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Arkanoid

Arkanoid

Credits

Released:

1987 (37 years ago)

Publisher:

ImagineInfo / Logos

Re-releaser:

The Hit SquadInfo / Logo

Producer:

Coder:

Graphics:

Title Screen:

Musician:

Martin GalwayInfo / PhotoInterview

Information

Main Control:

Joystick (Port 1)

Players:

1 or 2

Language:

English

Retail Price:

£8.95 Tape
£2.99 Tape (The Hit Squad re-release)

Tape Loader

Ocean/Imagine loader

Used in ERBE Software spanish release (1987)

Ocean/Imagine loader

Used in Imagine release (1987)

Ocean/Imagine loader

Used in The Hit Squad re-release (1990)

Categorization

Genre:

Arcade, Breakout/Pong

Tags:

Action, Top-down, Fixed/flip-screen, Arcade, Paddle/Pong, Sci-fi/futuristic

Tie-In License

Type:

Arcade coin-op

Owner:

Taito Corporation (Japan)

Reference:

Arkanoid on KLOV

Relationship

Precursor to:

Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh

YouTube Links

Longplay video 58:51

World of Longplays on Feb 8, 2023

Longplay video 24:47

Back to the Roots on Dec 23, 2020

Longplay video (50 FPS) 57:35

AL82 Retrogaming Longplays on Jun 18, 2018

Review video 06:19

Gansteeth on Sep 17, 2015

Magazine Reviews

C&VG, issue 67 (may 87), p14 Imagine Software full-price release	10/10
Commodore Force, issue 7 (jul 93), p17 The Hit Squad budget release	66%
Commodore User, issue 42 (mar 87), p17 Imagine Software full-price release	8/10
Your Commodore, issue 33 (jun 87), p26 Imagine Software full-price release	7/10
Zzap!64, issue 24 (apr 87), p39 Imagine Software full-price release	80%
Zzap!64, issue 59 (mar 90), p55 The Hit Squad budget release	80%
Average magazine rating: Based on 6 magazine reviews	79%

Rating

from a total of 237 votes.

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Write

Reviews

Read review by Sokratekk
Graphics: 9 ‧ Music: 9 ‧ Playability: 9 ‧ Overall: 9

Write

93 Comments

Nayphee 2024-03-18

(8/10)

Taito's excellent breakout clone with updated game mechanics and presentation. Awesome to play with paddles, which are supported. It's gameplay is also hard as nails which may prove to be a bit of a turn off. All in all it's a very slick conversion though, and Martin Galway delivers one of his best musical pieces too.

View all comments (126)

FincasKhalmoril 2024-03-15

(8/10)

An average game when played with a joystick, but if you had a paddle, it was really fun. I liked it wven more than (the already very good) Krakout. The title screen music was also brilliant.

View all comments (106)

Nothing 2024-02-05

(9/10)

Arkanoid

+ pure synth magic that wipes the floor even with the arcade original
+ fast and dynamic gameplay
+ sharp, authentic visuals

- it's tough
- I mean VERY tough

9/10

View all comments (52)

Mr SQL 2023-11-03

(10/10)

Arkanoid had amazing graphics and sound like the Arcade version. Perfect port.

View all comments (20)

Thelead 2023-09-19

(5/10)

Its a very good conversion of a rather dull arcade game. The Ball speed is squiffy, the collision detection seems off and its just as difficult as its arcade counterpart, maybe even harder. Krakout is the better game but this is a perfectly fine conversion of a very average arcade machine.

View all comments (499)

BigM 2023-08-16

(10/10)

Compared to other formats, C64 has the best combination of excellent soundtrack, playability, and presentation.
Actually, the soundtrack and effects are amazing!!
A lot of time and care has been taken with this program.
Best 8-bit version!
Oh...and Hail SID!

View all comments (98)

jasonp 2023-07-28

(6/10)

I too was wowed by the presentation of this game and played it quite a bit, but in retrospect the jerky controls and the way the ball gets ludicrously fast mean there is no way to keep having fun and progressing in this game.

View all comments (14)

Milos 2023-05-30

(7/10)

A nice simple idea for a game but there was a lot of depth and challenge to be had as you progressed. Who knew you could have this much fun playing a breakout clone.

View all comments (207)

FincasKhalmoril 2023-05-11

(8/10)

An okay game with a joystick, but just brilliant when you had a paddle. The basic game was quite good already, but the levels had some nice quirks and I enjoyed a game after school for quite some time. Plus: the title music war awesome!

