Definitive version of Arkanoid?

[Blade]

I recently was playing the SNES version of "Doh it Again" and it dawned on me that I've never seen much in the way of a solid tribute to the original story of Arkanoid for the Arcade.

In a lot of ways this game plays like a shmup, but in other ways it's a puzzle... so I was wondering what people's thoughts were about it.

So what's the "definitive" version of Arkanoid (either the Arcade game or besides the Arcade game)?

[Jeneki]

The spinner for NES Arkanoid added a lot to the coolness factor.

[Tarma]

The Playstation version - Arkanoid-R is pretty solid.

I think the first two games are featured on one of the Taito Memories compilations, are they not?

[BrianC]

The US NES Arkanoid changes one of the levels for the better compared to the FC version (level 3, which is already challenging in the US version) and adds three new levels. The odd thing is that the US and JP Vaus controllers are wired differently, so the JP controller doesn't work with the US Arkanoid when played with an adapter on the Famicom.

[SuperDeadite]

Metal Orange EX for X68000 is the best game of this type ever made.

[OdiousTrident]

Wizorb and Ghox are good games.

I thought Revenge of Doh is a better game than Arkanoid-R and the new wave of mobile and XBLA titles. More varied bosses, great music and good controls. I haven't really gotten far enough in Arkanoid-R or any of its incarnations to really comment with authority though. It just has the Doh boss right?

Does Metal Orange EX have boss fights?

[trap15]

Metal Orange has 90s J-PC porno scenes, which automatically makes it the best.

[BIL]

Dat muhfuckin BGM too

[qmish]

Breakquest or Ricochet Infinity

And Arkanoid DS for music

[colour_thief]

Arkanoid Returns on Taito F3 with an actual spinner is just the best imo. Various consumer spinners like the NES or DS versions had just don't feel the same. It makes me really sad that basically nobody can play this fantastic game the way it was meant to be played (because, arcade setup aside, even just getting good spinners is next to impossible).

[BrianC]

The NES/FC spinner/paddle does feel cheap compared to the arcade, but the games control great with it. Also, for breakout style games, I found the Atari 2600 Paddles to work great too. I don't feel a perfect arcade setup is needed just to play a fun game of Arkanoid or Breakout. Then again, I'm also okay with using mouse for paddle game controls.

To be fair, the NES Vaus controller is overpriced for what it is and not as common as the JP controller. To bad the JP controller doesn't work with the US Arkanoid (and not just a physical incompatibility).

[Blade]

Wow. Lots of people have different ideas on what's the definitive version.

I guess if I had to say what I was looking for it's the "space-themed" games and music either from or based on the original arcade music or thereabouts (multiple boss fights too, why not?).

Though I'm unsure about getting a separate PC or emulator for such games.

[Jeneki]

*obligatory*

"Yo man have you played Touhou it's the hardest most awesome Arkanoid game ever!"

[SuperDeadite]

Besides the awesome aesthetics, Metal Orange just plays so damn well. Its' use of the Gradius power-up system removes all the luck based nonsense of other games of this type, and makes it a true game of skill. The later stages get very complex, but you never feel underpowered.

[cicada88]

after hearing 68k exclusive, a title like METAL ORANGE, 90s anime porn, the track linked by BIL, and Gradius powerup system, am I wrong to assume an original of this game goes for big money?

[SuperDeadite]

after hearing 68k exclusive, a title like METAL ORANGE, 90s anime porn, the track linked by BIL, and Gradius powerup system, am I wrong to assume an original of this game goes for big money?

Original boxed copies are uncommon, but for about 10 years it was easy to find for about 5,000yen. In the last few years though the X68K is having a bit of a boom with non-japanese collectors, and now I'd say 15,000 is about the average yahoo auction price.

[Koa Zo]

Original boxed copies are uncommon, but for about 10 years it was easy to find for about 5,000yen. In the last few years though the X68K is having a bit of a boom with non-japanese collectors, and now I'd say 15,000 is about the average yahoo auction price.

I'd read somewhere a number of years ago that Metal Orange was also included as a freebie with an issue of a Japanese computer magazine (x68k, or PC-8801 magazine)
Do you know if there's any truth to that?

As for the thread topic, I've never been a huge Arkanoid fan (though I am a block-breaking fan), played the original in the arcade - Qix and Arkanoid both always produce a strong memory of playing them at the Franklin Institute museum in Philadelphia where they had those two cabinets next to each other in a vending machine area in a lower level of the museum iirc.

