Game:

Blockout (1989)

Duration: 18:32

140 views

5

This video contains flashing parts when scoring blockouts (clearing the face[s] on field without leaving any leftovers behind.) You have been warned. Also, excuse if there is any audio and video syncing issue in this gameplay.

Pit Type: 4x5x8
Block Set: Flat
Speed Level: 6
Music: D [My top favorite BGM of the port.]

Due to the footage's frame rate, only four of the five numbers on the bonus points (10000 for example) are visible in this video. In an actual frame rate of the game, one should be able to see all five digits flickering because of the NES sprite limitation.

Personally, Speed Lv. 6 gives a better advantage in moving the pieces at the beginning of the game as well as suiting my most recent experience at it. Any level higher than that will make it difficult to react faster due to its increasing drop speed. My own "endpoint" for placing polycubes efficiently is at Speed Lv. 25. When the block drops down too fast that there isn't even a chance to move it quick enough, this is where a really good strategy must be planned ahead of the time: to score many blockouts as possible before reaching to Speed 20. The arcade version at least gives a better opportunity to "fix" the polycube's position a bit more prior to locking them in place.

Bonus points shown in this gameplay are exclusive in Single Player's Mode A. Scoring these points (10000, 20000, 30000, etc.) requires getting five block outs for each bonus during the gameplay, earned by clearing all faces in the field, leaving the pit as empty as in the starting point.

Strangely, 1P Mode A is the only chance that scoring high enough means a different ending. 200k points or more will reward the player with a lizard mascot flying into space to see the Block Master in addition to the game credits. [Someone else witnessed this later ending first. If only 1P Mode B would give a better ending by clearing higher stages instead of depending on the score.]

And of course, by using the flat block set, it makes things easier to get block outs and bonus points. Plus they give higher values than the score earned for clearing multiple faces.

Anyhow, just a typical gameplay on the "simplest" settings (4x5x8 with flat block set). I wish they would implement the ability to change the background at ease. Though, this American Flag BG (4x5x8 pit) is the only one(?) that has an animated star easter egg when pausing the game. This was before I recognized later on that the animation can only be triggered by having the same last two digits of the score prior to pausing.

Otherwise, that's all for the thoughts beneath this silly attempt. I wonder how many more of these small interesting details one can discover within this unreleased port. Quite a lot of mysteries...

Block Out, including the NES port, belongs to its respectful owners.
Recorded on March 3, 2023 using Xbox Game Bar. Video cropped with VLC Media Player.
Gameplay: Rage Sigma

Other Statistics