Review: Breakout Beyond for Nintendo Switch

Okay, so here’s the deal with Breakout Beyond – imagine the old-school brick-smashing game, but longer and… a bit sideways? Honestly, it’s a trip. You get these extended fields of chaos to keep those bricks at bay. Some folks might get bored, sure. But lemme tell ya, if you’ve got a buddy to play with, it’s like a whole different ball game.

Now, here’s a thing funny thing – the two-player co-op. Seriously, that was the real hook for me. Picture this: I’m just about done playing on my own, but then my wife jumps in with another paddle. Game changer. Maybe it’s just me, based on those leaderboards. Oh, right! Gotta talk about those. But wait, first you have to dive into this “voyage” mode.

In “voyage,” you’re unlocking bombs, beefing up your paddle, slow-mo magic with the balls – it’s wild. Trust me, you’ll need that slow-down feature ‘cause this game isn’t pulling punches after a few levels, especially solo. But hey, it’s got that “just one more try” vibe. And, don’t be shy about tweaking the paddle sensitivity, it can totally mess up a good run if it’s off. Seventy-two levels, folks! My inner completionist was like, “Must. Beat. All.” But really, it’s pretty linear – gotta finish one to open the next.

Visually, Breakout Beyond is a sweet throwback. Think classic, but with a twist. They say “Procedural audio and visual effects” which basically means things get flashier and bassier the better you play. And, yes, having separate controls for music and sounds? Lifesaver.

Now, about this whole content-unlock situation. Seriously, what were they thinking? Infinite mode, original arcade – all locked from the get-go. It would’ve been super smart to have these open from jump street. Makes no sense. But hey, leaderboards! They’re split up by global, friends, all that jazz. My wife and I are reigning champs in co-op, though I suspect most people are rolling solo.

Breakout’s like a vintage jacket – hard to mess up. Yet, Choice Provisions kinda fumbled by locking stuff up, including those online leaderboards. Despite the hiccup, it’s a blast ‘cause the game’s so darn solid. Kudos to them and the classic vibes.