I've played the SNES, Arkanoid Doh It Again! a little bit but at the time I didn't have a mouse and wanted to wait until I did to really dig into it.
The only Arkanoid game I've spent a significant amount of time with was playing though all 100 (iirc) levels for Arkanoid R2000 on Playstation and it became to feel like a chore = tedious and boring. But that might also be because I was playing it poorly. However, playing poorly or not, I have a lot more enjoyment with Bomb Bee (Namco Museum Vol.2), or Block Kuzushi: Deden no Gyakushuu, or Simple 1500 Hello Kitty Vol.03 Hello Kitty The Block Kuzushi, among others.

5 or more years ago I really delved into the world of Block Kuzushi games across all platforms up to the Wii, there's probably a few I'm missing or don't know about - in fact I just became aware of and purchased Pururun! With Shape UP Girl and Prism Land Story (I'd never known that was the Japanese version of the US Sorcerer's Maze). Serofans is another Playstation game that I recently found out about which looks to have an interesting block breaking game among it's mini games.
Most of the Playstation block breaking games support mouse, volume, and neGcon control which definately add a lot to the experience.

[SuperDeadite]

Original boxed copies are uncommon, but for about 10 years it was easy to find for about 5,000yen. In the last few years though the X68K is having a bit of a boom with non-japanese collectors, and now I'd say 15,000 is about the average yahoo auction price.

I'd read somewhere a number of years ago that Metal Orange was also included as a freebie with an issue of a Japanese computer magazine (x68k, or PC-8801 magazine)
Do you know if there's any truth to that?

As for the thread topic, I've never been a huge Arkanoid fan (though I am a block-breaking fan), played the original in the arcade - Qix and Arkanoid both always produce a strong memory of playing them at the Franklin Institute museum in Philadelphia where they had those two cabinets next to each other in a vending machine area in a lower level of the museum iirc.

I've played the SNES, Arkanoid Doh It Again! a little bit but at the time I didn't have a mouse and wanted to wait until I did to really dig into it.
The only Arkanoid game I've spent a significant amount of time with was playing though all 100 (iirc) levels for Arkanoid R2000 on Playstation and it became to feel like a chore = tedious and boring. But that might also be because I was playing it poorly. However, playing poorly or not, I have a lot more enjoyment with Bomb Bee (Namco Museum Vol.2), or Block Kuzushi: Deden no Gyakushuu, or Simple 1500 Hello Kitty Vol.03 Hello Kitty The Block Kuzushi, among others.

5 or more years ago I really delved into the world of Block Kuzushi games across all platforms up to the Wii, there's probably a few I'm missing or don't know about - in fact I just became aware of and purchased Pururun! With Shape UP Girl and Prism Land Story (I'd never known that was the Japanese version of the US Sorcerer's Maze). Serofans is another Playstation game that I recently found out about which looks to have an interesting block breaking game among it's mini games.
Most of the Playstation block breaking games support mouse, volume, and neGcon control which definately add a lot to the experience.

I believe that was the original Metal Orange for NEC computers. EX was strictly retail afaik.

[Blade]

Just wanted to follow up:

Arkanoid versus Space Invaders is underrated, and really fun for an iOS game.

[Marc]

The Arkanoud games were the only reason I went for the Egret Luxury package, and sadly I was disappointed, they just didn't feel right. There's since been a firmware update which amends the sensitivity, I've yet to try again since I installed it though.

And yes, Arksnoid vs Space Invaders is a great time killer.

[Herr Schatten]

For once, homecomputers of the 80s/90s can add something worthwhile to the genre. My favourite Arkanoid clone has always been a game that went by a couple of different names, including Impact and Block Buster. Visually, it’s as basic as it gets, but it plays very well. It also uses the Gradius powerup system instead of randomly dropping extra capsules. This is a genius move, because it turns an element of luck into one of skill. The game was out at least on MS-DOS and Amiga, possibly also Atari ST.

Speaking of the ST, there’s a pretty unique Arkanoid clone for its black and white hires mode called Bolo. It lets you move the bat all across the screen, not just left and right. This makes for some interesting mechanics like levels with gravity and such. Not the greatest game ever, but definitely worth a look.

[BrianC]

The Arkanoud games were the only reason I went for the Egret Luxury package, and sadly I was disappointed, they just didn't feel right. There's since been a firmware update which amends the sensitivity, I've yet to try again since I installed it though.

Definitely give it another try. The sd card is no longer needed with the update and the response is definitely much better than it was before. I'm not sure if a geared spinner is the best fit for a paddle style game, even if it was what the arcade version (even the US versions) used. The responsiveness is not the same and I feel that paddles or mouse work great with the home versions of the game.

[neorichieb1971]

I'd go for Arkanoid 2 SNES/SFC with the mouse.

Arkanoid NES/FC with the spinner.

To me, controls are more important than graphics. I also have Arknoid R 2000 on the PS1 but its like playing Time Crisis on a joypad.

[BrianC]

I'd go for Arkanoid 2 SNES/SFC with the mouse.

