Nazo no Kabe: Block Kuzushi

a.k.a. 謎の壁ブロックくずし

created and published by Konami in 1986-12-13, running on Famicom Disk System

type: action/reflex
genre: Science Fiction, Breakout-like
perspective: bird's-eye
player options: single player

languages: jpn

Personal review

"Nazo no Kabe: Block Kuzushi" is Konami's answer to Taito's Arkanoid. The gameplay is - as with most Breakout clones - very similar. All the obvious bonuses like multi balls, a longer paddle, rockets and so on are included. There are even a few mini bosses. The game features 44 levels. The controls are good and the first levels are fun. But I think that changes in the second half of the game. Konami build lots of non-destructible objects inside the levels, often too near in front of the players paddle, resulting in many cheap deaths while you are desperately trying to hit the last few blocks. At least you can save your progress on disk.