JoBryxz

This breakout-style game stands as a nicely polished addition to the genre, although a few issues keep us from getting more excited. JoBryxz sticks to the basic brick-breaking formula pioneered by the classic Arkanoid, with the standard assortment of power-ups. However, since the brick formations begin very close to your paddle, you'll have to be quick to keep the ball moving. The inclusion of enemy ships that fire at your paddle ups the challenge level even further. Still, we found it both strange and irritating that you have to press a button every time you need a new ball, which can kill your momentum. The graphics are better than those of many such games we've seen, especially the mysterious and well-rendered background scene of a pyramid. You can choose to play against a black background if you find the imagery distracting, but that's unfortunately the only customization option JoBryxz provides. We also wish the demo included more than three boards, as many experienced players will blow right through them. While we've definitely seen better Breakout games, we can see how this one could be a worthy download for newcomers who don't need a lot of options.