One of my favorite earliest downloadable games on consoles was the brick breaking game Shatter from Sidhe Interactive. It originally released on PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network in 2009 and I spent a good deal of time with it thanks to its different approach to this style of game and its rocking soundtrack. With the lack of proper PS3 backwards compatibility on future PlayStation consoles I wasn’t able to easily go back and play it anymore which is exactly why I was excited when developer PikPok announced they were bringing Shatter back. Here is my review of the PlayStation 5 version of Shatter Remastered Deluxe.
Brick breakers are a type of game I can always get into as the simple arcade gameplay just never seems to get old to me. I recently reviewed a new Arkanoid game while also playing through this so I’ve certainly been eating good lately. Shatter Remastered Deluxe is still mostly the same game as the original only now it has better visuals, increased performance, an updated UI, and a remixed soundtrack. For those who never played it you get a handful of modes to dive into including a story mode with 71 levels along with Time Attack, Boss Rush, and Endless modes. You can also play with another player in local co-op should you choose.
The story mode is likely where you’ll want to head first to play though the 71 levels spread across 10 different worlds. What I liked about Shatter back in the day was how it changes up the usual brick breaking formula and it does that with the level design and with how you interact with the ball. The most unique mechanic is that you can suck and push out air which allows you to interact with the ball and bricks in new ways. This can change the direction the ball is going which can be helpful but you also have to avoid sucking in any bricks because if they hit your paddle then you lose control of it temporarily. This whole mechanic just makes playing this style of game more engaging and why it was one of my favorites back on the PS3.
Levels also change up as you play so the layouts will be in different shapes which helps add some variety. One level you might be playing horizontally, the next vertically, and the next could be a circle shape. Every world you complete also ends in a boss battle which really puts your use of using the pull and repel features to work. Even when you finish all of these levels you can go back to try and achieve better scores on the leaderboards or play one of the other previously mentioned modes. The price for this game is pretty low and I think you get more than what you pay for here.
Visually the game looks excellent too with the updated graphics making the colors pop. Levels get busy at times too which for some may be a bit annoying with all the effects and moving pieces going on. If you have a display that supports it you can even play this game in 120FPS. Soundtrack purists may have some issues with the remixed score here but I still thought the mix of rock and electro types of songs to sound great and be just as good as the original. Trophy hunters will find 31 trophies here including a Platinum which is something the original PS3 version didn’t have. If you’re skilled at brick breakers you should be able to earn all of them no problem but others may have some issues with a few trophies.
Shatter Remastered Deluxe brings back one of my favorite downloadable games from the PS3 and manages to be just as fun in 2022 as it was in 2009. It very much is the same game from a content and gameplay perspective but it looks and performs better than ever and the remixed soundtrack is still a bop. If you are a fan of brick breakers this is a must-play especially for the price.
*Shatter Remastered Deluxe is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. PlayStation 5 version reviewed. Review copy provided by the publisher for this review.
Shatter Remastered Deluxe
$9.99
Pros
- Unique and very fun take on the brick-breaking genre
- Lots of content here for the price
- Remastered visuals look great
- Remixed soundtrack manages to still be excellent
Cons
- No online co-op is a bummer
