Pong: The Next Level

"No! Go UP, you waddling chunk of penguin meat!"

Remember the black screen, with a square in the middle bouncing around and two white bars on each side? The addiction returns…

Pros:
Innovation- This is THE thing that makes this game worth buying. All of the stages are twists on the original black and white pong game. Graphics are nice, and color helps, of course. Each stage has different difficulties and obstacles, making this game interesting to play. One stage was a bit disturbing, though… chickens, eggs, barn, paddles… yeah.

Gameplay- Some of you may remember playing this game (or other classics like Pacman, Gattaca, or Asteroids) over… and over… and over again just because you were bored or because you needed to beat someone. Well, even though this is a newer and slightly different version, with obstacles and different stages, it still carries the same magnetic charm its predecessor had. After all, it’s still Pong.

Controls- Aside from the typical up-and-down action for your paddle, there are now powerups that you can activate using the X button on your controller. But that’s it. No other gimmicks. Anyone from your little brother who won’t stop complaining that he can’t play to your 80 year old grandmother can have fun with this game. They might even end up taking over your Playstation… but that’s not my problem.

Design- It was surprising how much the designers of this game could get out of ordinary animals and everyday things. One stage is designed like a soccer field, while another features very slow, waddling penguins that always manage to get in your way. There are difficulty settings, so if three penguins are too much for you, just tone it down. Some other stages have other obstacles, such as a tilting surface. These add to more hours of fun with this game, which goes into the all important category of…

Replayability- If you have not played Pong before, go rent this. Ever since the days of the Atari, this has been one of the most loved classics of video gaming history. This game should be no different.

Cons:
Response- Sometimes when a ball is speeding down the screen and you’re nowhere near where the ball’s going, you just hold on to the d-pad for dear life. Most of the time, however, your paddle ends up zooming past the ball when you don’t think it should. And when you try to get it so that this doesn’t happen, you don’t get to the ball in time. I have trouble finding a happy medium; this may or may not happen to you, but beware. I ended up screaming at the chickens… not a good thing to do. Consider yourself warned.

Bottom line: Everyone’s favorite game in 3D… and color! Whee!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/02, Updated 01/12/02