Mondrian - Abstraction in Beauty Demo

Breakout games are not exceedingly popular nowadays, unless you count mobile versions that keep people busy for a few minutes every now and again. They used to be a lot more common back in the day, especially among console gamers. On the other hand, a brick breaking game could still cause some waves even today, at least if it features some new and engaging features.

Mondrian - Abstraction in Beauty is a circular block breaking game, which means that it at least tries to change things around a little bit. On top of that, it also features a lot of video game art history, which is great if you want to learn more on the subject. However, this is a casual game meant to help you relax, so you won’t find the challenge you’re looking for if you are a classic block breaker fan.

The circular levels give way to some interesting concepts and ideas, such as new paddle designs and walls that prevent the ball from escaping. In fact, most of the time you do not even have to worry about the ball at all, because it just bounces around on its on. Your only concern is to collect the gems and gather as many of them as you can, because they are used to unlock new paddles, levels and backgrounds.

Most levels are randomly generated using various patterns and block types, which means that there’s no shortage of content. On the other hand, there are not too many ways to arrange a blob of blocks at the center of a circle, so the levels can still get pretty repetitive. Thankfully, the game is not meant to be played over long periods of time, but more of an occasional distraction for when you need one.

There are some bugs to watch out for as well, although it’s quite difficult to tell sometimes, given the abstract nature of the game. It’s also worth noting that the controls are rather weird, especially with a mouse, since you have to move the paddle a full 360 degrees. Instead of simply moving the mouse around, the game forces you to use the buttons instead, one for each direction. It gets easier after a while, but it’s not the best solution to the problem.

When it’s all said and done, Mondrian - Abstraction in Beauty is not as polished as it needs to be to attract serious gamers, but it’s nice enough to keep the less serious players engaged. The unlockable content is a great way to encourage them to keep playing.