Ultimate Brick Breaker 2

There are some games of yore that mobile developers simply refuse to let die, such as Pac-Man, Tetris, and, most pertinently for this review, Breakout.

Though devoid of the official Breakout licence, Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 is perfect evidence of why such titles successfully pop up time and again.

With only the subtlest of gameplay shifts applied to its puzzler sequel, Glu has proved that old dogs really can be taught new tricks.

Ultimate Brick Breaker 2's signature style, however, is drawn from its predecessor. Once again, Glu has managed to offer up a game with a competitive edge that, unlike scores of other Breakout clones, doesn't make play ridiculously difficult as a result.

As in the original, the aim is to clear each map of all its bricks with a ball, fired from a paddle straddling the bottom of the level.

Your only role is to shift said paddle left and right, hitting the ball with enough of an angle to clear as many bricks as possible with each attempt.

Balls that miss the paddle and fall through the floor wipe a life off your tally, meaning the ability to stay alert and react to the movement of the ball as momentum builds is crucial – something aided by the notably slower pace adopted by the series.

What's unique to Ultimate Brick Breaker 2, however, is a refined approach to the game's level design. Almost all of the stages manage to keep things interesting, without handing you success on a plate.

Getting the ball behind the first line of bricks, for instance, can lead to a massacre of the blighters, yet the threat of it sneaking through the growing number of gaps in the track means you can never lower your guard.

Scores of power-ups that flood down en masse contribute to the game's lively atmosphere. The ability to stack an extra paddle on top of the existing one, or to take control of an exploding ball, ensures the action never lets up.

On the face of it, Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 is pretty much like Ultimate Brick Breaker - a Breakout clone with a few bells and whistles. But it distinguishes itself - and earns an extra point - with its excellent level design and pacing. Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 performs the difficult feat of keeping you on your toes without ever overwhelming you.