Arkanoid

Game Over

Name: Arkanoid
Programmer(s): Eric Parker
Publisher: [[]]
Year: 1987

Description:

Arkanoid came to the Apple II in 1988 as a port of Taito's successful arcade game. Players control a paddle called the Vaus to bounce a ball and destroy colorful bricks arranged in patterns at the top of the screen. The goal is simple: clear all the bricks to advance to the next level.

The game begins with the Vaus spacecraft escaping from an alien mothership called DOH. Each level represents a section of space you must clear to continue your journey home. You move the paddle left and right using either the keyboard or a paddle controller. The ball bounces off your paddle at different angles depending on where it hits. Missing the ball costs you a life, and losing all lives means game over.

What makes Arkanoid special is its power-up system. When you destroy certain bricks, capsules fall down. Catching these gives you temporary abilities. The Laser power-up lets you shoot bricks directly. The Expand capsule makes your paddle wider. Slow decreases the ball speed. Multiple balls create three balls at once. The Catch power-up lets you grab and re-launch the ball. These power-ups add strategy to what could have been a basic brick-breaking game.

The Apple II version features 33 levels with increasingly difficult brick patterns. Some bricks take multiple hits to destroy. Silver bricks need two hits, while gold bricks cannot be destroyed at all. Later levels include moving bricks and complex layouts that require careful planning. The final boss, DOH, appears as a giant head that shoots at your paddle while you try to hit it with the ball.

The graphics use the Apple II's limited color palette effectively. Each level has a different color scheme and brick arrangement. The sound effects are basic beeps and boops, but they provide satisfying feedback when you destroy bricks or collect power-ups. The smooth paddle control makes the game feel responsive despite the hardware limitations.

Arkanoid helped establish the breakout genre on home computers. Its success led to many similar games on the Apple II. The power-up system influenced countless later games. While Breakout invented the concept, Arkanoid refined it into something more strategic and engaging. The Apple II port proved that arcade games could work well on home computers with careful programming.

Today, Arkanoid remains one of the most remembered Apple II games. Its simple concept and challenging gameplay create an addictive experience that holds up decades later. For many Apple II owners, it represented the perfect blend of arcade action and home computer gaming.