Review: Breakout Beyond for Nintendo Switch

Okay, so imagine this: you’re diving into this game called Breakout Beyond. It’s like those retro brick-breakers but flipped on its head. Or rather, on its side? I dunno, but the playfield’s longer, which is fresh. You might be yawning by the time you unlock everything, though. Some will drop it, sure. But others, like me, might just keep swinging that paddle. Especially with a buddy.

Two-player co-op is where the magic’s at. Seriously. At first, I was like, “Is this it?” playing alone. But throw in my wife with her own paddle, and suddenly I’m hooked again. Pretty sure I’m not the norm here—leaderboards rant incoming—but hold that thought. First, you gotta face off with “voyage.”

So “voyage” mode is your training ground, kinda. Unlock bombs, beef up your paddle, snail-pace the balls if it’s getting wild. But hey, fewer points if you chicken out! The game ramps up in difficulty, trust me, especially solo. But it has that quirky charm where you just can’t not try again. Pro tip: tweak your paddle’s sensitivity, or say goodbye to your best score. There are 72 levels taunting completionists like me. But the path is straightforward: no beating the boss unless you’ve mopped up the minions first.

Visually, Breakout Beyond’s a shout-out to its roots but spiffed up. Think you’ve got “Procedural”—big word alert—audio/visuals that crank up as your combos soar. If you’ve dabbled with games from Choice Provisions, you know the drill. It’s a sensory treat when you’re on a roll. Oh, and you can fiddle with sound settings to your heart’s content. Handy.

Now, about stuff being locked. Like, why? For example, infinite mode or the original game. Hello, anybody home? It’s a miss, keeping them hidden from the get-go. More ways to play straight away would’ve been a no-brainer. At least the leaderboards are divided into categories: global, friends, and modes. Not humblebragging, but my wife and I are topping the co-op charts. Maybe says more about the audience being solo grinders.

Breakout’s a classic—it’s joy in pixels. But man, Choice Provisions almost tripped by locking down content, including online leaderboards. It’s a weird move, but the game’s fun factor manages to triumph regardless. Talent and nostalgia, I guess. Yeah, even after all this time.