For how simple Breakout is, it always has been one of my favorite arcade-style games. Breakout is old however and sometimes you need a change in the formula. This is where Antonball Deluxe comes into play.
Wario Bros. Breakout
Antonball Deluxe is a retro-style ballbusting arcade action game. The game turns the breakout genre on its head or actually more the side. Antonball Deluxe is blending traditional brick-breaking gameplay with platforming and is a bit of a mix of Breakout, Wario Land, and Mario Bros. Arcade.
The menu sounds, music, voices of the character, and the characters themself can feel all too familiar. These are heavily inspired by Wario and the Wario Land/WarioWare series. The sounds within the game are at a point that I almost want to say that it is plagiarism, but let’s not dabble into this.
Get ready to play with your balls!
At the start of the game, you have the choice out of 4 characters. The main character is Anton, a little red man that is known as Boiler City’s top exterminator. Anton looks and sounds like Wario and Danton is like Waluigi. In total there are 21 characters that are unlocked the more you play.
The controls are simple and basic. Your character jumps with B and can perform a high jump by jumping out of a crouch. The a-button is used to dash. This can be done either on the ground or in the air for an air dash. Y is used when you obtain a powerup that lets you shoot bullets or throw the ball. There are 3 different game modes available to play. These are:
Antonball
Anton decides to take the most direct path home after an unfortunate trip into the sewers. This path is breaking straight through every wall between the sewers and the city in 30 stages. Break all the bricks within a level to complete it. Some bricks contain power-ups, like multiple balls etc. Losing the ball will cost you a life. The game ends when you lose all your lives. Antonball can be played with up to 4 players.
Punchball
Punchball is very reminiscent of Mario Bros. Arcade. both in terms of looks and gameplay. The stages are overrun by pests. Use the Punchball to throw into enemies to knock them over, then kick them off the stage! This game mode can be played by 2 players max. Do you have what it takes to be the Punchball Champion?
Vs. Antonball
Vs. Antonball is the standard Antonball gameplay but made competitive. Each team has its own brick wall. The goal is to break all the bricks of the other team’s wall first before they do the same. Just like in regular Antonball there are many power-ups to obtain. are in play. Play 1v1, 2v2, or even 2v1 (if you’re into that).
Conclusion
Overall Antonball Deluxe is a solid game with not much to complain about other than the light plagiarism and the price, which is a bit high but acceptable. Although a bit basic and short, it has me wishing for more, but it’s an indie so what do you expect. Antonball Deluxe scratches the breakout itch, all while making it competitive and throwing in something new.
