The Battlement

The Basics

Move your paddle left and right to bounce the ball upward. Break all the bricks to clear the level. The board features 6 colored rows of bricks, each worth different point values. Top rows are worth more than bottom rows. Lose all your lives and the game is over.

Row Point Values

The 6 rows of bricks are color-coded from bottom to top, with higher rows worth significantly more points:

• Row 1 (bottom, red) — 1 point per brick
• Row 2 (orange) — 2 points per brick
• Row 3 (yellow) — 3 points per brick
• Row 4 (green) — 4 points per brick
• Row 5 (blue) — 5 points per brick
• Row 6 (top, purple) — 7 points per brick

Clearing only the bottom rows gives you a fraction of the possible score. The real points come from punching through to the purple row at the top.

Level Progression

When you clear all bricks on the board, a new level begins with a fresh set of bricks. The ball speed increases slightly with each new level, making subsequent boards progressively harder. Your score carries over between levels, so a skilled player who clears multiple boards can rack up enormous totals.

Lives also carry over. If you started with 5 lives and clear level 1 with 4 remaining, you begin level 2 with those 4 lives. Conserving lives early pays dividends in later, faster levels.

Paddle Angle Mechanics

Where the ball hits your paddle determines the angle of the bounce. This is the single most important mechanic for controlling the game:

• Center of the paddle — the ball bounces straight up. Predictable but hard to target specific bricks.
• Edge of the paddle — the ball bounces at a steep angle. Use this to aim the ball into gaps in the brick wall or target the high-value top rows.
• Extreme edge — the sharpest possible angle. Risky because the ball moves more horizontally, but essential for clearing stubborn corner bricks.

Mastering paddle angles is what separates beginners from expert players. Practice deliberately hitting the ball with different parts of the paddle to learn how each position affects the trajectory.

• Touch & drag to move the paddle left and right (touch devices)
• Arrow keys to move the paddle (keyboard)
• Speed selector (1–4) to set the ball speed before starting
• Lives selector (1 / 3 / 5) to choose how many lives you start with

• Punch a channel to the top. Focus on clearing a vertical path through the lower rows so the ball can reach the purple row (7 points each). One brick at the top is worth seven at the bottom.
• Use paddle edges to aim. Hitting the ball with the edge of your paddle sends it at a sharper angle, giving you control over where it goes. Use this to target specific gaps or corner bricks.
• Let the ball work above the bricks. Once the ball breaks through to the top, it will bounce between the ceiling and the remaining bricks, clearing them rapidly. Your job is to keep it from falling, not to aim precisely.
• Start at a comfortable speed. Use the speed selector to find a pace that suits you. Master the slower speeds before ramping up for a greater challenge.
• Conserve lives for later levels. The ball speeds up each level. Lives you save in level 1 become invaluable in level 3 and beyond.
• Stay centered after each return. After bouncing the ball, drift your paddle back toward the center. This maximizes your coverage for the next return.