View all comments (106)

Sternhammer 2021-09-14

(8/10)

This was a good conversion which I played a lot on its release despite the ropey paddle edge collision detection and fiddly controls. Once you've adjusted to some of the games lesser strengths it plays very well. Graphics and SFX were good and I loved the music. Chewed up many an hour with my friends and I back in the day.
8 out of 10.

View all comments (620)

Benjib 2019-04-09

(7/10)

Good fun if you want to kill half an hour or so. I originally had this back in the 80s and remember spending a fair amount of time on it. Quite an addictive game for such a basic premise- there were a load of different games of this genre as I understand it. Have only played this with a joystick so need to try with a mouse. Needless to say I never end up getting very far! The speeding up effect of the ball can be brutal. Graphics and sound are good- I do like the explosion sound when you miss the ball. Title music is really good too.

View all comments (51)

Nilshaxard 2018-07-31

Gameplay Video Here:
youtube.com/watch?v=ehJU7pCfnxo

View all comments (145)

ThunderBlade 2018-03-12

(7/10)

Watch the amazing 'Arkanoid DOH it again' - SNES 1997 cover artwork converted to C64 as part of Game Art Beyond:
csdb.dk/release/?id=162501

View all comments (94)

Andy1974 2017-10-18

Very polished. Fantastic title screen music and good graphics. I only ever got anywhere in the game if I ignored most of the pick ups that drop down. Trying to get the pick up and get the ball back at the same time usually got me killed.

View all comments (40)

*MZH* 2017-03-01

(9/10)

Not so good with a joystick, but awesome with a NEOS mouse.

View all comments (6)

bronstein 2017-02-22

(9/10)

Seen from a distance of almost 30 years now, it may be hard to understand for those who weren't here what the craze was all about. "So, a bat and a ball, I couldn't care less" they may say. But that's exactly what caused the fascination in those early days of gaming. It wasn't known before, therefore a completely new experience.

The abstract graphics, the fantastic sound and the spaced out scenario created a unique atmosphere. The Commie version even beats the arcade version in these respects. The difficulty of receiving lasers in the original Commie version is a flaw, but only a minor one. All in all, it's a contemporary historical source. For that alone this one deserves 9/10, at least.

View all comments (637)

B3L4 2016-03-18

(8/10)

After playing with Krakout ... Ehh F8. Or to be classic "open 1, 8, 15 S:arkanoid"...

This game is just bad. I love the title music, I like the design. I hate the blue/gray background and try to see the gray/blue ball. I hate the dead 0 IQ enemies, I hate the ball speed at start, so many things to hate. This is a really bad. Without trainer don't even start, and even with unlimited lifet takes like 15 min 1 level... And that's what hilarious about it. To bad the version I was testing freezing up constantly. I managed to get to lvl 10 (took a good amount of time and couple of hundred lives) than give up on this version. Will check on other one.

8/10 but if I get a good version might go higher.

Tested version: Remember +3 /not recommended got freezed on lvl 8, lvl 10/

Tested on: C128 NTSC - OK

Use real hardware for real experience!

View all comments (99)

wongojack 2016-01-25

(10/10)

Since writing my previous comment, I have played dozens of games of Arkanoid, and I finally managed to beat the final boss. I also played the arcade version and the NES version for practice, and I was even more impressed with the C64 version. As a result, I've increased my vote to a 10!

View all comments (44)

wongojack 2016-01-02

(10/10)

Several people have mentioned the lack of lasers in the game. I bought the game in a bargain bin in '91 or '92 (USA) and it absolutely had them in there. I had to sift few a few of the dumps on CSDB to find a version with them, but they are out there. One thing to note is the PAL versions definitely do not seem to work in NTSC, so make your own dump or chase down the US version. I never did get my old Atari paddles out to play this one BitD, but I've got some again now and am really enjoying that control scheme.

View all comments (44)

Roger Frames 2015-05-08

(4/10)

We all know the faults of C64 Arkanoid: bad collision detection, ball gets too fast, patchy joystick controls, uneven distribution of power-ups, uninspired level layouts.

Even the (many) fans of the game acknowledge them, yet still rate it highly, their judgement clouded by the rose-tinted spectacles of their childhood memories.

View all comments (179)

motley2659 2012-06-18

(7/10)

I gave it a 7. Another classic Taito arcade game converted slightly off for the C64. The collision is whacked: the red edges of your ship seem to be just mirages because the ball goes through them like they're invisible. Once you get used to the lack of collision detection, it gets a little less frustrating. The graphics and music are excellent.

View all comments (5)

hbhzth 2012-03-13

(9/10)

Running this game for the first time - the music was a kick in the face; I never heard anything this RAW on a computer ever. Galway playing digital samples for the first time, instant classic. The other music and effects are also awesome. Plus David Collier = Perfect arcade conversion, every time. Especially on this one, I think. It runs smooth and gameplay is tight, but not impossible. 9 out of 10.

