Meteor

Now the Android Market is in full swing, there’s a collection of retro standards it really needs to address to firmly establish Android as a games platform.

Not so much official conversions, of course - those are a different matter - but the homemade homage is a sure sign that the gamer on the street is beginning to pay attention to a platform.

One of those vital reverences is undoubtedly Breakout. We can and do expect a fistful of single player Pong clones; of brick breaking variations that test out every conceivable combination of paddle power ups and multi-balls.

Which brings us to Meteor - a careful and considered Breakout clone that’s currently shoring up a wealth of fans on the Android Market.

Some people might flinch at the brazen suggestion that this is a clone, but really that’s no criticism at all. There are loads of factors that combine to determine the quality of a Breakout style game, and many have bettered the original concept in the most imaginative ways.

It’s worth initially taking a look at Meteor’s control system, since the G1 has a variety of options that could all prove to run the paddle quite ergonomically. But there’s no accelerometer control, so that’s one down. Both the touchscreen and the trackball can be used, however, and you don’t need to make any firm decision between them.

Both are fully operational throughout, and as the touchscreen astutely operates from an area just beneath the paddle (so your finger doesn’t obscure the view), it’s really down to personal preference.

Indeed, you’ll likely switch between then, and as it’s easy enough to jump between them mid ball, we’re happy to say Meteor’s controls are quite excellent.

The next major feature is the paddle itself. What’s interesting is that it’s curved, which makes a huge difference to the gameplay.

Any Breakout (clone) fans will know of those aggravating moments when the ball repeatedly returns to the same corner, and the lack of room makes it immensely difficult to change the ball’s trajectory and get the game back on track.

Well, the curved paddle essentially negates that problem, and without too much practice you’ll be using the arched profile to actively position the ball.

Otherwise the gameplay is very Arkanoid, with loads of power ups (and power downs, for that matter) to make the game more dynamic. Guns mounted on the paddle, increased paddle sizes, multi-ball, plasma ball (making it more destructive), a shield and so forth all add a great deal to Meteor’s simple gameplay aesthetic.

Likewise, there’s a lot of variety in the actual brick work. The levels are very imaginative in their design, and the bricks themselves have a wild diversity in their reaction to the ball. Some take several hits to destroy, others are indestructible, and some shower power-ups upon you.

These are features we take for granted in a Breakout clone nowadays, but enough games neglect their importance to ensure they still stand out when put to good use, as they are in Meteor.

And with the addition of Space Invaders-style alien ships sweeping across the screen on later levels, it’s given just that bit more depth than some of its closest competitors.

Of course, it’s very hard to score a brick breaking game particularly highly because of the inherent unoriginality of the concept.

Breakout is over 30 years old now, and the raw gameplay mechanics remain unchanged. Meteor doesn’t do much to evolve the concept, but it undeniably presents it in a very appealing package.

So, if you’re looking for a brick breaking game to kick off your Android’s gaming career, here it is.