Energy Invasion (2018)

This game is a simplistic and challenging take on a classic arcade game. Due to the achievements in this game taking 3-4 hours maximum, I Imagine most buying this game will buy it for the achievements which in itself is a selling point. The game is fun but sadly does not have much, if any replay-ability outside of the endless mode which will only keep you occupied for so long. I do recommend buying it if you are a fan of classic arcade games or games they inspired.

Energy Invasion shows some interesting and bold design choices that challenge some core aspects of one perhaps the most static genres that is still relevant today. However, these changes are badly implemented, only adding too much unnecessary clutter that is sometimes annoyingly hard to spot due to the small size.

Energy Invasion’s blending of styles doesn't work. The gameplay is joyless, the music is terrible and it is visually unpleasant. In short, I cannot recommend this game to anyone, be it fans of Breakout style games or newcomers to the genre. With how competitive the game library on the Switch is, there are hundreds of other games more deserving of your money.

Against all odds, Energy Invasion manages to take its almost too simple Breakout-inspired premise and spin it into something truly original and engaging. Adding the ability to fire off miniature, bouncing balls from the main ball is an ingenious addition that elevates the gameplay from just a mere homage. While there are only 50 stages between Linear and Invasion mode, the difficulty curve allows progress to feel earned, and Endless offers an unlimited amount of levels to bounce through. Along with Nick R 61's fantastic soundtrack, Energy Invasion is a surreal, and strangely addictive, evolution of the Breakout formula.

Unfortunately, there’s just so much going on that is actively wrong with the game I would end up calling my time with it excruciating...