Crazy Brix

When I refreshed my 7800 hobby after a few years absence, I bought "Crazy Brix" as soon as I returned to the AtariAge Store without so much as a passing glance at the reviews!

I've been a diehard "Paddler" ever since playing "Breakout" in the arcade of a South Afrikan bowling alley as a child. In retrospect, if my Pa knew how seedy that arkade was he absoluutely would never have let my big bro and I step foot off our traditional boerlands! Even into the 1980s, games were just 10c each and R5.00 could last me hours!

When Pa bought us an Atari 2600 in around 1983, I was always drawn to the Paddlers. "Circus Atari" (ja, "Super" is my next purchase), "Kaboom" (en "Avalanche" also) and even Ma joining us for "Warlords" and "Video Olympics." My little Aussie wife is a Pong Basketball protegé!

But "Crazy Brix" takes the concept of tedious old "Breakout" and arms it to the teeth, staying true to its ancestor without going over the top as yet another "Arkanoid" klone, as much as I admire that game.

So ja, do NOT buy "Crazy Brix" expecting the top of the screen to unleash crowds of cumbersome 'alien' obstacles or a hail of overrewarding powerups from nearly every strike. This is the thinking man's (girl's?) Arkanoid! Each serve furnishes your paddle with two balls and there is a very strong incentive to keep both balls in play as points eqates to additional serves and by the middle boards you'll need as many serves as possible to get into the truly kray boards past around 20. I am YET to clock "Crazy Brix" after over a year but come so mighty close, let me tell you! Along with my built-in copy of "Asteroids", "Food Fight" and "Thrust " in 2600 mode, "Crazy Brix" by far, receives the most sexy time with my pretty PAL partner. And my wifey doesn't even jealous!

Okay, ja there are other 7800 homebrew titles that push the old girl further and look prettier but if you have yourself a penchant for Paddlers, "Crazy Brix" requires no further lyrical waxing from a crazy old Boer like me. Totsiens almans!

I've had Crazy Brix for a while now and it's become a full blown addiction of mine. It starts as what I would call a simple Breakout style game. The craziness starts at a 1 out of a possible 10. That is to say, it starts as a bare bones clone and seemingly nothing more. But soon it amps up.

The sound effects are a nice collection of classic inspired beeps and blips. Your bound to hear a sound effect that is familiar to you. And soon enough you'll see a block pattern that is inspired by your favorite Atari games. The craziness is climbing. We are at a 4.

There is some questionable collision or bounces at times. You'll swear that the ball went right through your paddle. But these are so far and few between that it's hardly worth mentioning. What is worth mentioning is that even without a paddle, the gameplay and challenge is tight. And now the brick patterns are getting more tight and the walls them selves seem to be closing in. There's odd corners and angles that mess with your perception of how the ball should behave. We've nearly reach the peak of craziness. We are at a 7.

And then you see it. Not only do the walls surround the game field but they run down the middle of the block pattern, testing your reflexes to their breaking point. Your barely keeping one ball alive, let alone the 2 that each press of the button starts you with. But you do it. You finish the level. Only to see the next level is a maze of walls with a single layer of bricks throughout. You would have to be a geometry genius to get the balls down these tunnels. And then they bring out the straight jacket. You've reach craziness level 10. It's not me.it's the Brix.the Brix did it not meI'm perfectly sane the Brix are crazy you believe me right?you have to, these are crazy brix man! Hahahahahaha crazy hahahahahah Brix ahahahabrixahhahaaaaaaahh

You'll see some boards similar to those found in Arkanoid but most boards are totally original.

This a great original homebrew game for the 7800. The gameplay is great. Crazy Brix is a must for those who like Paddle games.

PacManPlus does a lot of arcade conversions very well. but this one came straight from the man's brain, and it's one of my favorite of his by far. It's like the best version of Breakout you will ever play. But WAY better. Like WAAAAYYYYYY better. My only qualm is that one of the unique boards later on. (like level 32) one of the balls got stuck and I had to reset. But hey. it's all good in tha hood. 5 stars.