DESCRIPTION

In Arkanoid, the user takes control of a wayward space survivor who must do battle through many screens by knocking a power sphere against the bricks of walls that enclose him. The game is actually a puzzler that has been given a story to explain the nature of play.

The user controls the spaceship (a flat oblong paddle) by moving it back and forth along the bottom of the screen, bouncing a sphere off a series of bricks along the top edge. Once a brick is hit with the sphere, it will disappear (unless it is a brick of the type that requires two hits to disappear) and a power-up might fall down. The player must make sure to hit the sphere back towards the bricks when it returns.

In the story, aliens have destroyed the user's mothership and theArkanoid is attempting to get home. These aliens are prevalent on each screen as they release troops from the top and move about intercepting the sphere's path. The sphere can destroy the aliens, but the aliens will destroy the user's paddle if they come into contact with it.

The power-ups available for the spaceship include a feature to extend the size of the paddle, thus making it easier to hit the return shot; a power-up which slows the speed of the sphere; an option allowing the paddle to attach the sphere for a moment to position it for the return shot; and other options including ship-mounted guns to shoot bricks and a multi-sphere option.

The goal of each level is to clear all available bricks without losing all of one's lives. A life is lost when the sphere is unable to be returned. The player is initially given four lives, but more may be gained by earning point milestones.

Arkanoid supports the keyboard, joystick or an arcade paddle wheel to move the ship, and two players can participate by alternating turns. Clear the levels to reveal more of the story! ~ Ryan Glover, All Game Guide