Arkanoid DS headed up North American creek without a paddle

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 3rd 2008 at 6:00PM }

The thrill of pinching that tiny, twisty knob between your thumb and forefinger, guiding your sliver of a "space vessel" as you protect its only companion, a dot, capable of utmost destruction, but ultimately helpless, has been lost, abandoned. Taito will ship Arkanoid DS to North America on June 17 without its protruding peripheral, banking on a $19.99 budget price to sell the antiquated, breakout formula. True 'Noidians will have to double the investment and turn to import retailers to assemble the authentic experience -- currently, only available in pink.

More promising is Taito's Space Invaders Extreme, a "re-imaged" version of the original, which reminds us a lot of last year's excellent Pac-Man CE for XBLA -- both touching up fundamental elements with a contemporary aesthetic. Space Invaders Extreme will be released alongside Arkanoid DS on June 17 for $19.99, and will be available for DS and PSP.

Gallery: Arkanoid DS

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme

Tags: arkanoid, arkanoid-ds, paddle-controller-ds, space-invaders, space-invaders-extreme, square-enix, taito

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:07PM

Sad panda is sad, that paddle would've kicked more ass than Fatass of Kickassness

Once again, this video will make me feel better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNvbPzSTpPI&NR=1

Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:37PM

lol wut.

Double J @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:19PM

Well, thank god I stumbled upon a copy at an nerd-convention over the weekend.

Double J @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:20PM

"a nerd-convention", an has no business being in front of that non-vowel starting word.

Blue_Falcon @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:35PM

No paddle? I won't be buying Arkanoid now. I can still justify Space Invaders Extreme.

Undead Priest @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:37PM

I'd hope the game would control just fine by dragging the stylus.

Assassin @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:36PM

www.ncsx.com still has some in black and other colors. If any one is interested: http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/TCPP-20018.html

Bloo @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:39PM

This is retarded. Including a paddle would have given R4 users a reson to purchase the retail product.

Jonah Falcon @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:44PM

It's Mr. Bill!

Oh, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

FrankTheCrank @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:53PM

Sucks for us hardcore hardware collectors.

Oh well, just have to import the Japanese version.

Markez @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:21PM

I'm a proud owner of both the Wii and DS (and 360 & PS2, hopefully a PS3 soon) and have to wonder, what ever happened with that Mag game thingy?

Also, since we've seen a glut of pointless plastic peripherals for the Wii, when can we see something for the DS? I mean here we have some periph's (I just made that up, is that lame?) for the DS that actually do something, can we not find something POINTLESS to plug the DS into?

Maybe a plastic book to throw Hotel Dusk into?