Review of “Breakout Beyond” for Nintendo Switch

Okay, so let’s dive in. Breakout Beyond—cool name, right? It’s sorta like taking the good ol’ brick-breaking game and flipping it sideways. You know, the kind of game you play when you’re just trying to avoid doing something productive—hey, we’ve all been there. But here’s the catch: a bunch of the game is, like, locked initially? Seriously, so much stuff to unlock. Some folks might call it quits, but others, especially those with a buddy on hand, will probably keep swinging that paddle.

Now, speaking of pals, playing with a friend is where this game really shines. Sure, I got a bit bored solo—okay, maybe more than a bit—but oh, toss in my wife wielding a second paddle next to mine? Boom. Almost like a new game. I guess not many people are into that based on the leaderboards, but let’s chat about that later. First, let’s tackle this “voyage” mode thing.

So in this mode, you get all these power-ups, bombs, and whatnot. Can slow things down too—yes, it costs points, but trust me, you’ll need it because this game gets tough. Like, “maybe I should’ve played on easy” tough. But it’s all about that “one more try” feeling, you know? Play around with your paddle settings, though, ’cause the wrong sensitivity will wreck you. There are like 72 levels, and my OCD was screaming at me to complete them all. Not necessary, but hey, it’s about the journey, right? Even if it’s a straight line from one level to the next.

And the look and feel? Oh, they keep it classic but fancy up the visuals and sounds. The better you get, the crazier it looks and sounds. It’s Choice Provisions—of course, there’s flair. You can play around with audio settings too—big win.

But, oh man, let’s talk about the locked stuff again. Why, oh why, are important bits like the leaderboards and infinite mode not open from the start? It’s so puzzling! Kind of fumbles the whole package ’cause more variety out of the gate would’ve been sweet. At least those leaderboards are organized by global, friends, and modes. You wouldn’t believe it, but my wife’s and my co-op team snagged the #1 spot. Maybe folks are more into solo play? Who knows.

Honestly, it’s hard to mess up Breakout—it’s a timeless classic. But seriously, what was Choice Provisions thinking locking up content like that? Despite this hiccup, the game works, thanks to their skills and a legendary concept. Anyway, yeah, that’s my take.