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Shatter Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Shatter Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Classic Brick-Breaking Gets
a 21st Century Makeover

You may not have noticed, but the PlayStation Network is on a roll as of late with top-shelf downloadable games. Not long ago the redheaded step child of Xbox Live Arcade, Sony has come into its own with fun, high quality games exclusive to the system. The trend of innovative exclusives continues with Sidhe Interactive’s Shatter.

Shatter screenshot

At its core Shatter is a simple brick-breaking game in the mold of Arkanoid or Breakout. For anyone who’s missed these ground-breaking games, or any of their many clones, it is a simple premise. Controlling a paddle, you must keep the ball in play as it bounces around the screen and destroys all the “bricks” to clear the level. Once clear, move on to the next stage, rinse, and repeat.

Obviously a game concept that simply won’t cut it in today’s game market. Shatter does an extraordinary job of differentiating itself to provide a unique and spirited experience. Colors and effects are bright and explosive for plenty of visual stimulation reminiscent of a frantic game of Geometry Wars. The downside is that with all that’s going on, it is a bit too easy to lose track of the ball in the excitement and chalk up some losses that “aren’t your fault.”

Sidhe has incorporated several unique gameplay mechanics as well. As the ball breaks, objects’ shards are released into the game that serve to fill up a meter on the top of the screen as they are collected. While it’s possible to wait for the shards to fall to the paddle (or “ship” as the case may be), you can suck in objects or blow them farther away. This not only will push or pull the shards but will change the trajectory of the ball as it bounces around the screen and allows precision in aiming for specific regions of the game board. This is possibly the most significant additional layer Shatter brings to the table. The ability to control the ball’s trajectory while being aware of pushing or pulling other objects makes for that much more of a challenging experience.

Shatter screenshot

Once you’ve filled up the meter from collecting shards, you are able to unleash a Shard Storm – a few second bombardment from your ship that shoots the collected shards out and destroys whatever they hit on the screen. The Shard Storm is a powerful game-changer, particularly helpful in boss battles. Provided you have enough extra lives stocked up, you can also launch extra balls to increase your score. It seems more risky than rewarding to have two or three balls bouncing about, but it does serve to keep the pace at frantic levels.

To keep things varied, there are several boss battles (which can also be played back to back in a “boss attack” challenge mode). Each boss has its own weaknesses and tactics that often involve a bit of playing around to figure out. Some are definitely harder than others, but none is so difficult to lead to a thrown controller or similar violent outburst. In fact, the game never gets too difficult. Shatter instead resides in the fun, casual game space, eschewing a more challenging or frustrating experience.

Shatter screenshot

Sidhe’s managed to put together a great soundtrack to perfectly compliment the game. Musical tracks are engrossing and serve to add to the space-retro vibe of Shatter. Turn off the lights, turn up the music, and you’ll find yourself quickly lost in an entirely pleasurable sensory bombardment. For anyone interested, Sidhe has released the tracks for streaming on their website as well for download. Particularly, if you are a fan of electronic, make an effort to check out the soundtrack as Sidhe’s gone above and beyond.

Shatter screenshot

At this point you may be telling yourself “Ok, sounds good. But what’s my motivation? What’s the story? Is there any reason I want to destroy all of these bricks or do I just hate bricks?” Basically… yes. You hate bricks. To be perfectly honest, I had a hard time understanding what was going on in the campaign story mode. It has something to do with spaceships, escaping from an enemy, and flying back in an effort to inflict viscous retribution against those who’ve wronged you. It’s nice that Sidhe put in the effort for a story but really it doesn’t matter. You may as well tap into a deep and personal desire to see all blocks irrevocably destroyed for your thespian-esque motivation.

The biggest qualm with Shatter is that it’s just too short. From start to finish it took somewhere from three to four hours to complete the campaign mode. There is replayability to be sure, but “beating” the game is not too taxing of an endeavor. Once finished with the campaign, all levels will be unlocked allowing you to compare scores with your PSN friends. There is also the aforementioned boss battle mode as well as a bonus stage challenge where you keep three balls in play for as long as possible while they pick up speed.

Still, Shatter is a refreshingly unique take on a classic genre. The visuals, music, and gameplay combine to provide a simple yet engrossing experience that will please casual and old-school gamers. The short campaign mode and relatively easy difficulty may deter hardcore gamers but it shouldn’t. For a very reasonable price of $7.99, Shatter is yet another success story in the PlayStation Network’s ever-growing library of AAA, exclusive downloadable games.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
Vibrant, colorful visuals and effects impress. 4.3 Control
Simple controls ensure a game accessible to nearly anyone. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Fantastic music keeps the energy up while perfectly setting the right vibe. 4.0 Play Value
Great gameplay that is hampered only by wanting a longer game experience. 4.5 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Innovative controls, physics effects, power-ups, special attacks, and boss battles which combine to provide an experience that is always interactive.
  • Standard, Boss Rush, and Bonus game modes enhanced with leaderboards and trophies.
  • Fully scored soundtrack featuring more than 90 minutes of great original music.

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