Shatter Remastered Deluxe sounds like Ninjago’s ultimate ultimate weapon. Kind of like the best version of itself. The original Shatter was released in 2009 by him as a breakout game with a difference. It returned earlier this year with a remastered version for smart devices. Now is the time for a deluxe round on modern consoles.
If you know Breakout, you know the basics. Manipulate a paddle (in this case, a space ship). A paddle is used to bounce a ball-shaped object back and forth within an enclosed area. The goal is to destroy all blocks before proceeding to the next level. It’s a familiar and popular concept, but Shatter stands out for its unique twist on the genre.
In Shatter, your ship/barrier can push and pull objects with blasts of air. Basically, you can “suck” or “blow” directly in front of your eyes as if the craft had consumed a vacuum cleaner. It adds interesting mechanics that completely change the way you play.
Keeping the ball away from you allows you to hit more objects in quick succession, preventing the ball from passing by you. It also modifies the physics of the game and adds one of the most interesting aspects of the genre. Manipulate the angle, know where the ball will land next, and aim in the right direction to destroy the rest of the blocks.
I especially enjoyed the different levels. You’d think there’s only one way to go in this brick-busting genre. Adding things like spherical rooms dramatically changes the physics. Also. Bouncing a ball off a straight line and expecting a certain angle is one thing, but knowing how the ball behaves when the sides are curved is much more difficult. Combined with the blowing characteristics, we are having a fun time of ball bounce stress!
Shutter Remaster Deluxe sounds great. The visuals pop with a nice contrast between dark backgrounds and bright obstacles.
There are many modes to keep you occupied. These include Story Mode, Endless Mode, Time Attack and Boss Rush. There are also co-op versions of Endless and Time Attack modes, allowing a second player to ride the vehicle. There is also a leaderboard to help you compare scores around the world.
One thing that seems to be missing is a difficulty setting. It’s not a showstopper, but I was initially surprised by its one-size-fits-all approach. Not too hard, not too easy. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the objective is to get the highest score, and if you increase the difficulty too much it becomes quite difficult. As it stands, Shutter can’t be a frustrating experience.
The best news is that Shatter Remastered Deluxes are priced at just $9.99, making them great value for genre fans. If you haven’t played this before, this is the ultimate ultimate time.
Overall, Shatter Remastered Deluxe is a unique twist on the simple brick-breaking concept. With lots of modes, fun mechanics, and varied level design (not to mention bright colors and loud sounds), this is an addicting score chaser.
