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Brickout 95% [C64]

http://www.prollcoder.com/

Previewed By J. Monkman

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Originally released at the Breakpoint 07 Demo Party, Brickout 95% is Prollcoder's first full game project (ignoring their previous C64 1K releases) and although it's another casual block-matching-puzzler (very similar to the Amstrad's Groops! reviewed in this issue), Prollcoder's demo-scene roots really shine through in all aspects of the game.

So what's special about Brickout? The game features 100 designed and increasingly difficult puzzles to clear (as well as the ability to randomly generate easy, medium and hard levels), high quality SID soundtrack, animated sprites, unique special moves (such as the ability to flip the puzzle upside down and shift columns), mouse and joystick support, score saving and full documentation in-game. In short, Brickout 95% is shaping up to become a modern C64 hit - it's already very playable and professionally presented.

However, things are likely to get even better as this is just an early preview build and Prollcoder are still in the process of completing the game. As well as a new intro and improved disk routines, the finished version will include a better level selection, a refined scoring system and proper stage progression meaning that you'll need to complete early levels to move on to later ones - unlike this demo, you will no longer be able to access all 100 puzzles from the game's outset. Prollcoder have taken a tried and tested puzzle formula and successfully added a few small tweaks to the game-play that make Brickout stand out from other similar 8-Bit titles, and although there's no set release date as yet, I'm really looking forward to reviewing the final build.

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