Review: Breakout Beyond for Nintendo Switch

You know, “Breakout Beyond” is like that weird dream where everything seems familiar yet slightly off. It’s, uh — how do I put it? A classic game with a twist, stretching the old brick-breaking routine sideways. Lots of folks might find themselves zoning out before they’ve unlocked everything, but trust me, some of us have an odd obsession with keeping those paddle balls bouncing, especially with a buddy.

And here’s a wild thought: the magic isn’t just the funky perspective, nope. It’s got to be the co-op action. I mean, playing solo was getting me all meh, then bam, my wife joins in with her paddle. It’s like caffeine for gaming. Now, I’m not saying we’re all about the love, but dang, the leaderboards say maybe we’re just weirdly devoted. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves — there’s a little hurdle called “voyage” before scoreboard glory.

In “voyage,” you plunge into unlocking bombs, jazzing up your paddle, and tweaking ball speed. Because trust me, once you’re past the kiddie levels, things heat up quick, and if you’re alone, yikes! It’s kinda like saying one more try, even when you know you’re hooked. Oh, and don’t be shy about playing with paddle sensitivity — too twitchy or too slow, and you’re toast. There are 72 levels. Yeah, I tried the full conquest, but hey, no pressure. The game’s all step-by-step, mandatory level-busting before you get to the next set.

About the visuals and sounds — it’s nostalgia with a facelift. Think snazzy audio and effects that level up with your performance. Choice Provisions, you did, uh, interesting things here. Options for individual sound and music adjustments? Sweet relief for picky ears like mine.

But, there’s a hitch. Unlocking stuff, like leaderboards? Seriously, why lock infinite mode and the OG arcade game? Makes my head spin. Opening that from the start? Obvious win, right? No-brainer for more flavor and practice, too. Anyway, at least the leaderboards are neat, with global versus friends, and mode splits. Wifey and I are rocking #1 on co-op, but honestly, seems like most are solo warriors.

You can’t really botch Breakout, I mean, it’s timeless. But hey, Choice, you walked a fine line with these locked treasures and leaderboards. Yet here we are, still kinda loving it — proves something’s working, kudos to vintage appeal and dev skill. Who’d have thought?