Review: Break ‘Em All [Nintendo DS]

What is Break ‘Em All? What it sounds, like. It’s a breakout clone with a couple additions to keep it fresh but is it any good? Mostly.

Graphics: 72/100
The graphics are basically what you would expect from a block breaking game, you have a paddle, walls, a ball and colorful blocks. Nothing extravagant but the graphics arn’t bad either. It’s art style seems to take some ideas from Arkanoid, one of the reasons I decided to even give this game a glance.

Sound: 73/100
The sound effects are average sounds, ball on metal that kind of thing. The music is from catchy to mundane but it’s not bad enough that you’d mute the game.

Gameplay: 78/100
It’s a block breaking game ala Breakout that borrows elements from Arkanoid so it’s nothing we have not seen before but the developers decided to add a couple new features to it including an adventure mode of sorts. In this mode you break blocks to expose a hole in the ceiling to progress to the next level, on the 3rd level of the stage you get to fight a boss, as ridiculous as it sounds it’s not a horrible experience though the designs of the bosses would make you chuckle to yourself. The developers were kind enough to make the controls adjustable, so if you don’t like using the stylus to move your paddle, which isn’t always the most accurate or responsive, you can use the D-pad or shoulder buttons. It also features multiplayer modes but what are the chances of finding anybody else who would be itching to break bricks?

Replay: 68/100
Break ‘Em All is a mellow game for people who enjoy to sit back and play a bit. It’s not gonna bring you back for more all of the time but it’s not a bad title to pick up and play on a rainy day though their are much better games available.

Overall, as a bargain game it’s not a terrible waste of $20 if you prefer old arcade style games.