Pretty Girls Breakers! PLUS | PS4

Brick breaking games are nothing new. Atari started the genre back in the 70's, and since then copycat clones have emerged a dime a dozen on various platforms. Each featuring different gimmicks that build upon the basic premise that is brick breaking with a pong style paddle. What if I were to tell you that EastAsiaSoft has created such a game that gives Atari's version a run for it's money? A brick breaking game with pretty anime girls, two modes of play, and an innovative scoring system tied to several different features? Well, buckle up my friends, because that game is here and for under $10!!! It's called, "Pretty Girls Breakers! PLUS" ...

In the past I've had my go at the Pretty Girls games, and their Western anime art style. I've said that they are cheap cash grabs based on sex appeal. Those claims stop here. While the game is definitely not without it's sex appeal and allure this two mode experience is a unique and inviting take on an old game formula. Bringing in a power-up system, a unique bat swinging paddle, and an interesting brick/enemy feature wherein bricks aren't the only thing you'll be breaking.

Broken up into two distinctly different modes including "Pretty Breaker", and "Endless Challenge" you'll find two sexy sets of anime girls dolled up, voiced over, and expressively animated for the more mature crowd. With "Pretty Breaker", in particular, you get a total of six sultry 18+ year old girls to oogle over and five evolving stages per each girl in which to battle it out for their affection. You have five minutes with which to clear a given stage, and five tries or fails tied to hearts in order to complete the undertaking while amassing a score for feats rendered. Combos, time, and hearts are tallied for each stage's total. By completing a stage and clearing it of all bricks, and enemies you will earn points that can, in turn, be spent on character models, backgrounds, and emotive stamps for the game's "Dressing Room". A side offering for those anime fans looking to capture their waifu with the perfect attire, expression, and setting. A sexy screenshot opportunity.

The Gameplay ...

Breaking bricks in "Pretty Girls Breakers! Plus" is done with your favorite waifu always in view on the left side of the playing field. A place that is also home to the countdown timer, and heart count. Within the actual playing portion of the same field of view lies a statically arranged/moving setup of bricks, enemies, and your chibi anime girl character with bat in hand who acts as the ball paddle. The bat having a sweet spot at the tip which when striking the ball causes the ball's penetration power to increase. Thus making the ball easier to send through the bricks. Pressing "X" will swing the bat, and bounce the ball in a trajectory across the closed in structure. Often times bouncing off walls, and other mechanisms or bricks before returning towards the paddle.

Of course there's a catch with this basic gameplay setup, and it is the power-ups which drop from specific brick types. Things like shields, projectiles, bombs, barriers, ball slowdowns, and extra balls are among the mix. That, and different brick or enemy types that will take multiple hits to clear. Some with their own health bars or hit number counters. The end goal in "Pretty Breakers", as it were, is fairly straight forward. Clear the bricks and enemies within the time limit, and with at least one heart left. This will move you onto the next stage in the current girl's set of five, and afterwards into the next girls' set until all girls' stages are marked as complete. 

For those of you looking for that extra challenge, and added replay value beyond the base mode the developer has created a rather genius take on the genre for that very purpose. A take that melds Tetris, and brick breakers in a potentially endless run. This mode I speak of, that is "Endless Challenge", features 3 girls outside of the "Pretty Breakers" mode, and has you breaking bricks in the same fashion, but doing so in an attempt to keep the playing field clear before a brick touches the bottom line where your chibi bat girls resides. The bricks slowly descend bringing with them different brick types, and enemies. Gifting power-ups that will aid in your effort for precision gameplay. If a brick should pass the line that is not to be crossed though it will be an immediate GAME OVER, and your score will be tallied in kind. 

The Verdict ...

I was pleasantly surprised with the slightly more Japanese anime look of the characters, and the gameplay gimmicks used in both the modes of play. It's the kind of experience that will cater to anime waifu lovers, and those who want to try something a little different in regards to the brick breaker genre. For $6.99 it's not a bad deal either, and you'll definitely get what you pay for. You also get some easy to obtain PSN trophies as well.