Now, and then...

When I started this project, I knew I had to do something about the level structure compared to the brick-breaker games I grew up with. In Arkanoid, Krakout and Traz (on the good old Commodore 64), though all of them provided very different formations and shapes built from bricks, it was still limited to one screen. So I decided that besides one screen levels, there will be many that in some shape or form will exceed this limitation.

The Lost Arcade

One of these levels is the Lost Arcade. This level is set up to look like an old side scrolling space shooter. The level made from bricks to form an organic, meteor-like cave inside the surface, then it transitions into an alien structure. At its end, in the ever growing darkness lies a monster from outer space... But, nothing to be afraid of, as this is only a game (inside the game). :)

How lives are handled (in the game, and on this level)

This actually means something: I implemented two game modes. Casual has "Attempts", that replenishes when exiting to the map. Losing all lives means only failing the current level, so there is no Game Over. In Hard mode on the other hand, the player can have a Game Over if all extra lives are gone, and lives are not replenishing when exiting to the map. So, in Hard mode I reassure the player that on this level, no actual lives are lost.

Technicalities

On this level, all the bricks are placed on an object I call a conveyor belt. This object moves the bricks from right to left. Bricks that are leaving the level are destroyed (no score). The sensors on the level activate the Arcade Flyer enemies - these are pretty much harmless, but can provide some much needed power ups.

Power ups

There are two power ups on this level. Grow, that makes the pad bigger is a fairly common powerup in this genre. But the Controller is a nifty one. The pad gets a button on it, representing that the player now has to shoot the projectiles when the Sphera (ball) reaches the maximum level. It also doubles the fire rate, and on later levels, should any contraption show up, those can be activated too.

How do you like the idea of having this many bricks on one level? :)

See You next time!

László (Coyote) Eszik