Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ review - “An entertaining arcade mash-up”

• Reflect alien laser beams to defeat them
• Break blocks or use them to bounce projectiles off of
• The story is nearly nonexistent

Arkanoid vs Space Invaders is a mash-up of two classic arcade favourites. Arkanoid is a block breaker, while Space Invaders tasks you with shooting down pixelated aliens while avoiding taking damage. Sprinkle in a vague tale of space invaders featuring cutesy anime characters, and you've got Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+, the new Apple Arcade release of the 2017 hit.

Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders+ is a Compelling Arcade Experience

You start out in Sector Nine, a space station that is being attacked by alien invaders. Luckily, you're prepared to take them on. As the name suggests, you will be shooting down hostile aliens in the vein of Space Invaders. At the bottom of the screen, you'll have a reflective beam, which you'll use like a pong paddle.

To complete a stage, you’ll need to take out all the aliens within the time limit. This is easy earlier on; however, the difficulty ramps up as you progress, offering a satisfying challenge. Move the beam left and right to reflect the alien's projectiles back at them. You can also catch coins and powerups in your beam. This isn’t as straightforward as it sounds since you have to contend with blocks that your foes can shelter behind. 

Break the Blocks

Some bricks break in one hit, while others take quite a few blows before they crumble. This means you can’t always shoot directly at your enemies. However, you can use these blocks to your advantage by bouncing projectiles off them to hit hard-to-reach blocks and enemies. You can change a laser's trajectory by jerking the beam quickly to one side or another as a projectile hits it. You can also move the beam down and then quickly pull it up to give a laser beam more speed.

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Some levels require you to break all the blocks instead of taking out enemies. Such levels typically include a gold indestructible alien since you’ll need an enemy around so you can reflect their projectiles to hit the blocks. 

Attack Mode in Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+

As you battle alien enemies and break blocks, look out for orange pill-shaped powerups. These are attack powerups, and catching enough of them lets you enter attack mode. When in attack mode, a silvery bow and arrow will appear. Aim the arrow wherever you desire, and then let it go. 

For a short period of time, you’ll be able to catch this energy arrow in your beam and use it to decimate your opponents. As an additional perk, the stage timer freezes while attack mode is active, which may just give you the extra seconds you need to clear a tricky stage.

Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+: A Very Simple Story

Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ doesn’t really have much of a story. Dialogue boxes pop up at the beginning of some stages to give you a very basic overview. Essentially, you're a new recruit for Sector Nine, a space station where many adventurers begin their journey into deep space to stop invading aliens. When a group of invaders is detected near the station, it becomes your mission to stop them.

There are 150 stages in which to test your skills. While there really isn’t much in the way of a narrative, gameplay is both challenging and entertaining. Additionally, attack mode adds a bit of flair to each level if you manage to snag enough power-ups. If you've got a passion for old-school arcade titles, you should definitely give Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ a whirl.

Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ review - “An entertaining arcade mash-up”

Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders+ is a challenging arcade experience that melds two classic franchises into one.