Okay, so, picture this: I’m diving into this game, Breakout Beyond. And hey, at first glance, it’s like they took the classic brick-breaker and gave it this weird twist. The playfields? Yeah, they’re longer or something. It’s a neat way to kill time unless you’re like me and get all obsessed with unlocking stuff. Some folks might ditch it before they hit that point, but I guess others could just keep swinging that paddle, especially when they drag a buddy in.
And here’s where it gets interesting: the two-player co-op. Seriously, that’s the real gem here. I started yawning when I was by myself, but then dragged my wife into the fray. Magic happened. My leaderboard status says I’m probably an outlier, but hang tight, we’ll loop back to that. First, you gotta mess with “voyage.”
This mode? It’s a trip. You snag these special bombs, buff your paddle and balls, even slow things down—for less points, though. Which is just as well because solo mode gets gnarly after a few levels. Still, the game gets you with that “one more try” itch. Messing with your paddle sensitivity? Oh yeah, you better. Mess that up, and there goes your golden run. With 72 levels, my inner perfectionist was screaming for a clean sweep, though it’s not actually a requirement. It’s like a train on tracks: beat a level, unlock the next batch.
Now, the presentation. Breakout Beyond nods to its roots while jazzing things up a bit. They brag about these “Procedural audio and visual effects” that ramp up as you score higher. Being from Choice Provisions, if you know them, you’ve got an idea of the sensory overload coming your way. Turning music and sounds on and off individually? Big thumbs up.
But, dang it, let’s circle back to the unlocking grind—including those leaderboards. Why they tucked stuff like infinite mode and the OG arcade game away is beyond me. Total mystery move, and yeah, it’s a bummer. If those were open from the get-go, it’d be way more fun right off the bat. Oh, hey, at least the leaders are split into global, friends, and modes categories. My wife and I? Yup, numero uno in the co-op section—but maybe that says more about everyone else sticking to solo.
At the end of the day, you can’t really botch Breakout. It’s stayed fun forever—or at least since a billion years ago. Yet somehow, Choice Provisions almost did with that baffling content lock decision. The game’s success despite this? Pure testament to their chops and the undying fun of the original gig.
