Okay, okay… it’s time to stop playing the game and write the review! Jeez Mom!

Over 20 years ago, Atari® release Breakout© in the arcades. It was one of the best arcade games since the invention of Pong. I am one of those aficionados of Breakout. I’ve plugged more quarters into those machines than I can count. I’ve bought every version of Breakout that’s been released for my computer systems, from the Atari 400/800, Atari ST and IBM PC and now the Pocket PC. Yes, you could say I’m addicted to this type of game. I’ve seen them all and played them all. Each new release is slightly better than the previous. However, Acky’s XP Breakout just blew that ‘slightly better’ quote out of the water. This game is about 250% better than anything I’ve ever played or seen! And remember, I’ve seen them all!

First of all, Isotope244 Graphics has released three versions of this game all at the same time.

• Windows PC Version
• Pocket PC Version (for ARM / X-Scale Processors)
• Pocket PC Version (for Hi-RES VGA devices running 640x480)

Since I can’t test (or play with) the Hi-RES Pocket PC version, this review covers the Windows and standard Pocket PC versions.

Breakout is a simple game. The object is to use your paddle to keep the ball moving and knock out all of the blocks on the playing field. Simple enough. Variations include special blocks with special powers. If you lose the ball, you have a limited amount to continue playing the game. Each level increases with difficulty and some blocks may require multiple hits to make them disappear. It may sound simple, but it’s not boring in the least. It’s rather addicting.

Acky’s XP Breakout is even more complex than that. There are so many things to see on the screen, you’ll be amazed. There are no set number of balls with this version. You are given two containers of ‘ether’ which are needed to create the balls. To create a ball on the Pocket PC version, click on one of the two (red or blue) bars on the either side of the screen. One the Windows version, just click the left mouse button. Each ball that is created uses a little bit of that ‘ether’. When you’ve run out and lost the ball, the game is over. There are blocks within the game that drop ‘blobs of ether’. If you catch those red and blue blobs, they will float over and refill your supply. The power-ups are very numerous and quite different. If a power-up has a green aura, it’s a good power-up. If the aura is red, it might be considered a bad power-up. For example, the green aura’s are around bonus points, larger paddles, multi-ball, etc. The red aura’s are around smaller paddles, faster balls, generally things that will make the game play a little harder.

Features:

• Superior game play and exact control
• 150 powerful levels
• Awesome particle effects
• 80 different brick types
• Free level expansion packs
• 26 unique power items
• Four difficulty settings
• 16 bonuses
• Built in level editor
• Online stats tracking board
• Trophy and ranking systems
• Enhanced play with XP Mode
• Special gemstone and blaster items
• Effects and object morphing
• Exploding, ghosting, moving, and glass bricks
• 30 minutes of tantalizing music
• Laser and gluon cannon power items
• Use your keyboard, mouse, or joystick
• 21 custom brick classes
• Tractor beam and prediction power items
• Complete help manual and in game tutorials
• Ultra crisp sound effects
• Compact install size

The Pocket PC version uses the stylus to control the game. The Windows version can use the keyboard, joystick or mouse (and they are customizable). To get into the options on the Pocket PC version, just click anywhere outside the playing field and the option menu will appear. This will pause the game. The options menu allow you to minimize the game (so you can get back to work), or adjust the graphics, sounds, controls or to quit the game. Why anyone would ever want to quit, I’ll never know!

Did I mention the graphics? All I can say is one word. “WOW!”. From particle effects, star fields, space gases, disintegrating objects, this game has them all! If the screen is a little too busy for you, the option is there to turn them off. I prefer the ‘high contrast’ option. This makes it easier to see the red/blue ball by highlighting it with a white border. It also will highlight the paddle as well. You read correctly, the ball is made up of both red and blue ‘ether’, so it’s not totally white. It adds to the unique effect of this game. There are options for changing the orientation of the screen, making it easier for left handed people (or devices with an annoying antenna). The frame rate options are there for slower devices, however I didn’t need them. This game ran perfectly at 200MHZ.

Watch out for Acky! He will steal your ‘ether’. He will appear on the side of the screen. Slam your paddle into him before he disappears with your precious ‘ether’. He’s tricky and quick. Before you know it, all of your ‘ether’ will be gone and you won’t be able to create another ball.

There are built-in help screens. This can be turned on when you first start the game. They appear as bubbles when you’ve hit a power-up or something special has just appeared on the screen. This is a real help for first time players. Just click the bubble for it to disappear and be prepared because the ball is still in play.

