Review: Breakout Beyond for Nintendo Switch

Alright, let’s just dive into this jumble of thoughts about Breakout Beyond. First off, here’s the deal: it takes that classic brick-breaking thing and flips it sideways. Quite literally. The field is longer, which means more bricks to smash, right? Sounds good till you realize much of the stuff needs unlocking. Who does that? Anyway, some folks might get bored, but others—especially with a friend—might just keep on paddling. Kinda like my own little adventure there.

Now, I gotta mention the co-op part. Yeah, that’s where it gets interesting. Playing solo? Meh, kinda dull after a while. But bring in a buddy or, like me, my wife—bam, it’s a whole new game. She’s there with her paddle, and suddenly, I care about leaderboards—never thought I would, honestly. But hang on—first, you gotta tackle this “voyage” mode. You know, because scores aren’t just handed to you.

So this voyage thing—imagine unlocking bombs, powering up paddles, and slowing things down, but watch out—it costs points. Level wise, it gets brutal beyond the first few. And solo players, yeah, you better tweak those paddle settings, or it’s game over for that run. Oh, and there are 72 levels. No clue why I felt the need to conquer them all. Something about the game’s systematic unlocking just pulls you in.

The presentation? Nostalgic meets modern craziness. Think procedural audio and visual effects—level up your game, and the sensory overload kicks up. Bet you can’t imagine how that looks or sounds, but trust me, it’s a trip. And having control over music and sounds? Thank goodness for small mercies.

But, okay, back to this unlocking fiasco. It’s a head-scratcher why the leaderboards and other modes, like infinite and the original arcade style, aren’t open from the start. Extra practice would be a win, right? So far, my wife and I? We’re sitting at #1 on the co-op leaderboard—woo!—though maybe everyone else’s solo obsession makes that less impressive.

So, back to ranting—how do you botch Breakout? It’s fun. Timeless. But locking stuff? Seriously risky move, Choice Provisions. But, props to them, the game’s still good despite that hiccup. Maybe it’s pure talent, or maybe the charm of the original just saves it. Or probably both.