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Let’s face it breaking stuff is fun.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that break-the bricks games are one of the most replicated genres out there: appearing on just about every system that can play games. In 1976 Atari introduced the world to the joy of virtual brick breaking with “Breakout”.
You'd think that after all this time, they'd have run out of ideas based on the same simple formula of breaking bricks with a ball. Well, thankfully a new game proves they haven't! Now from Nurium Games, “BreakQuest” does the unthinkable by taking the old school formula of Breakout, and adding dozens of crazy power-ups, cranking up the speed to the max, as well attaching a STORY to it and then throwing it all in your face!
It’s the game that asks the age old question, “Why just break bricks when you can break... everything else.”
You know, I seem to start of a lot of my reviews with a "true confession” don’t I? Well, here's my true confession for this review: I'm not a big breakout fan. Actually, that's not quite true — I like breakout games, but they bore me very quickly, often tedious and mind numbing. Okay, with that out of the way, let's clarify something here, I love “BreakQuest”. Absolutely, positively love it!
Something for Everyone
It being a PC game you will naturally be in control of the gameplay the using the mouse, move the paddle by simply moving the mouse. Left-clicking fires your weapon, if you have one.
Unlike most Breakout-style games, the targets in BreakQuest aren't simple blocks. Each level features an assortment of weird geometric shapes, of all sizes and colors, balloon type things, tiles, and yes, even bricks they are all there for our smashing pleasure! Some levels have clever themes, such as a pool hall, a bowling alley or classic arcade games like Space Invaders and Asteroids. Each level is a unique experience, it almost seems as though you are playing an entirely different game from one level to the next.
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You are awarded nifty power-ups that fall from the broken tiles every now and then,
For example giving you the ability to launch everything from automatic guns to heat seeking missiles to aid you in your “quest” of taking out those pesky bricks. But be careful, not all power ups are good for you and at times it can be a little hard to tell the good items from the bad ones especially when you're in the thick of things.
And that brings me to my next point, if there's one bad thing about the game; it's that it can be a little overwhelming. At times, the screen will occasionally be littered with so much stuff it is hard to track where the ball is going the with sheer volume of broken bricks, items, and other things flying around the screen. It’s enough to distract and confuse anyone without laser-like focus.
Here’s a tip: you are able to alter the mechanics of the gameplay to suit your particular comfort level just by going into the options menu- on just about everything from ball speed to the shape or your paddle- as well as letting you downgrade the difficulty level. Some may view this as cheating, but I feel, if it helps you enjoy the game, so what, I won’t tell anybody! And you can always crank up the action once you get the hang of things.
Eye and Ear Candy
In most games of this sort, when you break a brick, it simply explodes off the screen. In BreakQuest, however, the bricks do all sorts of crazy things, including hanging from threads that create unique and interesting hazards. Other neat twists include bumpers and enemies that float around the playing field.
It’s hard to pin down to any one thing what makes BreakQuest so darn visually appealing. The first thing that hit me about this game is its fun colorful style, kind of retro but nice and shiny also. The graphics are all 2D, but nicely done with lots of bright colors and glittering particle effects.
The sound effects are okay and right on point for brick breaking, the music is your basic video game techno that has become part of most arachnoid type games. It all works, but nothing to write home about. On the other hand, it doesn’t make you want to tear your hair out either, so that’s a plus!
Side Note- In reviewing games there are plenty of games that I play because I need to write about them and then it’s onto the next game. BreakQuest was NOT one of those games. Instead it became a game that I played over and over again because I wanted to. I am continually awed by all that it has to offer as well as reminding me just how much fun breaking things truly can be! There are a lot more surpriseelements to the game that I haven't mentioned, but why spoil everything for you?
It is one of those games that has to be seen to be fully appreciated and one that you should spend your time playing instead of reading about. In other words, get outta here and download the game already!
Get BreakQuest Here
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Posted by oxyjen on Feb 21, 2007
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