In May of 1995, HAL Laboratory released a spinoff game in the Kirby series called Kirby's Block Ball. It's basically the Kirby version of the hit arcade classic Breakout. How does this game compare to Breakout? Is it a great spinoff for the Kirby series? I'll tell you what I think by making this review.

Graphics: 7/10 The visuals in Kirby's Block Ball are good for a gameboy game. Every block, every enemy, and Kirby himself all look great on the gameboy. While Kirby's Block Ball won't blow you away visually like Link's Awakening and Pokemon would, Kirby's block ball is still a nice looking game. I'm giving the graphics a 7 because there are better looking games on the system.

Sound: 8/10 When you play a Kirby game, you expect to hear a great soundtrack. Kirby's Block Ball delivers in this aspect. This game offers a really good soundtrack that's perfect for this game. The boss theme in particular is extremely catchy. When compared to some other games on the system, such as Link's Awakening and Pokemon, the music isn't quite as memorable, but it's still good enough for me to give it an 8.

Addictiveness: 9/10 Kirby's Block Ball does a great job of separating itself from Breakout in terms of gameplay. Kirby's powerups can be used to clear blocks more quickly, and the biggest reason Kirby Block Ball's so addicting is because of the extra paddles. Instead of having just one paddle on the bottom of the scree, you get multiple paddles. Some levels will have one on the bottom and one on the side, while others have them on the top and bottom parts of the screen. The extra paddles is the big reason why I say that Kirby's Block Ball is more addicting than regular breakout. For these reasons, I'm giving the addictiveness a 9.

Story: N/A Kirby's Block Ball doesn't have a story, therefore I'm leaving this category blank.

Depth: 7/10 Kirby's Block Ball offers a good amount of content. With 10 stages to play on, and a boss battle at the end of each level, Kirby's Block Ball will keep you entertained for awhile. For a gameboy title, Kirby's Block Ball offers enough content for me to give the depth score a 7.

Difficulty: 5/10 Kirby's Block Ball offers a good challenge, which is something the series usually lacks. One reason why Kirby's Block Ball can be tough is because your paddles can get shrunk down to a tiny star, which can make hitting the ball tough to do. In addition, it makes aiming Kirby where you want him to go much more difficult. This can make certain boss battles be quite tedious. Overall though, Kirby's Block Ball won't cause any headaches, but it's tough enough for me to give this category a 5.

Overall Score: 7.5/10 Kirby's Block Ball is a very good spinoff, and it's just as fun to play as Breakout. With a great soundtrack, extremely addicting gameplay, a good amount of levels and bosses, and a decent challenge, Kirby's Block Ball is a great way to get for people to get into Breakout. Overall, I'm giving Kirby's Block Ball a 7.5 out of 10. I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

I can tell you're really good at reviews.

I never actually played a Kirby game, so I don't know if I'd be interested in this spin off. At the same time, who doesn't like Breakout?

It's neat that the game has bosses, really adds that extra layer.

You know, after this review, I might actually give it a try. Good review man!

Skilledtree : Thanks! As far as Kirby games go, I'd say that the mainstream games would be a better route to go than a spinoff such as this for someone who's never played a Kirby game.

Is HAL not the name of the super computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Anyway, your review was good. As always, your introduction tells us a little about the game and how it came to it. Your structure was clear, and you gave it enough details so we know what it is about. You also gave brief comparisons to other Game Boy games, which is always a big plus.