Hyperballoid HD is a paddle game available on the Playstation Store. It features a familiar set-up and pits the player against numerous levels of bricks that have to be destroyed. “Surely we have seen this a zillion times before?” I hear you cry. This is true, paddle games have been a staple of the industry from the very beginning, but Hyperballoid HD is a gem in it’s own right and could well be the best available version of this classic style.
The game has the player controlling a paddle on the bottom of the screen which deflects balls in an attempt to smash several blocks at the top of the screen – gamers who have played Magic Ball or Shatter will be familiar with the gameplay. The pad can only be moved on the horizontal axis and will deflect the ball in relation to what part of the pad it hits. Smashed blocks will often drop power-ups, power-downs and gems and clearing the level of blocks should allow the player to progress to the next level.
So we’ve established the set-up. It’s an easy enough gameplay mechanic that’s older than your Granny. But how does it handle? Well, the controls are pretty tight. You might think that with it being a paddle game, there wouldn’t be much to control, the whole enterprise relying on your reaction times exclusively. However, Hyperballoid has a few tricks up it’s sleeve. The paddle is largely controlled by the left stick, but can be adjusted more slowly using the D-pad, or more quickly by holding L1 or R1. There are also power-ups that require precision, such as when firing weapons (X or R2) or directing a ball using the right stick.
Hyperballoid HD responds well, the ball (or balls) bounce the way they should and react against bricks and breakables in a fashion that’s as entertaining as it is accurate. Unlike other ball and paddle titles, the game doesn’t appear to slow when multiple balls and objects are moving at the same time. The physics work fantastic, with several objects behaving like a break from a cue ball.
The game features 100 levels over two campaigns – Ancient World and Planet World. The arrangement of the blocks change radically from one level to the next and are usually laid-out in a fashion that resembles an item or familiar shapes, while the design of each level means that it doesn’t get too repetitive. It challenges the player to approach the arrangements as he would a puzzle, carefully choosing where to attack. It’s nice to see care and attention in a game like this, especially over a daunting number of 100 levels.
A gold star goes to the number of different power ups a player can collect. On top of the gems and level completion warps, the game features an impressive 39 power-ups and power-downs. These range from changing the sizes of the pad and ball, to weapons and random bonuses. Although the power-ups may look familiar, they have been well-chosen and refined to intensify the excitement.
Hyperballoid deserves it’s HD status, as it displays in full 1080p and features well-detailed backdrops. These backgrounds change but do eventually repeat after a while. The balls, pad and other elements of the game look good but won’t blow your socks off. They stand out enough to be seen, and that’s really what’s important. There’s no question about it, Hyperballoid HD is a beautiful game.
Unlike Magic Ball, for example, the game does not have an angular view, which allows for better understanding of where your balls will go. It’s also clearer to see things because the game lacks the 3-dimensional objects and bright colors of Magic Ball.
The sound design is nice, with crazy sound effects popping and zapping around your lounge. The music is passive and works well with the game, but will soon get boring on a 100 level quest, so it’s excellent news that iSquared Games included Custom Soundtracks. It’s just the kind of cherry a game like this needs and increases the replay value tenfold.
There’s no story here, just block-busting fun. However, Hyperballoid HD has some funky trophies that are worth aiming for (5 bronze, 4 silver and a gold). They aren’t too hard to get if you aim to play all the levels. It’s difficult to say what the game does wrong, it’s a very cleverly crafted piece of software. It looks and plays well and has all the longevity and features you could hope for in a paddle game.
Hyperballoid HD doesn’t really bring anything new to the table but it does offer exceptional value for money and the best casual paddle game for gamers not interested the overly futuristic feel of shatter, or the child-friendly silliness of Magic Ball. In this, the game is a great success. Everything you need is displayed on screen in wonderful detail and there’s a great range to the look and layout of each level in the game.
Overall Hyperballoid HD is a worthwhile game for anyone looking to kill time now and then. It works best in small doses and can be picked-up and played by anyone. I think it’s brilliant that low-cost titles such as this have such great value included. Gamers are really spoiled for choice when it comes games like this, but Hyperballoid HD should find a respected following with more old-school gamers. For what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with visuals and refined gameplay.
Score: 86