Arkanoid NES/FC with the spinner.

To me, controls are more important than graphics. I also have Arknoid R 2000 on the PS1 but its like playing Time Crisis on a joypad.

NES Arkanoid uses an analog paddle controller, not a spinner. That's an odd comparison since Arkanoid R 2000 isn't stuck with just the joypad and dual shock and has other options for control. It's compatible with the PS1 Mouse, the Namco paddle controller, and the Analog Stick (not the best way to play but it works much better than expected). Mouse is easier to find than the paddle controller and works great with the game.

[MJR]

I never liked any version of Arkanoid. For some reason, I've always had huge issue with the collision of the Volus spacecraft; it's red glass domes at it's edges don't have collision detection, meaning that I will forever letting the shot to go through them, as I mistake them for the actual surface of the craft. I never got used to it, and I never forgiven it. I've even tried to play the arcade version with it's spin control, and it's just as bad for me.

My favourite breakout clone of all time is Krakout for Commodore 64, which, ironically, was slammed in Zzap!64 as for being a "cheap arkanoid rip-off". In reality, it's anything but. The game has MASSIVE amount of items, unique enemies, hidden bonuses, shortcuts and powerups. Most memorable is the enemy that chases your ball and eats it, and then spits the corpse of the ball back at you Also it had lots of customizable options, and most importantly, the devs had enough common sense to make the gameplay horizontal, meaning that the bat was on left/right and you controlled it up/down, making thus most of the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Even today, Krakout still remains my favourite breakout clone. I pick it up over any version of Arkanoid, any day. It was so much ahead of it's time it was ridiculous, felt more like 90's design than 80's design. It was also the first home computer game along Bubble Bobble where I had the revelation of "Oooh! Computer game can have THIS many secrets!"

[Marc]

Holy shit, I'd forgotten about Krakout. Great game as you say. I'll be revisiting later on the C64 mini.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

I've never heard of Krakout, I'll definitely give it a whirl!

[MJR]

I've never heard of Krakout, I'll definitely give it a whirl!

My favourite settings since the 80's are;
-bat is on the: left
-music: on
-scroll: follow
-mode: 6 (scenery flashes with the music, great atmosphere if you are not prone to epilepsy seizures)

ball and bat speeds are fine as default, but if you get bored you can increase the ball speed to 4.

If you see a small alien suddenly zooming towards the edge of the screen at high speed, try to hit it with your bat for surprise effect (extra life, level skip or bonus)

[neorichieb1971]

I'd go for Arkanoid 2 SNES/SFC with the mouse.

Arkanoid NES/FC with the spinner.

To me, controls are more important than graphics. I also have Arknoid R 2000 on the PS1 but its like playing Time Crisis on a joypad.

NES Arkanoid uses an analog paddle controller, not a spinner. That's an odd comparison since Arkanoid R 2000 isn't stuck with just the joypad and dual shock and has other options for control. It's compatible with the PS1 Mouse, the Namco paddle controller, and the Analog Stick (not the best way to play but it works much better than expected). Mouse is easier to find than the paddle controller and works great with the game.

I learn something everyday. I don't own FC Arkanoid yet, i've just seen it knocking about every now and again. I'll try for the paddle or mouse on ps1, going Japan in August so if I see it I'll pick it up. Thanks.

[Klatrymadon]

My fave is Arkanoid R 2000 on the Playstation (the updated home version of Returns), partly because Yack's soundtrack epitomises the stylistic boldness and dynamism that draws me to late 90s arcade games in general (and Taito's work in particular), but also because most of the stages are brisk, fun and interesting, which hadn't always been the case. The game goes easy on the levels full of indestructible gold blocks which plague many other versions of Arkanoid, including ones that came after this. You really want the paddle controller from the Limited Edition version of Puchi Carat (or Namco's rarer "volume controller") in order to get the most out of it, though. This was easy enough to get hold of until a couple of years ago, but it might take a while to secure one now...

Doh It Again is another contender for best-in-series. Its slightly chunkier blocks are incredibly satisfying to clear, and I like that it understands that there was an oddly calming, meditative quality to the original game, which it tries to preserve with its lack of music and its spartan sound effects. It's another one that tends to keep the annoying block types and formations to a minimum, too, IIRC. I highly recommend plugging in a SNES mouse if you have one - it replicates the smooth motions of the arcade spinner quite nicely.

Edit: Koa Zo mentioned some great budget block kuzushi games on the PS1 (the Simple series ones are superb), and it reminded me of one I haven't thought about in a decade or more - Block Breaker Deluxe on the DS. It had some offputting nightclub theming, and looked like it was probably designed as a nickel-and-diming F2P phone game, but it was the real deal. Check it out!