Ark: Super DX-Ball [by BlitWise Productions LLC]

Game Review: Super DX Ball
Release Date: November 2004
Developer: BlitWise Productions LLC
Genre: Arkanoid
System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, DirectX 3.0+ (also available for Mac)
Players: 1
Price: $15.99 


In all likelihood, the first Indie game I played was DX-Ball2.  I don't even remember what site I downloaded it from, but I was immediately hooked by the game and found myself using the board editor to create designs.  Unfortunately the board editor was soon outlawed by the developer of the game and all the websites dedicated to the game were dismantled.  It is still a very well-known game, but is not as popular as it once was.

Ahh, but the real story of DX-Ball is too large to recount here.  The game was based on the Amiga classic MegaBall, taking the game to the next level when it was released in 1996.  Two years later, Seamus McNally, who had worked with Michael Welch on the original DX-Ball put together DX-Ball2 and released it.  To everyone's dismay Seamus passed away in 2000 after battling Hodgkins Lymphoma. It took six years after that, with two years entirely focused on the game for Michael Welch to complete Super DX-Ball, the next in the what has been one of the most played indie game series ever.  In fact you can probably strike the word indie from that previous sentence and still have it remain true. 

So there is a little background, and how about Super DX-Ball?  It is a game that sticks directly to what it does and does it very well.  Instead of going on to new arenas Super DX-Ball takes the game play from the last couple of releases and tightens it up to near perfection. The level designs  have been carefully crafted making them a joy to play.  Super DX-Ball is a historic game that comes from a prestigious background that one could talk about for quite some time.  It lives up well to its predecessors and is certainly the best DX-Ball of them all!

Graphics: 8
The use of straight black backgrounds is an interesting move that actually works out quite well for the game.  The real fun here though is the many varieties of bricks, each of which comes in a large assortment of colors, some with bubbles that work their way up through entire panels of shiny bricks.  The on-screen designs make you think both that a generic palette of bricks is being used and that each board uses its own palette.  In any event the designs of the boards are visually spectacular, and some of the boards, such as the ones that have fuses and exploding bricks set in them that go off in order, provide a pyrotechnic-like display that captures your attention while you are playing.

Sound: 9
The soundtrack for Super DX-Ball is everything it could be with great tunes that really fit the more retro feel of the game.  The songs make you feel like you are coming back to an old friend from the moment you hit the title screen, which in my mind, fits the overall theme and feel of the game perfectly.  The sound effects are pretty much identical to what you hear in the other DXBall games, so no real surprises there.

Game Play: 8
Super DX-Ball does what it does perfectly well.  It doesn't try to introduce new power-ups or modes of play, instead it focuses on making DXBall perfect.  The end result is an absolutely incredible version of the game DXBall that is flawless in game play.  You won't find any boards where your ball gets caught in an infinite loop of bouncing, and the difficulty of the levels has been balanced to ensure that the game doesn't become too tedious or difficult.  The couple of knocks against the game in this category come from the feeling of wanting more, such as being able to put spin on the ball or a couple new and interesting power-ups. 

Value: 8
Super DX-Ball comes across as a very professional Indie game.  It is flawless in design and is a really good deal for the money.  There are so many breakout/arkanoid styled games that have come out in the last couple of years that it becomes increasingly difficult to determine where your money would be best spent among all the games.  That remains true with Super DX-Ball, the returning king in many ways.  Is it the best arkanoid-styled game out there?  No, probably not, but it certainly is one of the best put together and is well worth your time and support.

Concept: 5
The game comes from the same and somewhat tired breakout genre that most arkanoid games do.  The innovative side of the game comes in the types of bricks that you hit and the quality of the levels.  Beyond that, if you are looking for something that you haven't seen in a breakout game before, this title probably isn't what you are looking for.

Fun: 8
I came back to Super DX-Ball several times over a 5 week period and each time I started it up I got a little giddy with how the first notes of the soundtrack reminded me of relaxing gaming fun.  Not to say that Super DX-Ball isn't challenging, it certainly can be difficult to make it through all the levels, but the game is not a stressful gaming experience in any way.  Instead it is pure skill-based entertainment that captures the essence of why arkanoid games are so popular.

Overall: 8
While it doesn't make it quite to the top of its class, there is no doubt that this is one of the best put-together breakout games available.  Super DX-Ball gives one the feeling of going back to hang out with a childhood friend.  Though time marches steadily on, there is still an instant connection of good memories past and the promise of what life still holds.  Super DX-Ball captures those feelings marvelously and provides a very entertaining game that should find fans of all ages eager to praise it.
Added: July 13th 2005
Reviewer: Russell Carroll
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