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Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH cover

Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH

DOH is back, and the Vaus is ready for round two. Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH is Taito's 1987 block-breaker sequel β€” bigger, with branching warp gates, new brick types, and a fresh wave of power-ups β€” and you can play the full NES version right here in your browser, free and with no download. Bounce, break, and choose your path to the final showdown. Hit the Play button to launch, and read on for the gameplay, controls, and tips.

What Is Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH?

Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH (also just Arkanoid II) is a block-breaker arcade game released by Taito in 1987 as the sequel to the hugely successful Arkanoid, later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and home computers. The mysterious enemy DOH has returned for vengeance against the Vaus space vessel, and you must once again pilot the paddle, clear the bricks, and destroy DOH for good.

The big new wrinkle: branching paths. Revenge of DOH spans 34 rounds drawn from a pool of 64 β€” and your choices along the way decide which stages you actually play, giving the game far more variety and replay value than the original.

What's New

Revenge of DOH expands the Arkanoid formula in several ways:

  • Warp Gates β€” when you finish a level or catch the Break ('B') pill, two gates appear at the bottom corners. Choose a gate, and your choice determines which version of the next level you get β€” creating branching routes through the game.
  • New brick types β€” notched silver bricks take several hits and then regenerate after a short time (you don't have to destroy them to finish a level), and some bricks move side to side as long as their path is clear.
  • New power-ups and enemies β€” fresh capsule effects and obstacles join the mix.
  • A mini-boss β€” on round 17 you face a giant brain before pressing on.
  • A two-form final boss β€” after the final rounds, DOH appears first in its statue-like form, then as a creature with tentacles that break off and regenerate when struck.
  • Level editor β€” home versions let you build, edit, and replace your own levels.

How the Gameplay Works

At heart it's still classic Arkanoid β€” move the Vaus, bounce the ball, clear the breakable bricks, and catch falling capsules for power-ups like expand, laser, catch, slow, and multi-ball. The fire button is used when you've caught the Laser ('L') or Catch ('C') pill. What sets the sequel apart is the decision-making: which warp gate to take, and how to handle regenerating and moving bricks.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and Arkanoid II loads directly in your browser β€” free, with nothing to install. Then:

  1. Move the Vaus and launch the ball into the bricks.
  2. Catch power-up capsules for lasers, catch, expand, and more.
  3. Clear the breakable bricks to finish each round.
  4. Choose a warp gate at the end of a level to pick your path.
  5. Beat the mini-boss and DOH's two forms to win.

Arkanoid II plays great on both desktop and mobile. On a computer you use the keyboard (and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad you connect is detected automatically and maps to the NES layout), while on phones and tablets you get a custom on-screen gamepad styled just like a real NES controller β€” so steering the Vaus feels right wherever you play.

Controls

Here's what each control does, mapped to your keyboard:

ActionControl
Move Vaus Left / RightLeft / Right Arrows
Launch Ball / Fire Laser / Release CatchZ (A) or X (B)
PauseEnter (Start)

The fire button launches the ball and is also used with the Laser and Catch power-ups. A connected gamepad uses the same button assignments.

Tips for New Players

  • Plan your warp gate. Each gate leads to a different next level β€” over repeated runs you'll learn which paths suit your strengths.
  • Ignore regenerating silvers when you can. Notched silver bricks come back and don't need to be destroyed to clear a level β€” don't waste the ball chasing them.
  • