Atari has been on a roll lately, releasing new versions of its classic games with interesting modern twists that all players can appreciate. Yars Rising was a cool take on that old shooter, thanks to the new Metroidvania elements that added depth. Now, we’re getting Breakout Beyond from Atari, which adds neon visuals and makes the gameplay so manic that it looks like a shoot-em-up.
Beyond just released a new trailer that confirms this take on the classic Atari game will be released on March 25 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Steam, Switch, and the Atari VCS. It's good to see the game still get a Switch release, as some of us expected it to be a Switch 2 launch title. It's also good to know that this hybrid handheld still has some life in it.
Even odder is that Breakout Beyond is no longer a vertical title where you use the ball to break blocks from above. The trailer reveals that Beyond is now a horizontal game where you bounce back multiple balls to break bricks and keep playing.
It will test the reflexes of gamers, and that’s what many old-school gamers like.
Bandai Namco has used this formula to varying degrees of success with Pac-Man. Aside from the company’s usual re-releases of this character’s games, they’ve also used neon visuals and fast-paced gameplay to make the acclaimed Pac-Man: Championship Edition series.
They even de-made that game to critical acclaim, making it look like something from the NES.
Only time will tell if Breakout Beyond will be a similar success for Atari, though the game does have plenty of potential. Yars Rising has plenty of fans and shows what kind of games these Atari re-releases can be.
Turning Beyond into a horizontal shoot-em-up brick breaker will lead to mixed reactions, but you can’t accuse the company of laziness with this new release.