Attic of the Underdogs

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Review by Underdogs:

Released as freeware in 1996, Michael Welch’s DX-Ball instantly acquires a loyal following and is widely hailed as one of the best Breakout clones ever made. In 1999, Longbow Digital Arts began working on the game. The result, DX-Ball 2, is an excellent sequel that improves upon the original in many ways.

Simply put, DX-Ball 2 has all the addictive qualities of the original, along with the addition of high-color SVGA, textured background and brick graphics, additive-blended explosions, real-time ray-traced balls, and two new power-ups. As if that isn’t enough, it also features a new introductory level called "Kid Mode", a Euro-Techno sound track by SideWinder, and 150 new levels spreading over 6 Board-Sets.

If you haven't played a breakout-style game before, the idea is simple: move a paddle back and forth along the bottom of the screen to bounce ball to break through a row of bricks above you. DX-Ball 2 adds many fun elements to the simple concept, including explosive bricks and random power-ups, including laser weapons, multiple balls, explosive Fire Balls, through-balls, large sized balls, tiny balls, big and small paddles, slow balls, two-way and eight-way split balls, ball catch, and many more.

Like the original game, DX-Ball 2 is freeware, and comes with 24 boards to blast your way through. Additional board sets can be ordered at bargain prices from Longbow Digital Arts’ website. With an addictive gameplay and excellent multiplayer modes, DX-Ball 2 is one of the best Breakout games ever made. The only other game that rivals its addictiveness is our Hall of Belated Fame inductee Crystal Hammer, but that is a commercial release so the comparison is hardly fair ;) Definitely a must-have for all Breakout fans. Two thumbs up, way up!

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