Arkanoid DS

Nintendo exclusive

The player controls the "Vaus", a space vessel that acts as the game's "paddle" which prevents a ball from falling from the playing field, attempting to bounce it against a number of bricks. The ball striking a brick causes the brick to disappear. When all the bricks are gone, the player goes to the next level, where another pattern of bricks appears. There are a number of variations (bricks that have to be hit multiple times, flying enemy ships, etc.) and power-up capsules to enhance the Vaus (expand the Vaus, multiply the number of balls, equip a laser cannon, break directly to the next level, etc.), but the gameplay remains the same.

Released: 6 December 2007
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Genres: Action Puzzle
Developers: Taito
Publishers: —
Modes: Multiplayer
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

Arkanoid DS is a breakout video game developed and published by Taito for the Nintendo DS, with Square Enix handling publication outside Japan. It was released on December 6, 2007.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Arkanoid DS has two modes: a traditional Clear mode and an objective based Quest mode. In both of those, the player takes the controls of the Vaus spaceship.

Clear mode is made of 28 worlds that are arranged in a pyramid-like shape, each made up to five levels. Like in the other games from Arkanoid series, the main goal of each Clear level is to clear the entire display of blocks at the top of the screen, using a paddle to bounce a ball which destroys them. Eventually the ball falls back down, so the player has to make it hit the paddle. Sometimes, power-ups (like catch, allowing the paddle to hold the ball temporarily) will drop after a certain block has been destroyed. It is activated once the player catches it before it disappears into the void (if the last ball drops there, a life is lost).