Ionball 2: Ionstorm Review
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I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a gamer that truly dislikes Arkanoid and/or Breakout titles. There’s something magically attractive about the legendary gameplay mechanic that consists of destroying numerous tiles with a paddle-propelled ball that bounces back and forth like a confused meerkat between two holes. Yes, I’m aware that the comparison sucks, bear with me. Ionball 2 takes this system and ups the ante several times. But let us take a look at the inner workings of this game before focusing on the gameplay itself.
Regarding the visual presentation, Ionball 2 is all about neon. Ditching the steampunk-ish environments and machinery to make way for the brand new high-tech space age ball and paddle, the game also takes a huge leap forward in the graphical department, with neon being the most prominent element around the levels and menus. The lightning effects create an almost Matrix-like atmosphere, while interestingly designed models offer a new take on the tired genre. The textures may be nothing special, but their mediocrity is well camouflaged by the attention-seeking effects that will cover the entire screen once the game gets going. The blocks are designed as small, drone-like robots that try to stop you on your way to the top of the space tower (?) the game takes place in. Indeed, you will begin by cleaning the basement up, and try to make your way through numerous levels and three bosses that will try to destroy your spaceship (paddle). The levels themselves are interesting enough, but there’s nothing keeping them from getting stale and repetitive after a while. Repetition is the main problem Ionball 2 tries to deal with, yes. And despite the fact that the game isn’t terribly long, you may feel tired before wrapping the whole thing up. The soundtrack fits the gameplay well, with upbeat electro tunes playing in the background as you destroy dozens of tiles with every paddle launch. Still, it won’t take long before these tracks start repeating. As good as they might be (and they really are), I felt compelled to disable the in-game music after a while.
The level structure follows the tower archetype, whereas your ship/paddle has to destroy all „bricks“ on each level before facing the boss and progressing to the next stage. Each level has a specific brick layout and is just challenging enough to keep you on your toes. Certain stages, however, will make you keep your blinking at the minimum, due to the extreme speeds and angles the ball may achieve. Despite the fact that the paddle is extremely precise, it also tends to be a tad bit slippery when trying to return the ball using the edges. During these moments, the ball feedback feels weird and the returning angle may not be what you expect it to be. It doesn’t happen often, but can annoy at times. Not content with making a pure Arkanoid clone with pretty graphics, the dev also included numerous upgrades you will be able to unlock using the earned experience points. As the in-game hint goes: „If an upgrade costs a lot of XP, it’s worth it.“ – you’ll have access to machine guns, laser rifles, Tesla coils and just about every sci-fi weapon the genre has churned out since 1990. The thing is, this weaponry won’t be fitted to the paddle, but to the ball, adding additional fire to the already burning chaos that is the neon-infused Arkanoid gameplay conjured by Ionball 2. It’s arcadey, if nothing else, and this trait alone could carry this game into relative greatness. Aside from gun upgrades, you will also be able to upgrade ball velocity and power, allowing faster and easier destruction of the pesky „bricks“. Naturally, the paddle is also upgradable, giving you the option to increase its range, add mild magnetism and similar gadgetry that will allow you to manipulate the ball more precisely and you get the picture of what to expect here. The system isn’t terribly ground breaking, but it is a great addition to what could have been little more than a clone of many legendary games. This way, Ionball 2: Ionstorm can stand as a valid and worthy addition to the arcade genre.
I’d be lying if I said that the time I spent with Ionball 2 wasn’t filled with fun, albeit tense moments that only the arcades can come up with. It may be repetitive, but it’s also a well-realized title that will surely provide an avid player with hours upon hours of old-school fun. The Arkanoid and Breakout fans will adore this game, that’s for sure. For its price tag, Ionball 2 is definitely worth it. I can gladly recommend this title – it’s small, fast, fun and simple. But with enough depth to keep you coming back for more.
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