Developer: Sidhe Interactive
Genre: Arcade
Platform: Playstation Network
Price: $7.99
Pros: Simple brick breaking game with a unique twist. Great visuals and appropriate sound track.
Cons: Low replay value
Verdict: An enjoyable experience that goes well in between other games
ARCADE CLASSICS
There is a reason that publishers continue to remake old arcade games. They are fun, addictive and aren’t as emotionally draining as AAA games. Even so, developers are expected to put their own twist on a classic game if they want the consumer to justify a purchase. This twist can be as simple as a graphical and soundtrack overhaul or as risky as changing the gameplay mechanics that gamers are accustomed to. When done right, arcade games continue to be a blast and unite gamers of the past and present.
BREAKOUT GETS SHATTERED
The arcade game “Breakout” was originally released by Atari in 1976. It was essentially a one sided version of pong that involved players bouncing a ball off of layers of bricks, with the brick disappearing afterwords. Once all of the bricks had been eliminated, the player moves on to the next level. If the ball got past the paddle, then just like in pong, the player would lose a “life.”
Breakout’s same basic mechanics are used in Shatter. Players control a paddle that is used to bounce a ball off of different types of bricks. Once all of the bricks have been eliminated, the player moves on to the next stage. This is where the similarities to Breakout end. Shatter includes ramped up visuals and soundtrack that is retro, yet doesn’t get on the nerves. Also introduced, are new game mechanics that include different types of bricks, boss battles and a unique vacuum that adds a sucking/blowing ability to the paddle.
Additionally, the stages include more then just the upward facing view that you would expect. Stages can also be sideways, with your paddle moving up and down on the left side of the screen, or circular, with the paddle moving along the outside of the sphere. These perspectives add their own unique challenges that keep the gameplay from growing stale and repetitive.
“SUCKY” MECHANICS
The biggest change to the game’s mechanics is the new vacuum component. Each brick that is broken releases several tiny “shards” that begin floating around the stage. These shards can be collected to fill up a “Shard Storm” meter. Once this meter is filled, your paddle can unleash a powerful attack that has the potential to quickly destroy large quantities of bricks or perform a lot of damage in a boss fight.
The most effective way to collect shards is to use your paddle’s sucking feature. This quickly draws shards toward your paddle like a vacuum. This is not without it’s side effects, however. Not only does the sucking alter the course of the bouncing ball, but any loosely floating bricks will also be drawn toward your paddle. If they hit your paddle then you temporarily loose control and run the risk of letting the ball get past you. To avoid this you can activate your paddle’s shields, but this also drains your Shard Storm meter.
Sucking can also be used to draw power-ups towards your paddle. Power-ups all have positive effects like giving you an extra life, doubling the number of shards released by bricks, or making your ball unstoppable. Collecting power-ups can make a stage go much smoother, but taking the time to grab them could potentially mean loosing the ball, and thus loosing the effect of the power up anyway.
THIS “BLOWS”
Not only can your paddle suck objects towards it, you may also blow them away. This changes the trajectory of the ball, blasts shards away, and can push aside falling bricks. It is even possible to use the blowing function to push the ball back toward the bricks without it ever striking the paddle. Players will find it essential to perfect both your paddle’s sucking and blowing functions. Once mastered you can more effectively aim the ball at certain bricks or hone in on a boss’s weak point. This is especially important on the circular stages, where using the angles of the paddle is more difficult.
BEYOND THE BRICK
There are a variety of bricks that make up each level. Some bricks are stationary and are not affected by your vacuum, while others are loose and fall towards the paddle side. Often times, these falling bricks are linked to each other or another stationary brick. There are also bricks that explode, destroying all nearby bricks. Other bricks act like rockets that blast off in one direction before exploding. In another twist, There are even bricks that can multiply or have a blowing function of their own.
Each level contains a differnt combination of these bricks and offers its own unique challenge. The game is divided into 10 separate worlds, each containing several levels and a final boss battle. Boss encounters add their own challenges. Each character has its own unique weak point, that the player must hit with either the ball or with a Shard Storm attack. These battles introduce variety to the game play and are the high point of Shatter. Fortunately, after you beat the game, a mode is unlocked where you fight each boss, one-by-one.
Once a boss battle has been completed, it is followed a bonus round. At this point three balls are dropped and increased height intervals. The more times you can bounce these balls on your paddle, the greater the bonus multiplier. When you drop the last ball, the world is beaten and you move on to the next stage.
SUMMARY
Shatter is a fantastic retake of a classic arcade game. It has a smooth learning curve that gradually introduces players to the new game mechanics. Boss fights can be challenging to the point of frustration, and running out of continues means you have to start the world over. Fortunately, it shouldn’t take too many attempts before you can get the hang of combat and defeat a boss. A unique soundtrack and artistic style give the game a look that belongs on a next gen system and yet still feels like an arcade game. The biggest downside is that the game won’t last for more then a couple days and it doesn’t have much in the way of replay value. Quirky and fun, this is an affordable PS3 exclusive that would serve as both a fun game and a good transition between AAA titles.
Popularity: unranked [?]
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