Alleyway (GameBoy)

3.5 Overall Score
Gameplay: 6/10
Graphics: 3/10
Sound: 1/10

Same Tight Arknoid Gameplay

No Music | Repetitive Levels

Game Info

DEVELOPER(S): Intelligent Systems / Nintendo

PUBLISHER(S): Nintendo

PLATFORM(S): GameBoy / 3DS Virtual Console

GENRE(S): Block Breaking

RELEASE DATE(S): Aug. 1989

There were three launch titles from Nintendo for the GameBoy launch in 1989: Super Mario Land, Tetris and Alleyway.  Now Nintendo has brought gamers and 3ds owners a Virtual Console for GameBoy and GamBoy Color games they have brought back Alleyway as a launch title for the new service.

alleyway

Alleyway is basically a clone of similar block breaking games such as Taito’s Arknoid or Break-Out but with a Nintendo spin.  Nintendo uses the likeness of Mario for your lives.  It is a really simplistic version all the player does is control a bar at the bottom of the screen and bounce a ball to the top to break blocks. There are 8 main puzzles with 3 levels and a bonus level to each puzzle.  The first level is stationary, the second moves from left to right and the third moves down toward the player.  Every 1000 points you gain you earn an extra life.

The game doesn’t break any ground graphically.  Its a basic black and white game with just squares.  Some of the puzzle designs look like sprites of bad guys from the Super Mario Bros. game on the nes. The sound is just a bunch of beeps and noises with no real music to speak of.  Nintendo should have took some of the tunes from their franchises and used them as background music as it would have been better then nothing at all.

There are better versions by far of this brick breaking genre and better games available on the Virtual Console service.  If you are a fan of the game or just an avid Nintendo collector this is the only real reason I can see to own this game.  Do yourself a favor and stay clear of this title.

 

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Author: Anthony DeVirgilis View all posts by
Managing Partner / Editor for Sony/Nintendo I prefer Indies to AAA titles... unless it's Nintendo or Sony Google+ Author