For a lot of people, arcade games are often considered as a great way to pass the time without basically committing into anything. As long as the games have gameplay that is addictive enough, and sometimes accompanied by good music, most players can easily get a good time from them. One example of arcade games having this excellent combination of addictive gameplay and smashing music is Shatter, a PlayStation classic that is about to make a big comeback on modern consoles.
As a refresher, Shatter is a clone of 1976's arcade classic Breakout. Originally released for the PS3 back in 2009, Shatter essentially sees players destroy fields of blocks using a ball and a paddle. The gameplay seems pretty basic, and it is, but developer Sidhe Interactive was clever enough to marry it with a series of electrifying soundtrack that made the whole experience such a blast. For players who didn't get the chance to play it back then, they will get a second chance to experience it with Shatter Remastered Deluxe.
Shatter Remastered Deluxe aims to bring back the brick-breaking action in up to 4K resolution running at 120 fps. On top of the upgraded visuals for its sci-fi theme, the remaster will also feature a modernized user interface, and more importantly, a remixed and remastered version of its acclaimed original synthwave soundtrack in 5.1 surround sound. The game is planned for release in late 2022 for the PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a $9.99 price tag.
Gameplay-wise, Shatter Remastered Deluxe is said to maintain the original's easy-to-learn-but-hard-to-master approach. Aside from mastering the game's mind-bending physics, players can also take advantage of the unique "Suck and Blow" mechanic to control the angle of each ball's trajectory for more precise shots. Additionally, players can grab powerups like "Unstoppaball" or "Maneuveraball" to deliver maximum damage.
Shatter Remastered Deluxe promises 10 distinct worlds and 9 unique boss battles, with a total of 71 levels of intense arcade action experience. The remaster will feature four different game modes: Story, Endless, Boss Rush, and Time Attack. Players can choose to play solo and compete for high scores on global leaderboards, or team up with friends in a local couch co-op session.
From the sound of it, it looks like Shatter Remastered Deluxe will once again deliver a blissful arcade experience for many players, just like what the original version did to PS3 players back in the day.
Shatter Remastered Deluxe is scheduled for release in late 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.