Arkanoid: Doh It Again (1997). Play online

Summary

Arkanoid: Doh It Again turns the classic block‑breaker formula into a sprawling 99‑level marathon for the SNES, even letting you wield the Super NES Mouse for pin‑point control. The Vaus‑piloted ship smashes through colored and silver bricks while dodging enemy ships that fling out from the top, and every eleventh round throws a larger boss at you. Power‑up capsules sprinkle across the playfield, granting the paddle extensions, multiple balls, laser cannons, or instant stage skips—keeping the core bounce‑and‑break mechanic fresh. A built‑in editor invites players to craft their own layouts, share them, and dive into two‑player modes that support both competitive duels and cooperative brick‑clearing. Launched when the SNES was past its hype peak, the title slipped under many critics’ radars, yet Electronic Gaming Monthly praised its bounty of single‑player content and spirited multiplayer, while Nintendo Power highlighted the same cooperative fun. It’s a satisfying, under‑appreciated wrap‑up to Taito’s Arkanoid lineage.

Storyline

Arkanoid: Doh It Again picks up five years after the original Arkanoid, when the Vaus ship finally defeated the alien DOH with its energy ball. On the 9th stardawn, Commander Therle logs the victory and notes humanity’s ongoing search for a new home. Two stardawns later, the Arkanoid’s sensors detect a promising Terra‑class planet and send Vaus to survey it, only for DOH to warp the craft and surround the world in revenge.

If the player defeats the boss on round 33, Vaus breaks free, returns to the Arkanoid on the 14th stardawn, and learns the planet was a DOH illusion. The same false‑planet ending repeats after round 66, wiping the credits again. When the final boss falls on round 99, time reverses, Vaus escapes a third time and finally lands on the planet on the 13th stardawn.

Therle’s final log declares the planet a true home, pledges that humanity will coexist with the environment, and announces that DOH has been “banished into oblivion” before shutting off the ship’s TV.