Arkanoid (US)
Arkanoid (US) Overview
Arkanoid is a block breaker arcade game developed and published by Taito, released in 1986. The US version was distributed by Romstar. This title revitalized the concept made famous by Atari's Breakout and set the standard for countless follow-ups. It appeared in arcades worldwide and later saw ports to home systems like the Commodore 64, NES, and ZX Spectrum.
You control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, moving it left and right to bounce a ball upward into a formation of colorful bricks. Each brick you hit breaks and scores points. The ball gradually speeds up, and you must keep it from falling past your paddle. Power-up capsules occasionally drop, granting abilities like expanding the paddle, splitting the ball into multiple, or turning your paddle into a laser. The game has 32 levels, each with a different brick layout and a final boss encounter.
Arkanoid remains a cornerstone of the block breaker genre. Its tight controls, escalating challenge, and satisfying power-ups make it a go-to for quick arcade sessions. Compared to Breakout, it adds more variety and a sense of progression. If you enjoy simple but demanding score-chasers, this one holds up well. It's not a deep experience, but it knows exactly what it wants to be and executes that perfectly.
How to Play Arkanoid (US) Online
Getting Started
When you start Arkanoid, you control a paddle at the bottom of the screen. Use the Arrow Keys to move it left and right. Press the A button (X) to launch the ball when it's resting on the paddle. The core loop is simple: keep the ball in play, break all the bricks on the screen, and advance to the next level.
As bricks break, they may drop power-up capsules. Move the paddle under a capsule to catch it. These can expand your paddle, give you multiple balls, or turn the paddle into a laser that destroys bricks directly. Pay attention to the color of the capsule - some are helpful, others (like the one that shrinks your paddle) are best avoided.
Each level ends when you clear all bricks, but you only have a limited number of lives. The ball speed increases gradually, so early levels are forgiving while later ones require fast reflexes. If you lose all balls, the game is over. The final level features a boss that must be defeated to win.
Arkanoid (US) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Z: Button 3
- A: Button 4
- Q: Button 5
- E: Button 6
- Enter: Start / 1P
- V: Coin / Insert
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