There are some arcade games that simply don’t need much introduction. ARKANOID is one of them. Originally released by Taito in 1986, the paddle-and-ball classic became one of the defining block-breaking games of the arcade era. Its 1987 sequel, ARKANOID: REVENGE OF DOH, took the basic formula and expanded it with new enemies, stage designs, power-ups, and challenges.
Now HAMSTER Corporation has brought ARKANOID: REVENGE OF DOH to Nintendo Switch 2 as part of its Arcade Archives 2 series. Rather than completely remake the game for modern audiences, HAMSTER takes a preservation-first approach, keeping the original arcade experience intact while adding modern features that make the game considerably more convenient to play today.
The result is one of those releases that understands exactly what makes an old arcade game special.
the ball, and advance through increasingly difficult stages.
The sequel adds considerably more variety to that formula. Blocks can move, regenerate, or behave differently, while enemies and obstacles make later stages much more challenging.
There is also a branching stage structure, allowing players to take different routes through the game.
Arcade Archives 2 Features
This is where HAMSTER’s Switch 2 release becomes more than simply playing an old game on new hardware.
The release includes several different ways to play, including Original Mode, Hi Score Mode, Caravan Mode, and Time Attack Mode.
Time Attack is particularly interesting because it changes the objective. Instead of concentrating exclusively on score, you’re trying to complete the game as quickly as possible.
There are also save features, online rankings, rewind functionality, and rapid-fire options.
These additions don’t fundamentally change REVENGE OF DOH. Instead, they give modern players different ways to enjoy the original game.
That is exactly the approach I want to see from a classic-game collection.
At around the $10 price point, this is an easy recommendation for classic arcade fans.
The value proposition is somewhat different for players who aren’t interested in arcade history.
You’re essentially buying a faithful recreation of a game that is nearly four decades old, rather than a brand-new Switch 2 production.
But for players who appreciate classic arcade gaming, that’s precisely the appeal.
HAMSTER has preserved the original game while adding features that make it considerably easier to enjoy on modern hardware.
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