View all comments (344)

Xamoxian 2012-01-10

Superb game, I actually preferred it to the arcade version. The only downside was the lack of Laser capsules. The blue metallic coloured bricks (requiring more hits) would also reset their value if you died which was frustrating, especially on the later levels. The Doh at the end was well worth the wait with its beautiful graphics, animation and sound effects!

View all comments (12)

Giana Brother 2011-08-21

Best played with a PADDLE or NEOS MOUSE, Joystick only owners pff

View all comments (86)

davidiocarp 2011-08-21

(4/10)

The arcade version it's much better, this version never liked to me

View all comments (106)

Steven Buck 2011-03-22

(10/10)

For me back in the day and still now this is my favourite bat and ball game (I am found of Krak Out as well) Its like the daddy of bat and ball game and such a great arcade conversion onto the C64 played it to death and completed it too! .
Has some awesome title music and always cranked up the TV volume to max to listen to it.
Long live Arkanoid!!! .

View all comments (2)

Nevland 2010-10-28

OK game, but Krak Out was a much better game, with much better music

View all comments (57)

Giana Brother 2010-10-07

Dun dadah da der deh der dah dum-dum-dum-dum-dummm

View all comments (86)

LeC64win 2010-08-02

(9/10)

The developers of Arkanoid created a beautiful piece of 8bit art on the C=64, and all in 1 load

.

This version contains lots of detail, color, plus excellent sound effects and music. It's a hard game, but after some practice (especially to master the difficult joystick-control) really enjoyable; as a matter of fact, it's great fun when higher levels are reached and those nicely animated nasties drop in.

A classic coin-op conversion that I like today as much as I did before yesterday. :commodore:

I voted 9.

View all comments (163)

Broozor 2010-02-24

(8/10)

Great feeling conversion. Not quite perfect but lovely to play with Paddles got a really good arcade feel. Dave Collier is among the unsung heroes of the C64 he doesn't get the credit he deserves. A bit of playtesting should have ironed out the lack of Laser modules dropping. Not the best breakout game as mentioned but head and shoulders better than krakout.

View all comments (18)

davidiocarp 2010-01-14

(4/10)

Good, and nothing else

View all comments (106)

Giana Brother 2009-05-21

Works with Atari 2600 paddles which is cool.
Joystick is rubbish.

View all comments (86)

p.a. 2009-03-24

(4/10)

Boring, boring, boring. There is simply too many bricks to break. The game also lacks of dynamics. There are so many better breakout games than this one. Play Krakout, Batty or Ball-Blasta instead.

View all comments (121)

mv64 2008-08-30

(8/10)

In my previous comment, I mentioned that it was difficult to play on the keyboard. Well, I just started playing it with a mouse, and it's way easier and better now. I also said that the laser never showed up. I got another version this time, and the laser shows up in every level. So, I guess the previous version I had wasn't working properly.

View all comments (116)

bronstein 2008-07-18

(9/10)

Fantastic conversion when it came out, but soon overpassed by the loads of clones and its own successor. This leaves a game with fantastic sound, that is both hard and unfair (why was it so complicated to get the laser?!?), but perfect for your office, since you still don't need a joystick.

View all comments (637)

Henry1975 2008-06-27

(10/10)

Nothing more to say but excellent... Arcade feeling at its best

View all comments (59)

MASTER SLY 2008-05-14

(10/10)

A true Classic with excellent music and gameplay. Timeless masterpiece 10/10 :commodore:

View all comments (51)

lobogris_1976 2008-03-30

(10/10)

A game that is named to define later the genre! A classic! Amazing C64 version. I had a lot of fun brick-breaking 10/10 :thumbsup:

View all comments (192)

rasmatazz 2008-02-04

To use the VICE Mouse Emulation, you have to use the US Version of Arkanoid (it has the TAITO Logo in its Loading screen). Unfortunateley, I did not yet find this version, anyone knowing sources ?

View all comments (1)

Fartacus 2007-04-09

(8/10)

TOOT

Thus was a great game in its day. One to play again.

View all comments (7)

tzutzy 2007-03-06

(7/10)

Nice game, a bit too hard (compared to Ark 2). There is a problem with the power-ups, just like mv64 noticed.

I remember that in order to get the Laser (red L) powerup you had something like a sequence: get C (sticky) - although not necessarely, then D (balls split), then let the extra balls go away, then you would get the L (maybe...). That kinda detracts from the game.

The Arcade version is much better.

