Review: Breakout Beyond for Nintendo Switch

Oh man, where do I even start with “Breakout Beyond”? It’s kinda like they took that old brick-busting formula and flipped it on its head, literally stretching the playfield like you’re staring down a weirdly long hallway. The kind of thing you do when you’re procrastinating—because why not, right? But, heads up, a bunch of stuff needs unlocking. Some folks might get bored before they even crack that. But then again, some might just keep banging away, especially if they’ve got a buddy along for the ride.

So, here’s a thing—I’m convinced the co-op mode is what really sells this game. Sure, I reached that “meh” phase playing alone, but throw my wife into the mix, juggling a second paddle, and bam! We’re back in business. The leaderboards tell me I might be the odd one out here, but hang tight, there’s more to this saga. Before climbing the score ranks, you’ve got to conquer the thing called “voyage.”

This “voyage” mode is where you pick up these quirky bombs, jack up your paddle and balls, and can even slow down the pace (but you gotta give up some points for that). Seriously, the game ramps up in difficulty after the first levels, especially if you’re going solo. But there’s a real “just one more try” itch to it. Oh, and don’t be shy to tweak your paddle’s sensitivity—too high or too low and you kiss your good run goodbye. With 72 levels to beat, my inner completionist was itching to clear them all—though, honestly, you don’t have to. It’s all about beating levels in order to move on to the next bunch.

Visuals and sounds? Breakout Beyond nails the classic vibe while tossing in some updates. Picture this: “Procedural audio and visual effects ramping up with your combo.” Sounds fancy coming from Choice Provisions, right? Basically, the better you play, the more sensory overload. You can tweak the music and sound settings too, which is a relief for when you need a breather.

Now, let’s circle back to that locked content, shall we? Why, oh why, are cool features—like infinite mode and the classic arcade version—shoved behind this weird unlock wall? Makes no sense. It could’ve been smarter to let you dive into those right away, for practice or just, you know, variety. At least the leaderboards are split between global, friends, and modes. As I scribble this, my wife and I are reigning champs on the co-op leaderboard—but maybe that’s more about everyone else flying solo.

It’s almost impossible to screw up Breakout—still addictively fun after all these years—but seriously, locking content, including leaderboards? What were they thinking? Yet, here we are, game still rocks. That’s a nod to the creators’ skills and the timeless appeal of knocking those bricks around.