When making new versions of older classics, in theory it would be easier to simply latch onto a title with more basic gameplay and enhance it in some way. The thing is, when the classic in question happens to be Breakout, the problem is that you’ve got a pretty long line of games over the years, both old-school and more contemporary that have done it very well. Anyone who was in an arcade in the old days most certainly knew about the brilliant Arkanoid, and more recently I was very pleased with the glow-up Shatter Remastered Deluxe brought to the table. With those bangers in mind, Chico’s Rebound ended up having its work cut out for it, but depending on what you’re looking for, it may or may not be a hit.

Starting with what’s positive, this looks, feels, and sounds like a pretty authentic throwback title if you’re into retro games. Between its spot-on music and sounds, as well as its very classic look, this feels like it could have been a contemporary of old-school titles in the earlier days. Then there’s the matter of what truly helps the game stand apart from its Breakout-based peers, and that’s its array of different power-up blocks as well as an adventuresome spirit! Rather than just working on a series of varied stages and calling it a day, here you’ll be exploring a tower in search of secrets and surprises as well, helping to enhance the core gameplay. Rather than only working with what can often feel like a standard set of power-ups and enemy types pioneered by Arkanoid, Rebound takes its own path with its own ideas, and making smart use of the tools at your disposal can also give the gameplay a more puzzle-like feel at times.

What’s unfortunate is that while I really appreciate so much of what the developers have done here, I feel like there’s a fundamental problem below it all that puts the brakes on the fun to a degree. Your somewhat rotund chipmunk friend may try his best, but he’s also not a great replacement for the traditionally wider bar in games like this. Yes, he’s got some speed on his side as well as a tail whip that will help you out quite a bit, but I really didn’t find that to be an adequate replacement. Not only did I find that this could introduce somewhat irritating general timing and execution issues to what would normally be much simpler, it also tended to complicate effective banking of rebounds to get your brick-busting nut where it needs to go. Worse, there are stages that scroll vertically, further exacerbating issues as you try to position yourself with the help of a bubble showing where you are, but adding on a layer of frustration as you try to precisely position yourself to keep things in play. I applaud the creative mix of ideas this brings to the table, but I just wish it executed on some of its fundamentals better.