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Shatter Review for PC

Shatter Review for PC

A Break-Out Hit

Chances are that you’ve played a “Breakout clone” game before. There are dozens of them out there, from well-known games like Arkanoid to cell phone games like Brickbreaker. Every one of these games has the same basic gameplay: you bounce a ball with a paddle to break a series of bricks at the top of the screen. It’s a simple formula that usually works, but with so many games in the sub-genre you may wonder if there’s a need for any more. Developer Sidhe set out to prove that there was still room in the formula for innovation, and did it masterfully with its PC (and PSN) game Shatter.

Shatter screenshot

Shatter may be a Breakout clone, but just because it borrows from established games doesn’t mean that it should be dismissed. Without question, Shatter is an excellent little game – deep enough to keep veteran gamers involved and simple enough for new players to enjoy. That success is based on the fact that Sidhe paired classic arcade gameplay with some clever new ideas. As you can imagine, the heart of Shatter’s gameplay is as simple as any block-breaker’s: you use a sci-fi inspired paddle to reflect a ball and break bricks. Clear all the bricks and you’ve completed the stage. Like Arkanoid and several other similar titles, there is a series of power-ups that grant you extra powers, and you’ve always got a clever trick at your disposal: the ability to control the arc of the ball itself.

By clicking the left and right mouse buttons, you can affect the trajectory of the ball by sucking it towards you or blowing it away. You may wonder why you’d ever want to increase gravity in a game where you’re trying to keep a ball from falling past you, but you’ll quickly learn how useful the ability really is. Sucking the ball towards you doesn’t send it plummeting straight down – the spatial relationship between the ball and your paddle affects how the ball moves. If you’re on the left side of the screen and the ball is on the right, activating the suction effect will make the ball curve to the left. After a few levels of practice, you’ll be able to shoot the ball up alongside a mass of bricks and cause it to arc over the top, destroying bricks from the top down. In a game style known for a degree of randomness, Shatter gives you more control than ever before.

Shatter screenshot

Of course, suction is only one half of your arsenal. Blowing the ball away is equally useful. Not only can you prevent many untimely deaths by pushing the ball away from you, you can also fine-tune your shots with the ability. If your ball is bouncing too low to hit the brick you need to break, hit the blow button to adjust its trajectory upwards and take out your target. Blowing also is a defensive move – several brick types will fall towards you when knocked loose from their neighbors. Falling bricks that hit the paddle won’t cost you a life, but they will knock the paddle out of the game for a moment, which can cause you to miss a ball. Blowing will push these rough blocks back up, if only long enough to get out of their way.

Sucking and blowing are also essential parts of collecting power-ups. Broken bricks will release bonus items that make the ball unstoppable, more maneuverable, and so forth. Suction will send these pickups right towards you. Shattered blocks also release shards, tiny fragments that fill a power meter at the top of the screen. When filled, your paddle releases a storm of bullet-like projectiles that clear bricks and damage your enemies during boss fights. Oh yes, there are boss fights. Shatter features a wordless story mode that basically pits your benevolent paddle against invading bricks, and at the end of each world you’ll face off against a boss character. These fights are basic – you need to hit each boss in the weak point a certain number of times – but that doesn’t mean that they’re not creative and entertaining. One boss is an octopus with brick tentacles that need to be cleared in order to nail it in the head with the ball. Another is a giant evil clock. Some require you to expose their weak points with your sucking and blowing abilities. None are particularly hard, but all of them are a blast and show off just how much mileage Sidhe was able to get out of a simple game formula.

Shatter screenshot

Along with the boss fights, Shatter features a variety of level types that keeps the action fresh across the length of its campaign. There are typical vertical levels, horizontal stages, and even circular levels. Each requires a slightly different strategy, especially the round boards, which have less wiggle room for changing the ball’s trajectory. After completing a boss fight at the end of the world, there’s also a bonus level that strips those powers away from you completely – it’s just you against three bouncing balls that gradually increase in speed.

Shatter screenshot

Within the various stages, unique block types all react differently when struck. Some simply break, others explode and take out the bricks around them. Some launch like rockets when hit and others even send out their own repulsive force that knocks your ball off course.

Each brick type is easily recognizable thanks to a clean visual style that makes their behaviors obvious. Exploding bricks have little fallout signs, while rocket brick are triangular and point toward the direction that they’ll fly when struck. Like everything in Shatter, the visuals are fairly simple but designed with enough intelligence that every key element is easily identifiable.

Upon clearing a world in Story mode, that block of stages is made available for quick play. Finish the game and you’ll unlock Boss Rush mode, which allows you to face off against Shatter’s delightful enemies. There’s also an Unlimited mode that keeps refreshing bricks, a Time Trial mode, and even co-op versions of each. Your performance is tracked with online leaderboards, and there’s even a selection of Achievement-inspired trophies. In short, there’s a ton of content to be found in Shatter, whether you’re playing alone or with a friend. Shatter isn’t the world’s most innovative game – rather, it’s a loving take on a time-honored gameplay style. But, unlike many of the other games that pay homage to classic titles like Breakout, Shatter has enough original ideas that you’ll never feel like you’re playing more of the same. Shatter is a brilliant expansion to traditional arcade-style gameplay, and how often can you say that a new contender has improved on a classic?

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.5 Graphics
Block types and power-ups look distinct enough that you can tell which ones do what, and that’s all the graphics need to accomplish. 4.5 Control
So clean that even novice gamers will master the controls in minutes. 3.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
A huge soundtrack of original music perfectly complements the on-screen action. 4.9 Play Value
Loaded with gameplay modes and replay incentive, buying Shatter is like finding a great deal on a classic arcade machine. 4.6 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.
  • PC version included Endless and Time Attack Modes including cooperative multiplayer.
  • A fully scored soundtrack featuring over 90 minutes of award-winning music.

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