Though I’m a gamer that is more familiar with games from the SEGA Genisis to now, I’m a true sucker for any good arcade game that manages to hook its teeth into me and keep me playing addictively as I try my best to outlast its brutal gameplay.
Microids and Pastagames’ recent release, Arkanoid Eternal Battle is an ingenious title that takes what made playing arcade cabinets such an enjoyable yet difficult experience, melding it perfectly with the modern gaming landscape and the Battle Royale craze that still runs throughout the industry.
Though the final product is a truly fantastic, and criminally underrated game, it seems that this title’s main premise takes a hit because of its hidden-gem status. Today, I’m going to do my best to interest you in purchasing Arkanoid Eternal Battle. Let’s talk about it!
Arkanoid Eternal Battle Review Biggest Takeaways
- Arkanoid Eternal Battle manages to pump new life into the arcade experience with ideas that are simple yet incredibly effective.
- The visuals on display pay respect to the game’s original art style but transport it to a true retro-futuristic 80s aesthetic.
- The game’s modes are all fun and offer some addictive gameplay that keeps you hungry for more.
- Though Arkanoid Eternal Battle’s main draw is its Battle Royale mode, a lack of online players makes it feel less competitive.
Final Score: 9/10
Eternal Battle is Something Worth Trying
If there’s one thing that you have to absolutely love about Arkanoid Eternal Battle, it’s the ingenious idea to connect arcade games with Battle Royale elements. I mean, arcade cabinets were basically just that back in the day. You had kids competing in arcades to one-up each other’s score, trying to last as long as they could before they’d have to drop another quarter or two into the machine.
So, the Eternal Battle mode here serves as Arkanoid Eternal Battle’s own BR and is what makes this title so unique when compared to other rebooted or remade arcade titles these days. It doesn’t just rest on its laurels, pumping out an uninspired cash grab for its fanbase to gobble up. This title is refined in every way and has the chance to appeal not only to longtime fans but players like myself who want that arcade experience but with the modern flair that we’re used to nowadays.
Eternal Battle works like this; you have 25 players doing their best to continually keep their scores up as every few moments, DOH (the game’s villain) will come in and eliminate the player that’s currently in last place. This process continues until there’s a victor. It’s really a unique arcade experience as there is a lot of room for error when you’re feeling rushed to get as many points as possible so as to not end up in last place during the elimination phases.
The cycle of rushing, making mistakes, and having to rush to fix those mistakes and earn more points is a vicious cycle that starts at the beginning of the match and doesn’t end until you’ve either won or have been eliminated. It’s this loop that keeps the gameplay highly addictive and truly unique. Not to mention the fact that you can even sabotage other players or have things done against you. It’s an eternal battle to be sure.
The unfortunate thing currently though is that Eternal Mode doesn’t really ever seem to have more than 1 or possibly 2 other live players on, resulting in you having to play against AI. It’s not the worst though, as AI is competitive. It’s just that having that human aspect kind of missing is a bit of a bummer.
Related: All Power Ups, Enemies, and Item Capsules in Arkanoid Eternal
Other Offerings to Quench That Arcade Thirst
Of course, Arkanoid Eternal Battle also offers standard multiplayer so that you can experience the traditional arcade gameplay with friends. But it’s the other single-player modes that will really warrant you trying out what else this title has to offer in its full package.
You have a Retro mode which is a beautifully recreated version of the original that players would have dumped endless amounts of coins into in their neighborhood arcade back in the day. And it’s actually quite beautiful to play and just look at. The audio is vibrant too, perfectly emulating that vintage sound that I wish I could’ve heard in person myself.
But the other new mode, Neo, is another part where the more modern side of the game shines. It’s basically Eternal Battle but without all of the elimination elements. It’s the purest way to experience what Arkanoid is in the modern gaming world. The levels, sounds, and music are all beautifully produced, making them sound vintage but with a high production value that pays perfect homage to the original, retro version.
Something that I personally appreciated was the simple yet useful settings in the options menu. It’s great to be able to adjust the sensitivity in controls to your liking with this title as it truly can mean the difference between a loss and a win. Especially on the Nintendo Switch, being able to adjust to compensate for the thumbstick’s weak dead zones is a necessity.
DOH Where to Hide
With this title’s 80s retro-futuristic vibes, there’s a lot of ambiances that goes along with the entire experience that the game offers its players. Even the music and other sounds are enough to get you smiling as you play. I mean, don’t even get me started on the game’s villain, DOH. That face is menacing and it’s the last thing I’d want to see during one of my Eternal Battle matches.
There’s just a lot to gush about when it comes to this title’s aesthetics. It’s a game that I’d love just to have on a monitor as I work every day. Its color scheme is great and is cartoony enough to stay relevant as a retro arcade game though fits perfectly as a modern one too.
An Addictive Eternal Battle
Arkanoid Eternal Battle truly lives up to its name, as this is a game that I simply cannot put down. Its gameplay is perfectly refined, the art style and sound nails its targeted aesthetics, and the game modes offered are just a radical blast to play, over and over again.
Eternal Battle is a mode that I really wish more players would try for themselves, as this could be an industry changer for arcade games getting modern reboots and remakes. If you call yourself an arcade enthusiast, you have to give this game a try.
Arkanoid Eternal Battle is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
For more on Arkanoid Eternal Battle, be sure to check out some of our helpful guides to get you into the game, such as “All Game Modes in Arkanoid Eternal Battle”.
Published: Nov 18, 2022 01:24 am