This week's arcade archives release is the puzzle shoot 'em up Block Hole by Konami. It's available now on the Switch eShop.
Block Hole was originally launched in Japanese arcades in 1989 and was sold in this region as Quarth. Home version releases, like the 1990 Game Boy title, went with the name Quarth globally.
Here's what the latest Hamster game has to offer, along with some screenshots and a video:
"BLOCK HOLE" is a puzzle shooter game released by KONAMI in 1989. Shoot blocks as they descend from above, and form them into rectangular shapes to clear them from the screen. It's possible to create huge rectangular shapes to clear many blocks at once. Try to be as efficient as possible!
As usual, this will set you back $7.99 or your regional equivalent. Will you be adding this to your Switch HOME Menu? Leave a comment down below.
Comments 25
Eh...!
I got this today as I own Quarth on the GameBoy. Great mix of Shmup and Puzzle game! If you enjoyed Super Star Path, you'll enjoy this!
Did Europe get the Game Boy version standalone as "Quarth" or was it only on the Game Boy Color Konami GB Collections as "Block Game"?
Hard to imagine they'd give that version such a generic title if it were already released. (I think Motocross Maniacs also got reduced to "Bikers" over there? )
Hmm... Something about this game makes it sound tempting. 🤔
@KingMike Sadly I don't think we ever got a standalone release of it on Game Boy here in Europe. I only have it on a Japanese cartridge, but my goal is to find a CIB American version.
I don't buy many of the Switch arcade games as they're a little overpriced I think (only have Puzzle Bobble 2 for now) but this one actually looks interesting and different.
Quarth is a much better title. The other one reminds me too much of when my wife says she's not in the mood.
Looks interesting. And it wasn't even announced nor available on PS4 before. Keep surprising us, Hamster.
Ohhh. This is one of the bonus games in SNES Mystical Ninja, isn't it. Well. It looks like it anyway xD
@mandlecreed Quarth's visual style was reused in Mystical Ninja, but it's not the same gameplay.
A modified version of Quarth is available in the Goemon DS game though.
It's Quarth! I'm so happy!
I’ll download it in a sale. No ACA Arcade Archive game has tempted me yet to pay full price for, but I am always interested in seeing which games are released.
It's like voyage dans la lune meets tetris meets space invaders... and none of it tempts me. I'm sure some people like it for the nostalgia but it's a hard pass for this guy.
Quarth and Qix are both great GB games, but I prefer Qix. Arcade Qix would be a day one purchase for me, but I may buy this eventually.
@Clyde_Radcliffe Most are overpriced. I bought the DK games. It is really nice to play the arcade versions of those. I also bought Moon Patrol since it is a personal favorite.
But your point stands, they are too expensive. Namco Museum at full price is only about $3 per game. The Konami Arcade Classics at full price is $2.50 a game.
This game is an underrated classic. I found it hard to care that it was priced $8 when the game itself is too fun for me to wait for a sale.
Some may think it's redundant but I was always really stimulated anytime I got a good session going.
I didn't realize that the rocket ship is operated by naked fairies, until looking at the Famicom cover art.
(it wasn't really easy to tell what that was from the FC or GB pixel art)
@mandlecreed You may be thinking of Off The Wall. The graphics are similar but that minigame is more like Breakout or Arkanoid.
@Quarth Hamster can actually thank you for my purchase of the game. After first seeing your avatar, I looked the game up out of curiosity.
@Tandy255 How do you find the Donkey Kongs compare to the NES versions? I think my favourite one (Donkey Kong Jr) is probably better on the NES App as it still has all the levels but uses the whole screen instead of that vertical format.
Yeah, most of the game I'd only buy on sale but if some of my favourites like Midnight Resistance or Rainbow Islands show up I'd probably pay full price for them as I did Puzzle Bobble 2.
@Clyde_Radcliffe I prefer the arcade versions over the NES versions, but that is a good point on DK Jr.
With the Arcade Archives version, you also get the different releases. So you can play the Japan version of DK with all four levels available at the start of the game (like the version included within DK64).
With the US/International version, you only get two levels the first time and three levels the second time. If you are still alive for a third play through, then you finally get to play the cement factory level.
@Elvie You have convinced me to pull the trigger on this one!
@DrDaisy Glad to hear! It's a charming game, for sure!
@Tandy255 I hope you enjoy it. This is a bit of a "you either like it or hate it" kind of game.
Personally, I think it's fantastic at encouraging efficiency, timing, and light amounts of creativity in clearing these blocks.
I also suggest to check out the G.B. version on 3DS if you end up liking this as it adds power-ups which offer up some cool strategies.
Hamster is obviously collaborating with Konami, so why don't they put out Mystic Warriors and Wild West Cowboys? Those are among the top five arcade games of the nineties.
@Quarth I think I prefer the Game Boy version because it has more ships and it doesn't speed up as fast as the arcade one. I bought the GB port on 3DS almost immediately after Elvie's comment reminded me of it. I hope Konami makes some more Quarth games in the future... Even if they have to change the name.
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