An appealing re-release of an iconic 1980s arcade game that requires more substance
Arkanoid – Eternal Battle, created by retro gaming experts (who also made the underappreciated Pix the Cat and Pang Adventures), aims to preserve the spirit of the original arcade game and mainly succeeds in doing so. The fundamental idea behind Arkanoid is really simple for non-experts.
The objective is to simply “bat” a projectile ball up the screen and into the blocks until there are none left in order to advance to the next stage. The game is played top-down, and you have a Pong-style paddle that is locked to the bottom of the screen.
Aliens flying around the screen can destroy your paddle if they make contact with it, blocks that require multiple strikes to break, and numerous power-ups that can increase the paddle’s size, supply extra balls, and other upgrades add some spice to the concept. Most people can take it up and play because it is easy and timeless.
One player can toss and smash their way through one of the finest games to come out of the 1980s coin-op industry Arkanoid – Eternal Battle, which generously includes the classic version of the Arkanoid arcade game for old crusties like myself.
It made me feel like I was 36 again with its arcade-style cabinet frame and adequately reproduced visuals and music; fantastic.
Regarding the additional modes offered by Arkanoid: Eternal Battle, a brand-new NEO mode takes the original arcade premise and adds brand-new stages and power-ups for players to enjoy. In addition to all of that, NEO mode also makes an effort to provide a visual appearance that is far more modern, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasant offering. To be clear, it’s not exactly a Tetris Effect-level overhaul, but the vivid colours, neon-inspired motions, and precise presentation are all very welcome nonetheless.
The game’s typical versus mode lets two players battle it out in NEO-styled stages as they vie to demolish the most blocks (or “Spacewalls,” as they’re commonly called), but the game’s title Eternal Battle mode makes an attempt to steal the spotlight.
Up to 25 players compete online in Eternal Battle, which is essentially a hybrid of the traditional Arkanoid formula and the Battle Royale concept. The player with the lowest score is gradually eliminated until there is only one player left.
Eternal Battle is a decent lot of fun, as you might assume, but it only really is when you have other people to battle against, and this is the issue. For Arkanoid: Eternal Battle, the player levels just aren’t there, and in the ten or so sessions I played Eternal Battle mode, AI-controlled opponents always filled in the gaps (even with Cross Play enabled).
Arkanoid: Eternal Battle doesn’t really justify its price tag in the manner that it should at about $30, with four modes and its star attraction defined by a player base that seldom shows up—even though that particular problem is less the fault of the game itself. But Arkanoid – Eternal Battle still captures the spirit of its arcade predecessor and is steadfastly approachable and fun for just about anyone to play. The combination of Arkanoid and the Battle Royale idea is a pleasant one, and the inclusion of the original Arkanoid for older players or those with the curiosity to delve deeply into the glory days of arcade gaming is also well accepted.
REVIEW : Honey, I Joined a Cult (PC)
