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Game Info

Cover art of Arkanoid 1

4 / 5

8 votes

Platform
MSX
Genres
Action
Developers
Taito Corporation
Publishers
Taito Corporation
Release date
December 19, 1986

Summary

Arkanoid on the MSX captures the classic block‑breaker feel with a sleek paddle‑craft called the Vaus. You glide the Vaus side‑to‑side, ricocheting a ball into colorful brick formations while snatching floating capsules that can stretch the paddle, spawn extra balls, or even arm the Vaus with tiny cannons. Some bricks are tough, needing several hits or being outright indestructible, and occasional enemies zip across the screen for bonus points. The game pushes you through 33 distinct screens, each more intricate than the last, and culminates in a showdown with the boss “DOH,” after which there’s no option to continue—making that final encounter a true test of skill. The MSX version even shipped with a dedicated paddle controller, delivering arcade‑quality graphics and a full range of sound effects that helped it earn the title of one of the best home video games ever, according to Electronic Game Player Magazine.

Storyline

In Arkanoid 1 the plot follows the starship Arkanoid as it is assaulted by a mysterious space entity called DOH. A small paddle‑shaped craft named Vaus is ejected from the ship, and the player must pilot it to defeat the foe. If the player succeeds, the ending shows time flowing backwards, the distorted space clearing, and Vaus slipping back into the Arkanoid just as it returns to perfect condition. The game’s text then warns that the journey has only just begun and that the player has not seen the last of DOH.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Arkanoid 1

Multiplayer

Game modes
Single