Banananoid

Overview

Banananoid offers a curious twist on the classic Breakout formula that catches the eye with its unconventional approach. The game's defining feature - horizontal scrolling across an extra-wide playfield - creates a fresh perspective on brick-breaking action. While this innovation sparks initial interest, the execution falters with control issues that undermine the core experience. The result is a conceptually intriguing but mechanically flawed title that delivers moments of satisfaction between bouts of frustration.

Horizontal Ambition with Visual Flair

The most striking aspect of Banananoid is its horizontally scrolling playfield, a significant departure from the static screens of traditional brick-breakers. This expanded arena creates a sense of scale and movement rarely seen in the genre, with the paddle traversing a wider battlefield against scrolling brick formations. The visual presentation stands out with its ruby-shaped bricks that glimmer with satisfying destruction effects, providing a more polished aesthetic than basic rectangular blocks found in similar titles. This artistic choice gives the game a distinctive personality that initially draws players in.

The wide-screen format introduces new strategic considerations, requiring players to anticipate ball trajectories across a broader space. When the mechanics align, there's genuine satisfaction in clearing distant brick formations through well-aimed shots. The core brick-breaking thrill remains intact, with that primal enjoyment of watching obstacles shatter under precise ball control.

The graphics are fairly nice, the bricks are pretty cool ruby shaped objects rather than straight rectangles and are pretty good.

Gohst

Control Challenges and Technical Limitations

Where Banananoid struggles significantly is in its ball physics and control scheme. The ball frequently adopts near-horizontal trajectories at high speeds, creating situations where tracking its movement becomes nearly impossible. This issue is compounded by the wide playfield, as players lose sight of critical action happening off-screen. The paddle controls feel inadequate for the expanded gameplay space, resulting in frustrating moments where reactions feel more like guesswork than skill.

The audio design presents another limitation, relying entirely on basic PC speaker beeps without any musical accompaniment. While sound effects serve their functional purpose, the absence of atmosphere-building music makes the experience feel sparse and underdeveloped. This minimal approach to audio might be acceptable in more focused arcade experiences, but in Banananoid's ambitious wide-screen format, the silence becomes noticeable.

It's hard to control seeing over the other side of the screen, especially when the ball decides to go almost horizontal and at super speeds.

Gohst