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Slow and Simple

  • Kylaila
  • 07/23/2016 12:14 PM
  • 532 views
Break Out is a basic version of the original Break Out Arcade game, made to practice the Stencyl engine.

I cannot really recommend it seeing as it is very slow and without music, but it does work solidly.

The game itself revolves around destroying walls via an evermoving ball, which goes back and forth between the walls and you. It is like a lonely Pong, only working from top to bottom.

Now, I have not played the original arcade classic, only versions adding various elements to the concept, so I cannot compare it to the original.
That said, I find the gameplay very dull.

You move to deflect the ball - which is the starting point. However, the angle at which it bounces off is the exact same no matter where it hits on the board. So rather than trying to aim, only catching it is all you can do and have an impact with.
The speed at which the ball is moving is very very slow. And while it does get progressively faster, it does so at a slow rate and watching it fall .. and fall .. and fall .. and hit made it, enjoyment aside, really difficult for me to even concentrate on it properly.
(I am a little peculiar with that, though, so others might not find this an issue. I remember hearing a certain amateur speech on a practice weekend - which everyone loved. While I was dumbfounded by the feat to stretch an accentuated "like .. a banana peel" to half a minute of time)

This at the very least makes destroying blocks far less satisfying than it could be, as you well, see barely anything happening.
As you progress, different harder blocks are added which need multiple hits to be destroyed. I would have loved visual indication like cracks to appear and make it more satisfying to watch.

It does not help that there is no background music at all - there is a slightly dissonant (is it?) jingle running when you start the game/level and I am glad it stops there. A catchy tune can go a long way to make it more fun if done right (hello Tetris). The only other sound you will hear is that of the ball hitting with a high-pithed metallic clink.

All that said,
Breaking Out works. It's a solid game, but I think this one is a little dull to play.