Brickout Game Review

Brickout Game Background

Brickout is a modern toy-themed brick breaker inspired by the original Atari classic Breakout. Move the paddle to keep the ball in play. Clear each level by taking out every brick on the top row on the screen.

This game was published by CodeThisLab.

How to Play Brickout

To select, left click with your mouse or tap on the touchscreen with your fingers. On the welcome screen, select the play button on the bottom center to open the level selection screen. Select an unlocked level’s number to begin.

To launch the ball, select anywhere on the screen. Move your mouse cursor or your fingers on the screen to move the paddle.

Basic Gameplay Advice

Launch the ball from the paddle, then track the moving ball with the paddle and catch it to launch it back up. Direct the ball toward the bricks to clear them from the screen. Regular colored bricks can be cleared in a single hit whereas brown bricks take three hits before they break. Shiny metal bricks cannot be broken at all. Finish each level by clearing every breakable brick on the level.

The game has 10 levels, unlocked sequentially, which gradually increase in difficulty as you play through them. Your web browser automatically saves your level progress. You can replay any of the levels you’ve previously unlocked.

You begin each session with 3 lives. Each time you miss the ball, you lose a life. Lose all your lives and you lose the level. When you finish a level, the lives you currently have left carry over to the next level.

Collect the power ups to get a temporary boon to your gameplay. Collect the power ups using the paddle. The game’s power ups provide any of the following benefits:

• Slow down the movement of the ball.
• Make the paddle wider.
• Add guns to the side of the paddle.
• Make the paddle magnetic.
• Create a stopper below the paddle to keep the balls from falling off.
• Give you an extra ball.

There is also a “power up” that gives a disadvantage: it shortens the paddle.

Advanced Playing Tips & Strategy

The ball moves straight up if it hits the middle of the paddle and moves at an angle if it hits either edge. To keep the ball in control, try to have the ball land at the center of the paddle as often as possible.

The game’s bricks are located much lower than in older brick breaker games like Breakout, which makes it easier to lose the ball prematurely. Do try to keep your cursor within the screen at all times; the paddle freezes if your cursor is outside the game window.

Try to get the ball above the stack of bricks by getting it through a narrow opening. Doing so will cause the ball to bounce around the top of the stack and take out the bricks by itself. You will often take out more bricks this way than just directing the ball with the paddle by itself.

While power ups offer many advantages, you still need to collect them with a paddle to use them. Try not to focus too much on collecting a power up, though. You might drop the ball.

Educational Aspects

This game hones a player’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also encourages players to think creatively and work smarter rather than harder.

Player Age Recommendations

This game is suited for players school-aged and above. We recommend this game for players who enjoy brick-breaking games.