View all comments (4)

The Alchemist 2007-02-27

Great conversion! Just like playing the arcade version ( or so it felt!) Great stuff :bigsmile:

View all comments (45)

habib23q 2006-10-25

(10/10)

Awesome game but sequel was better...

View all comments (50)

The Bean 2006-10-17

Revenge of Doh was better. Me and my bro used to have 'arkanoid' nights. It was that addictive.

View all comments (63)

yabbaduh 2006-08-24

(5/10)

Yeah, this is the original. The best breakout game on the C64? Why don't you try Krakout?

View all comments (35)

frenchflair 2006-03-13

(8/10)

Simply the best breackout game on the C64! Enjoy!

View all comments (9)

jmc 2006-01-03

(7/10)

I do not like much brick destruction games but this one was really nice also due to the cheatcodes

7/10

View all comments (48)

stooart 2005-12-20

(7/10)

Cracking title music from Mr Galway! I remember loading the game just to listen to that music, this by no means meant it was a bad game though, far from it actually! Arkanoid is Arkanoid and it was faithfully converted to the humble commy 64 in my opinion.

View all comments (983)

mv64 2005-11-24

(8/10)

Just finished it with a trainer on an emulator. It's very difficult playing with the keyboard! I see some of you mentioned the laser power-up, I never saw it.

View all comments (116)

malky 2005-10-07

(9/10)

First things first - the control system using a joystick is unfair - bad collision detection and no way fast enough. Because of this I thought the sequel was better until I discovered that I could use my ATARI PADDLES! It improves gameplay immensely. The best bat + ball style game on the C64 (Krakout and Traz are inferior in my book) 9/10

View all comments (21)

Grim 2005-06-26

(9/10)

The music! HEAR THIS MUSIC!! It's GREEEEEEAAT!

View all comments (60)

c.a.t. 2005-02-15

(9/10)

Aha... You are here! My favourite breakout classic. This game has a best sound/music synth program... Fantastic! The graphic and the gameplay is great! Very hard game, but very challenging! I like it! ARKANOID:All breakouts source. 9/10

View all comments (80)

Pxii 2005-02-05

(9/10)

I just couldn't get enough of it... Had to play it too the end at once... Did it but not at once =)

View all comments (22)

wec 2004-11-14

Best played using the Neos mouse. This is without doubt the best bat n'ball type game on C64 and as an arcade conversion it really couldn't have been done any better. Lots of levels and the loading screen remains in memory during the game, the sound by Martin Galway is spot on to the original Taito arcade game sounds and there's an extra track complete with digi sounds on the title screen that is great. In the world of bat n'ball game I'd rate this 10/10

View all comments (86)

sdoneill 2004-10-06

(8/10)

I actually remember loving this game. I could get pretty far on it and it was great with a mouse. The loading tune was brilliant and still is a great tune today.

View all comments (59)

bbagnall 2004-10-05

(9/10)

Oh boy, do I ever remember this game! Simple game but it looked so slick, played great, and was one of the few C64 games to actually use paddles. Things that come to mind are the shiny bricks that take two hits to remove, weird pseudo-3D creatures, amazing intro music, and multiball!

View all comments (99)

The Dark Prince 2004-09-02

(1/10)

I *hate* this game and I make no secret of it. Awful collision detection, ugly system, irritating level design and a reputation that it really doesn't deserve.

The game is seriously flawed and unfun to boot.

View all comments (62)

Predseda 2004-08-24

Everything was already written about this classic. My contribution: mothership Arkanoid (as shown on the title screen) is very similar to Nostromo's landing module from the famous Ridley Scott's movie 'Alien'.

casimodo 2004-08-17

In my opinion the arkanoid series are far too hard and not as good as many thought. I'd rather play Krakout which is more playable. Advantages of Krakout : the precision of the ball movement is better, the bonuses more funny, and the game options give it a plus.
The only good thing in Arkanoid is the fantastic sounds and musics of Martin Galway ( with the very first sampled music ever on the C64!)

Richard Bayliss 2004-08-13

I liked this game, but I found Arkanoid II to be much better.

bman (Netherlands) 2004-07-14

Nice game to play. With taito graphics and great soundFX.
like it!

Boçù 2004-06-29

Surely NOT among the better Breakout clones on the C64. Bad collision detection, bad physics, lame extras, frustrating level design... Revenge of Doh is waaaay better than this one. 5/10

Roberto 2004-06-16

There are better krakout style games, around there. Ascoltate un fesso.

