Sure thing, let’s dive into the chaotic world of Breakout Beyond. Brace yourself for a wild ride!
So, imagine this: you’re staring at this game that takes the whole brick-breaking thing, flips it on its head, and stretches it out into this crazy, long playfield. I spent an embarrassing amount of time smashing pixels. It’s kind of addictive, in a “should-I-be-doing-something-more-productive” way. But here’s the hiccup—lots of stuff is locked up tighter than my grandma’s old cookie jar. Some people might just throw their hands up in boredom there, but others—like me, apparently—will keep picking that paddle back up, especially if there’s a buddy involved.
And oh boy, the magic of two-player co-op! Honestly, forget the perspective shift—that’s not the big draw. It’s all about the teamwork. I was bored out of my skull going solo, but playing with my wife, who somehow constantly outshines me with a second paddle? That was the break I needed. Funny, right? Not many folks seem to realize its charm, judging by the leaderboards. But hang on—I’ll get to that because first, you have to conquer this so-called “voyage.”
Now, this voyage thing is wild. You’re unlocking bombs, juicing up paddles and balls, and even tweaking the speed (which, by the way, dings your points a bit). You’ll need that handicap because the difficulty cranks up pretty quick. Well, unless you’re a solo warrior—then it’s just brutal. Yet, it’s strangely addictive. The “one more try” itch is real. FYI, don’t mess up your paddle sensitivity—too high, too low, it’s like Goldilocks’ nightmare out there. There are 72 levels, and my inner completionist was all about it, but you don’t have to go full maniac mode. It’s a linear ride after all; you’ve gotta clear levels in a row to open the next set.
Presentation-wise, Breakout Beyond hits this sweet spot of old-meets-new. Fancy effects and sounds pick up the more you crush it in the game. It’s all very… Choice Provisions-y. If you’ve played their other stuff, you get the vibe. You can tweak the music and sounds separately, which is a lifesaver if your ears get cranky like mine after a while.
But, let’s circle back to this unlocking situation. Seriously, whose bright idea was it to hide stuff like the leaderboards and infinite mode right from the start? It’s like giving you a pizza but locking the toppings. Makes zero sense. They should really open that stuff up upfront—it’s more fun! At least the leaderboards have these nifty categories: global, friends, and modes. By the way, my wife and I? We’re rocking the #1 spot on the co-op boards. Not to brag, but maybe the solo folks are missing out.
Bottom line: Breakout’s that old trusty toy that hardly goes wrong. But somehow, Choice Provisions almost dropped the ball with their “hide all the goodies” move. Still, even with that misstep, the game’s a blast. Talent and nostalgia won the day!
And, I guess that’s a wrap! Or, whatever.
