Ricochet Infinity is a most apt titling of this Arkanoid game that we first previewed a few weeks ago: you attempt to juggle a ball on-screen as it ricochets off walls and obstacles in a truly infinite variety of settings. This game breathes fresh air into the Arkanoid genre through its masterful implementation of the Recall ability, which, together with other core game play features, is scrutinized in greater detail on our preview page.

In the space of a few short weeks since going gold, Ricochet Infinity has already fostered a thriving community regularly sharing opinions on its online forums and more importantly, creating and uploading thousands of user-made levels. This is what sets the Ricochet game series apart from the other entries in the Arkanoid genre: infinite replayability.

When people shell out $19.99 of their hard-earned cash down to the penny, I shall presume that they demand value for their money. Some games accomplish this in the form of pure entertainment value, others by way of drop dead gorgeous graphics. Ricochet Infinity on the other hand, delights its customers by way of its longevity and replayability.

Indeed, a single screenshot of the level set download page is probably the best advertisement for the game. As of writing, there is a staggering 1,217 level sets comprising a total of 24,054 separate levels. Now, that has got to be value for money for even the most cheapskate of fans out there (me included).

Of course, not all the level sets available for download are as professionally designed as the 2 included campaigns that make up the core game. What it does show off is the incredible range of devious creativity and improvisation of the community. There are the usual gems mixed in amongst the other pretenders, but thankfully the task of weeding out the proverbial needle in a haystack is made a lot simpler thanks to the incorporation of a rating system. This allows you to rate a level set based on its gameplay, visual and overall qualities, and you can then sort the humongous selection of level sets by their average rating from the community.

In true Amazon-shopping style, viewing a level set�"s information page even displays a list of other level sets that players also enjoyed. There are also various tags that can be attached to individual level sets ranging from �"colorful�" and �"kids�" to �"movie�" and �"ring puzzle�". This tagging system greatly facilitates the process of browsing and searching for other similar levels.

The unenviable task of creating your own game levels is also greatly eased by the intuitive, built-in level editor, triggered by pressing F6 at the main menu. The user interface is highly graphical and employs a click-and-drop system for placing bricks and designing the level layout. Without the need for a 4 year course in software programming, any semi-proficient computer user can create his own game level in minutes, thus explaining the overwhelming number of user-made levels available.

Thus far, I�"ve played through numerous level sets ranging from the critically acclaimed to the unanimous flops, and surprisingly, each and every single one has its own unique appeal. From a beautifully rendered screen of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” complete with the all too familiar tune, to the wickedly sadistic levels full of impenetrable layers of bricks, flush with covertly hidden gold rings (these give you bonuses) that elude all but the most discerning of eyes. One user even deemed it necessary to make the rings disappear irreversibly the moment you right-click your mouse to utilize the Recall ability. Now THAT�"S radical!

Graphics:
Graphics is in typical Arkanoid 2D fashion, although the various movements of the bricks and other contraptions provides for a much more lively experience. Power-up effects like the firing of missiles or laser-spewing balls also boost the overall visual treatment.

Sound:
The soundtrack is nothing fanciful, while the various sound effects complement the overall brick-busting experience. One nice touch is that level creators can also incorporate their own background soundtracks to their level sets.

Gameplay:
Overall gameplay is greatly entertaining, and at times compulsively addictive. The innovation of the Recall ability as detailed on our preview page is the defining highlight of this game, and is so intuitively incorporated into the core game play that you feel as though it�"s been there all along.

Concept:
It is apparent that in the design of this game, entertainment is at the foremost of the programmers�" minds. The Recall feature, wide assortment of power-ups and the sprawling level-downloads lobby accomplishes exactly that: pure entertainment for the consumer.

Value:
This is a no-brainer. I would score a double plus for this category if I could, because as things stand, your $19.99 investment essentially guarantees you infinite replayability.

Overall:
Just as user-created mods Defense of the Ancients and Counterstrike provided an additional sheen of appeal for Warcraft and Half-Life respectively, the tons of freely available user-created level sets instantly boosts the appeal of Ricochet Infinity. Download this game and give it a try: if you enjoy the core game play, you will have no regrets plunking down $19.99 for the full version.