Parents' Guide to Micro Breaker

This pinball-like game features impressive 3D graphics and sounds, but levels come with unclear goals and tasks, which is very confusing. Players use a paddle in the lower half of the screen in Micro Breaker to shoot a ball at objects, which explode as it hits them. As it ricochets back, they can use the paddle to hit it in another direction. Special items occasionally float down the screen, offering advantages such as the ability to fire lasers at remaining blocks if you catch them. You earn credits as you play, which can be spent on things like an extra ball.

While the gameplay is fairly simple, there's hardly any written guidance, which could make the game appealing for younger kids. But the complexity of in-app currency and other game elements may spark some confusion, since clear explanations of how these work aren't always given. Players can purchase some extra boosts to help with gameplay, but they don't need to. They may find their energy replenishes and lasts, and they can also replay levels to charge the batteries -- the game's form of energy. There are a few drawbacks to the design. Players don't always have a ton of control over the ball; it sometimes seems to drift into or toward objects, which can be to the player's benefit, yet it also makes the game feel a bit less challenging. Subsequent taps of the paddle will speed the ball up, but when you first shoot it, it typically starts out moving slowly. Some levels have time goals, and players will see messages telling them to hurry up, but there's no timer or other indication of how long they've been playing or how much time is left on the clock. You also have to pause to watch ads fairly frequently, and some are lengthy, which can really slow things down. If you're willing to wait, though, the array of different cube designs; modern, glowing 3D visuals; and periodic power-up extras can make Micro Breaker an enticing game option -- even if it's one with numerous pauses and some elements that are unclear.