platforms or indestructible bricks.
Graphics and sound
Ball Breaker has simple but effective graphics. The bricks are colorful and the backgrounds are varied. The game’s soundtrack is catchy and upbeat.
Reception
Ball Breaker was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its addictive gameplay, great graphics, and catchy soundtrack. The game was also a hit in arcades, where it was one of the most popular games of its time.
Ball Breaker has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the PC. The game is still popular today as a retro classic, and it can be found on a variety of online gaming platforms.
Legacy
Ball Breaker is one of the most influential brick-breaker games ever made. It helped to popularize the genre and it has inspired many other games. Ball Breaker is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it remains a classic example of the genre.
Conclusion
Ball Breaker is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. It is a simple but addictive game with great graphics and a catchy soundtrack. Ball Breaker is a must-play for any fan of retro gaming.
Review Score
7/10
