Shatter takes the simple yet genius gameplay of Arkanoid's Paddle/bat-ball-bricks idea, and modernises it for our PS3's. With a heavy focus on electronic music, score building and non-stop gameplay, Shatter may represent old-school classics at its core, but plays like a new breed. It’s a fantastic example of taking a retro concept and giving it a complete face-lift for the next gen market.
Shatter will cost just £4.79 from the Playstation Network (sorry 360 owners, no plan for a 360 version as of yet) and is said to take about 2 hours to play through. The scoreboards element will add a huge amount of replay value however - giving the scores of your friends on the PSN at the end of each round as a great incentive to play again. I am currently about 115,000 ahead of Lucifonz at time time of writing this, I think he is slacking 
Right, some more about this awesome PSN game then? Well, the best thing about Shatter is its uninterrupted gameplay. The game doesn’t stop to regather itself when you lose a ball, no way, you’re still in the game at all times. Also you can fire more than one ball at a time by using your 'lives' - say if you have 2 lives left, you can fire two balls, but if you lose them two balls, its game over dudes 
, so use this option at your own risk!
But you can redeem your lives, as there are a number of power-up's available from those smashed bricks - Extra Life, 2x Shards, Unstopaball & Maneuverable to name a few. Also the transition between levels is made seamless with a very short & simple yet effective animated cut-scene. Despite a short loading period when the game starts, you’re constantly in the game from that moment, and that’s awesome. It’s really does feel great to return to gaming roots once in a while, and not play a game with tedious menus and long loading screens.
The graphics are clearly inspired by the likes of other successful old-skool revamps like Space Invaders Extreme and Super Stardust HD. Shatter is a beautiful mix of futuristic visuals and and retro inspired simplicity. The game may be simple in concept, but the graphics are truly a sight to behold. Everything looks clean, smooth and frantic, and that's just how we like it don't we 
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Shatter mixes up the classic gameplay of Arkanoid by implementing suck-&-blow physics. This allows you to control the flow of the ball by using the L1 and R1 buttons. These physics effects more than the ball however, sucking will pull loose blocks towards your paddle/bat, making you inactive and unable to return the ball. But the sucking is mainly used for the shards that each destroyed brick sends out, which rack up the points and fuel your special attack, allowing you to send a 'Shard Storm' out causing a huge amount of damage to anything infront of you. A simple yet effective twist to this old genre.
Another pleasant surprise that Shatter give's - Bosses, yes I sh*t you not, actual end level bosses. These are great fun. They fill the screen, which instantly reminded me of the R-Type Bosses (one for the older gamers there) and are a challenge to defeat. Some require more than just hitting with the ball though, you’ll need to mess with their armor with the Suck or Blow mechanic for example. Each boss really puts you on the edge of your seat, great stuff.
One thing Shatter doesn't have though is Multiplayer. Not that it matters really. but it's just going to be very very hard for someone to just watch someone else playing Shatter. They will probably end up stealing your gamepad right out of your hand's, wrestle you to the floor, put duct tape round your hands, and your mouth, then sit on you and play your own game right in-front of you. So for this reason I ask for a Multiplayer add-on please please please, if only for safety reasons and the fear for my life when in the company of friends 
So, not the longest review we have here on Game-Pad, but there is not a lot really to say about the game. However that is a good thing, really it is. It's simple, beautiful, and very very addictive. I know of a few people who have got the game now, and ALL seem to love it. Also the game has a fully original soundtrack of over 90 minutes of great music, if you like that sort of thing.
It's not the longest game it the world, But it does bring back those memories of many gaming hours from the past, and like I said, I dont know anyone who really doesn't love Shatter. But If your still not sure about it, I'll add the Shatter Trailer to this review.
Oh, our score first though.........
Shatter gets an official Game-Pad 9/10
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