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"Alleyway" (Game Boy)

The very first title released for the Game Boy, though sadly, also one of the least memorable.

Despite being the first game released to debut with Nintendo's amazing handheld gaming console, the Game Boy, many folks find this one of the least-remembered title. Despite the fact that it does feature characters from the Mario series, it was a simple concept that found to be too bland for even the average gamer.

Looking like an homage to the classics Breakout and Arkanoid, the premise is simple: keep the ball up and rolling and destroy all the [breakable] blocks in your sight. Keep it up and you advance closer to the next round which increases in difficulty as you progress. There are a total of 32 levels and, according to the manual, a fanfare is shown at the end for beating the game. Yeah, exciting isn't it?

This game is unforgiving, and not having gone past Stage 11 isn't the reason I gave this a low rating. The reason is it becomes monotonous and the concept is repeated all throughout despite the arrangements of the blocks. Worse, there are NO power-ups to help you pummel through the stages in little time. That may be why many folks also gave this very a neutral to a low rating/review. I understand, you're releasing a debut game to kick start the awesome and beloved Game Boy—one of my all-time favorite handhelds ever. However, games like this didn't cut it.

I still won't step down to its challenges. I will beat this game. Nevertheless, block-breaking fun is highly recommended besides this.

(UPDATE 06/17/2017: Alleyway has been defeated! When impossible becomes possible, see the ending here on VIDEOGAMESOTROS: "Alleyway" Rhymes with "YES way". Our rating still stands though, it's bland and dull, at most.)

GAMEPLAY2/5

CONTROLS2/5

GRAPHICS3/5

AUDIO3/5

PLUSES
  • One of the very first games released for the Game Boy.
  • An okay block-breaking game that's Mario-themed.
MINUSES
  • Can get monotonous after passing a few levels.
  • Controls can get wonky.
  • No options for music, leaving levels silent with sound effects.
  • Limited power-ups in the game.
  • One of the least memorable titles for the Game Boy, despite its very first release for the handheld.
50% (F)
Fan Rating
Profile
Game Title Alleyway
Description Cruise the Alleyway!
Slam energy balls to
destroy the Vid-Grid!


Interstellar ping-pong with a deadly energy ball!

Your spaceship is at the gate of the Alleyway.

Use your vessel to repel the energy ball. Atomize space grids with your return shots.

Destroy the entire field and move on to even more challenging targets!

You're in command in the Alleyway!
Game Outline In "Alleyway," the object of the game is to hit the descending ball with the paddle at the bottom of the screen so that it rises up to demolish the blocks at the top of the screen. When all the blocks on the screen are demolished, the stage is cleared and the game progresses to the next stage. If all 32 stages are cleared, the game finishes in a fanfare. On the other hand, when the paddle fails to make contact with the ball a miss occurs and the number of paddles remaining is decreased by one. If a miss occurs when the number of paddles has been reduced to zero, that's the end of the game.
ISBN / Bar Code number 0 45496 73001 7
Video Format 1.33:1 (4:3) Full screen
Audio Format Mono (Stereo via Super Game Boy)
Language(s) English
Disk/Cartridge One (1)
Region(s) NTSC
Genre Puzzle
Rated E - Everyone
Released April 21, 1989 (JP), August 11, 1989 (US), September 28, 1990 (EU)
Video Specification Monochrome (Color via Super Game Boy)
Licensed by Nintendo®
Developed by Nintendo® Research & Development 1 / Intelligent Systems
Company Nintendo® of America Inc.
Product / Item / Catalog Number DMG-AW
Copyright Nintendo is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc. TM Trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc.
© 1989 Nintendo of America Inc.
Other Formats Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
Quoted Reviews --
Other --
Credits
Developer
Nintendo R&D 1
Intelligent Systems

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