Jan Wiberg 2004-06-13

Krakout wins over this one, since the speed of the ball here is initially too slow, suddenly speeding up to a point where you start having difficulties in hitting the damn thing. And why do we have to watch that crappy bit of animation before every game? All right, I played Arkanoid quite a lot, even liked it enough to load it into my mobile phone - where that ball moves way too fast right from the start!

Aliens 2004-06-13

I usually get desperated playing this game. It's very difficult, especially in high levels. But a good game and a magical music when you finish it!

HG 2004-05-23

Not a bad game... Coolish GFX, neat intro tune, well-done sounds... But it's so damn hard!!! One fun thing: why does this game have such a strange plot? It's only a breakout game, not a shoot-em-up!

Jan 2004-05-03

So much memories... The music, the game, but especially the music! C64 was my life, I loved Arkanoid.

Andy 2004-03-01

An excellent conversion. The MAIN speed the of the ball (notice I said main not fastest) has been very slightly slowed down to compensate for the smaller distances involved (the playing area is longer on the arcade). When the ball speeds up however it's more difficult than the arcade version because the shorter distance make it come down sooner. I would not necessarily call this a flaw, it just means that it's harder than the arcade. The only real flaw for me is that the Lazer power up hardly ever comes down, I got to level 12 without seeing even one! . Still a fab game though. The graphics are spot on and SID king Galway is on form again too! .

R.S.S. 2004-02-05

Yet another reason why I bought a C64...

mbeswick 2004-01-19

A brilliant conversion, followed by a brilliant sequel. Great loading music also. Martin Galway delivers the goods again.

cinnet41 2004-01-14

A great but hard game.

Ahmad 2003-09-15

Best breakout game ever on C64.

Jolly Roger 2003-04-24

Amazing Breakout-style game... The only flaw is the name of the final boss... It's called "Doh", like the Homer Simpson exclamation!

Casimodo 2003-03-26

In my opinion not better than Krakout but I must admit that the coin-up conversion is really close to the original.
Cool sounds of Martin Galway ( really great work !!!)

noone 2003-03-23

Best breakout version ever ...
and a very good conversion of the arcade game ...
if you like breakout ... Try it

ratking64 2003-02-19

One of my all time favourite games. I now have the actual arcade game on MAME and it astounds me just how good the C64 version was. The graphics and music are almost identical.

Antichrist 2003-02-18

I have one word for this game... Addiction

TWR 2003-01-28

The ultimate break-out game but is nothing compared to the comming part 2 !!! The only thing that this one has that the second doesn't, is an amazingly fantastic title-tune... Just great !!!

Chowderhead 2003-01-04

This is a true classic. Arkanoid has been one of my top-5 favourite games since I was a child in the 80's. A simple, yet extremely addicting game.

Molle 2002-10-22

Just forget that you have a brain for a while and just play. This is just such a game. Great.

ilker esen(sweden) 2002-10-08

Great sound, great music and of course... The gameself is great. Even story tells you better way than the NES version but NES have better gameplay and lot's of fun.

evilEd 2002-09-17

Great fun out of an almost stupid idea... You cannot stopo playing this game and it will take you ages to come through it (if you ever will)

Muesli 2002-08-30

A perfect conversion of the arcade original... Plus a perfect title theme by Martin Galway... 9/10 in my oppinion.

swissjack 2002-08-10

Thanks to martin galway and its outstanding title-music! Without the music-score, arkanoid wouldn't be this classic, as its today! Well done!!! 9 of 10

DeAdLy_cOoKiE 2002-07-12

Well.. There's pong, and there's arkanoid! Great game! Great music! Nice graphics! Lots of levels to keep you busy. A classic. A bit better than Krakout I think.

Giorgos 2002-05-09

One of the most classical ones!!!

fishdune 2002-04-02

This game is quite enjoyable but not as good as Krakout

Alex Aslanidis 2002-03-24

An okay conversion from the arcade game with 2 basic faults: a. It's too difficult. The ball speeds up too quickly to a speed aproaching that of light making for a frustrating game b. The joystic control leaves a lot to be desired. If you want a really excellent Breakout clone, check out the awesome Batty instead.

Gøran Hansen 2002-02-22

For some odd reason I always liked the music better than the game itself. I would sit and watch the title screen and just listen. Of course the game was good too.

Oldskool 2002-01-30

Excellent bat 'n' ball action... Not a lot comes close! I can still remember every sound effect and musical sting *happy sigh* The only whine I have is that the Amstrad version gave the laser powerup more frequently...

Hanzi 2002-01-27

Not a bad conversion of the arcade hit,
but I still prefer Krakout.

Tommy Engström 2002-01-25

Surely one of the best games to the C64.

MattSid 2002-01-14

Very playable game! And the music is very good!