The music is custom designed for this game. Most of the tracks are energizing enough to keep you going. You can adjust the volume of the game sounds or music from within the option menu. You can click using the stylus and the volume level will go up to 100% and then around again to 0%. If you don’t want the sounds to get louder, just click once on the setting and use the D-Pad to adjust the volume either up or down. The D-Pad will allow you to go through each of the menu items.

While you are playing the game, you are collecting bonuses and trying to turn on the XP Mode. This is a special feature of this game.

To activate XP mode you need to get the following number of bonuses

• 20 Pad Bonuses
• 5 Saucer Bonuses
• 5 Point Bonuses
• 5 Power Bonuses
• 20 Wall Bonuses

When XP mode is active the following things happen

• You automatically get a multiball every 20 seconds
• The space pad will always be big and will glow
• All points and bonuses are doubled

Once XP mode is activated it lasts until you have completed three rounds with it active. You can activate XP mode many times throughout the levels.

Keep an eye on the status bars and once they are full, you’ll be in the XP mode. It will take quite a few levels to make it to the XP mode.

Levels? How about 150 levels? Plus the ability to create your own! If 150 levels isn’t enough to keep your interest, just create your own by using the level editor from within the game. Both the Windows PC and Pocket PC versions have this feature. I don’t want to give away too many secrets about this game, but there are blocks that require multiple hits, blocks that disappear out of phase, blocks that move, blocks with special power ups, you name it, it’s in there! If you create a package of levels, you can send them to Isotope244 and they will create the package for you and possibly make it available for other players to try.

Oh yeah… are you tired of playing the game? Okay… quit the game and when you return, the last level will be saved. You can start playing from where you left off. Even if you lose the last ball, when you load the game again, you can try again from where you left off. Do you want your friends to play the game, but not the same level where you are? Not a problem! Click PLAY and add a new player. The same name will appear, but a number will appear behind it. It will be at level one and ready to go. The players name appears to be the same as the ‘owner info’ screen on the Pocket PC. The Windows version will allow you to edit the name of the player. You can even go back and replay a level you’ve already played if you wish (on either version of the game).

Statistics are kept for every level and you can even upload them to the website for comparison to other players. Is there anything they didn’t think of?

As far as I can tell, the Pocket PC version is a scaled down version of the full Windows version. I was told the VGA version is identical to the Windows PC version. There are minor differences for the standard Pocket PC version, like the ability to edit the name of the player. It’s very rare to see the exact same game written for both systems. You will find both versions a lot of fun to play.

As for storage space. The game works beautifully from a storage card. It requires about 4.5MB of space for storage and about 5MB of RAM to play the game. During the testing of the game, I only noticed one drawback. My screen is set to turn off after 3 minutes. I play the game with the stylus on the screen at all times. Unless I tap every once in a while, the screen will turn off after the time elapses. It might be nice if the game would disable that feature, but then there is the possibility of killing the battery if its left on. It’s a minor problem and if you click every once in a while, you’ll be fine.

Interested in giving the game a try? Download a trial version for the Pocket PC or your Windows system (or both)! The trial version gives you ten levels to try. The level creator is functional, so give that a shot as well. You can create a level, but to play it you will need the full version of the game. I can guarantee that ten levels won’t be enough to satisfy your Breakout appetite. You will want to go and purchase the full game. Just be sure to uninstall the demo first or it will remain on your Pocket PC. The full version contains all 150 levels, more music tracks and more power-ups. After you’ve purchased the full version, you’ll be given a link for downloading and registering. You’ll never hit the XP Mode with the trial version, so if you really want to play to the max, buy the game. The Pocket PC version (either standard resolution or the VGA version) is only $12.95 and the Windows version is only $16.95. Perhaps they should think about a package deal and offer both for a special price! I know I can’t live without it. I want it all. When my batteries are dead on the Pocket PC, I might have withdrawals and need my fix by playing the Windows PC version.

I know I have found my "new favorite game”! Join the Breakout revolution and free your mind!

Special thanks to James Bryant for sending us the full Pocket PC version to test and review.
This game was reviewed using the Samsung i700 Pocket PC Phone edition (running at 200MHZ).
The Windows PC version was tested using Windows XP running on an Intel 2.4GHZ Pentium 4. (However the Windows version will run on nearly any computer).