Review: Super Breakout vs. Block Breaker Deluxe 2
by Jeff Noble
October 1, 2008
Super Breakout 1.0 | Published by Atari Interactive | Via App Store | $4.99 | Released: 9-22-08
Block Breaker Deluxe 2 1.0.3 | Published by Gameloft | Via App Store | $4.99 | Released: 9-24-08
Overview
Two old favorites were released last week for the iPhone. One is basically a direct port of the popular arcade game Breakout, while the other sports some major bells, whistles, and eye candy that may make (or break) your app decision.
If you're ready to engage in all-out brick war, here's our observations and review of these two apps.
Functionality
Both games operate pretty much the same way. You don't tilt your iPhone to move your bumper pad at the bottom of the screen. Rather, you drag it with your finger. Both games are also very responsive, and you should have no problems moving your pad to bounce the ball.
Super Breakout will cause you to reminisce of the old arcade game. The ball is a tiny square, and all the graphics are also squared off to boot.
Ball Breaker Deluxe 2 is the same game... on steroids. It even has some "hoochy-mamas" in it, as my wife called them. These are attractive honeys that seem to just be there to beckon you deeper into the game. Mind you, they are only there to help your balls break things, and not the other way around.
Comparison
After just a few moments of play, I shut down Super Breakout and turned back to BBD2. And tt wasn't because of the hoochy-mamas, honest.
I grew weary just squinting at the tiny square in SB. My finger completely covered the tiny bumper pad, and even though you can put your finger just underneath, it's more natural to put your finger on the pad to control it.
The pad and ball are so small that it's really hard to control. If you're looking for authentic arcade looks and sounds, then SB is for you. It's simple and no frills.
BBD2 on the other hand has more action than you can shake a stick at. You'll be confronted with all kinds of icons which float down from the obstacles above. You can gain speed, missiles, power-ups and challenges, and you'll be confronted with dozens of increasingly difficult levels to defeat (or the opportunity to face another player in Multi-Play, in which two players go head-to-head on the same iPhone).
At times, you'll be frantically dragging your pad over to catch a power-up even as one of your balls drops quickly on the other side of the screen, and you'll be caught between the two. It's a wonderful, fast-paced twist to what can become an otherwise monotonous game.
In other words, BBD2 has much more "replay" value than SB does.
Summary If you're looking for simplicity and a plain-Jane arcade-style Breakout game, then Super Breakout is... wait. Why pay $4.99 for that when you can get so much more with Brick Break Deluxe 2 for the same price? Step on into the 21st century and enjoy the graphics, sound and extreme challenge of BBD2. While I'm not sure $4.99 is really worth the price for this app when Pangea is throwing incredible games with such depth and graphics our way for only $2.99 these days, if you're a fan of this type game, then you'll want BBD2 on your iPhone. Not only will you be amazed at all the add-ons and surprises that BBD2 throws your way, there's also the hoochy mamas awaiting you between levels... ;) Super Breakout:
- Usability: 3 / 5
- Value: 2 / 5
- Utility: 2 / 5
- Aesthetics: 2 / 5
- Usability: 4 / 5
- Value: 3 / 5
- Utility: 4 / 5
- Aesthetics: 4 / 5