New Arkanoid DS screenshots and controller details

Arkanoid was a smash hit for Japanese company Taito when it arrived in the arcades in 1986. Like the classic Atari game Breakout that preceded it, the purpose of Arkanoid was to break through progressively tougher levels of colored bricks using a ball that could be aimed with a paddle on the lower part of the screen. The upright cabinet featured a distinctive “spinner” input, which made control of the player’s paddle much more intuitive than a standard joystick. There have been many console and PC ports of the game over the years, attesting the popularity and infectious fun of the simple but addictive game. The NES port of Arkanoid originally shipped with a special controller that mimicked the wheel in the arcade version, and this special release of the game is widely sought by collectors specifically for the controller.

Perhaps because of the input limitations of portable consoles, there has never been an official portable release of the game by Taito — until now. Square Enix have signed up to distribute this game as well as an updated version of the classic Space Invaders on the Nintendo DS. The game is expected to be released in North America this June and in Europe one month later. Early previews of the title have praised the included paddle controller (pictured) for its accuracy, as well as the game’s bouncy, updated soundtrack. From the look of the latest screenshots below, the game will nicely reproduce the feeling of the classic arcade title on the Nintendo handheld.

New screenshots added May 21, 2008: