''Arkanoid DS'' is a breakout

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed and published by

Taito is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, Toy, toys, arcade cabinets, and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, Vending machine, vending machines, and Juk ...

for the

Nintendo DS The is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens worki ...

, with

Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, video game publisher and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing video game, role-playing game franchises, such as ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', and '' ...

handling publication outside Japan. It was released on December 6, 2007.

Gameplay

''Arkanoid DS'' has two modes: a traditional Clear mode and an objective based Quest mode. In both of those, the player takes the controls of the Vaus spaceship. Clear mode is made of 28 worlds that are arranged in a pyramid-like shape, each made up to five levels. Like in the other games from ''

Arkanoid is a 1986 Block kuzushi, block breaker arcade game developed and published by Taito. In North America, it was published by Romstar. Controlling a paddle-like craft known as the Vaus, the player is tasked with clearing a formation of colorful blo ...

'' series, the main goal of each Clear level is to clear the entire display of blocks at the top of the screen, using a paddle to bounce a ball which destroys them. Eventually the ball falls back down, so the player has to make it hit the paddle. Sometimes, power-ups (like catch, allowing the paddle to hold the ball temporarily) will drop after a certain block has been destroyed. It is activated once the player catches it before it disappears into the void (if the last ball drops there, a life is lost). However, in Quest mode, the player can attempt to complete any level in any preferred order, while trying to complete objectives specific for each level (time limit, restrictive number of balls). ''Arkanoid DS'' supports multiplayer mode through either local wireless or online play for up to four people in two different modes. Those are: Bust All mode (clearing a level first) and Bust Color mode (destroying all of the blocks of a specified color first). The levels played on are randomly selected and the players can keep an eye on the opponents via small images that appear in the play area. The game released in Japan with the Paddle Controller, a spinner mimicking the original arcade game's control knob for the left and right motion of the on-screen paddle. The game uses a "two screens-one display" design, where the screen is bordered within walls. It is one of the control schemes, which includes dragging with the stylus and using a directional pad. There is also a level and blocks customization option included that uses other games from

. For example, the blocks can be changed to look like ''

Space Invaders is a 1978 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Taito for Arcade video game, arcades. It was released in Japan in April 1978, with the game being released by Midway Manufacturing overseas. ''Space Invaders'' was the first fixed s ...

'' ones or backgrounds to feature ''

Bubble Bobble is a platform game series originally developed and published by Taito. The first entry in the series, '' Bubble Bobble'', was released in 1986 as an arcade cabinet. In most entries in the series, players control two dragons named Bub and Bob. Th ...

'' characters. The soundtrack was made by

Zuntata is the "house band" of Japanese video game developer and publisher Taito. The band consists of sound director Katsuhisa Ishikawa, bassists Yu Shimoda and Shohei Tsuchiya, and drummer Masaki Mori. Zuntata is Taito's core sound department, and has ...

, Taito's in-house team, using techno music to complement the action on the screen.

References

External links

* {{Square Enix franchises Nintendo DS games Nintendo DS-only games Taito games Breakout clones 2007 video games Video games developed in Japan Multiplayer and single-player video games