Breakout Beyond, a collaboration between Choice Provisions and Atari, breathes vibrant new life into an evergreen arcade favorite. This review of Breakout Beyond will steer you through the dazzling neon landscape of this fresh twist on a classic game.
Originally, Breakout captivated us with its vertical orientation—a nod to its arcade roots. Breakout Beyond flips this script, presenting a horizontal gameplay perspective. The aim? Propel the ball to escape from each level. Unlike the old version where the goal was to annihilate every brick while ensuring the ball didn’t slip past your paddle, this iteration lets you focus on strategic beat-the-clock-style goals.
Initially crafted with the now seriously delayed Amico console in mind, Breakout Beyond was simply titled ‘Breakout’. Now, it’s part of Atari’s Beyond series, which reimagines iconic games. Having delighted in Lunar Lander Beyond with its story-rich overhaul on PS5, I couldn’t resist securing a physical copy of Lunar Lander Beyond Deluxe on the Switch. The similarity of Breakout Beyond to BIT.TRIP Flux—another Choice Provisions classic dating back to the WiiWare era—can’t go unnoticed.
Jump into Breakout Beyond solo or bring a friend along for its electrifying co-op mode. The game adapts to your play with dynamic audio-visual feedback based on your performance combos. Dive through its 72 action-packed levels unlocking scores as you shatter obstacle blocks, some rewarding you with powerful bonuses.
These bonuses include shields that save your ball from going out of play, bombs that obliterate multiple blocks, and laser cannons forging paths through tough spots. Tools like a drill or multi-ball add more mayhem, letting you smash through challenges in a frenzy.
Every level sharpens your reflexes, but assistance is never far. Use focus mode to slow time, trading a bit of score for precision. Or team up locally for two-player co-op thrills. Additional modes like Infinite Mode challenge you to break scoreboard records, while 1976 Mode is a beautiful nod to Breakout’s revolutionary debut year.
Trophy hunters will find a full plate here, with a Platinum trophy as the ultimate prize. Earn 8 Bronze, 11 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies by unlocking power-ups, completing levels, and mastering unique challenges.
Breakout Beyond distills the essence of the original while enhancing it with a brilliant horizontal display. Risk meeting reward as you aim for high scores and master fluid combos. The PS5 version of Breakout Beyond is priced at $14.99, and it shares that tag with its PS4 cousin, sold separately.
In summary, Breakout Beyond appeals with its mesmerizing revamp of a cherished classic. Whether you’re scaling the leaderboards in Infinite Mode or reliving nostalgia with 1976 Mode, Breakout Beyond is available now. A note of transparency: this review was formulated from a PlayStation 5 copy generously provided by Atari.
