Aktion

User Score
7.0

Presentation - 7.0
Gameplay - 7.0
Value - 9.0

Memories of Arkanoid, much loved breakout game of the 80’s, have just been resurrected.  Why, you may ask?  Well, I’ve just been playing the PSP Minis game Breakquest.

Breakout with nobs on
The name gives this game’s heritage away, this is breakout, but breakout not just with bells and whistles, but with a whole orchestra added.  The basics are still the same, a paddle is used to keep a ball in the air until you can break all the blocks above you.

Add one amazing arsenal of weaponry, from simple guns, larger balls and sticky paddles to GPS guided missiles and multi-ball mayhem.  The weapons are one of the keys to making this game fresh, despite being based on a concept as old as the gaming dinosaurs.

A gravitational pull
The other major change is physics with ‘realistic’ ball physics making this play completely different to the original game and its ilk.  Even Arkanoid didn’t feel like this.  At first it can be a bit overwhelming while your ball whizzes around like something possessed, but you soon get the hang of the new feel and start actually hitting the ball rather than sadly watching it disappear below the screen.

Paddle Problems
The one issue spoiling an otherwise great game is the paddle control.  With the analogue stick it manages to go from 0 to 60 in about 1 second.  Not good for precision, obviously.  With the cross pad it’s a bit better, though conversely seems too slow at times.  There seems to be no middle ground here.  Going with the cross pad is the only safe option though and in a way it does add to the strategy of the game.

Balls?
Aside from the control options there’s a lot to like about Breakquest.  100 levels with 3 skill levels and an arcade mode with further challenges to unlock for each level will see this lasting a while.  Once the initial frustration is over it can be a fun little game for a small price and a big challenge.

Reviewed by pb