Arkanoid - Doh It Again

The Super Nintendo Arkanoid: Doh It Again preserves the immediate appeal of steering a paddle, judging rebounds and catching helpful capsules. Multi-hit and indestructible blocks, moving obstacles and boss encounters give that familiar loop more variety. At its best, a carefully aimed shot produces a satisfying chain of hits. Some late gold-block formations, however, leave only narrow paths and turn a test of control into a long wait for the right angle. The cartridge offers an unusually broad package: ninety-nine stages, passwords for continuation, alternating, cooperative and competitive two-player modes, and an editor for building new challenges. These additions make it more than a simple retelling of the arcade original, and sharing the game is often livelier than completing it alone. Animated bosses and decorative backdrops add character, though certain patterns obscure the small ball. Most ordinary stages rely on collision effects rather than continuous music. Adjustable paddle speed works with the normal controller, while the Super NES Mouse is optional. Firsthand SNES reports find movement smooth overall but mention rare apparent collision misses and a clumsy editor. This assessment concerns the 1997 SFC/SNES cartridge, not the PC edition or other Arkanoid games. It is easy to recommend to players who enjoy short arcade challenges, with a warning that seeing all ninety-nine stages takes more patience than the opening suggests.

Who it is for: Brick-breaker fans who enjoy high-skill short sessions and local shared play.

Play notes: The SNES Mouse is optional; the score covers the original 16-bit cartridge only.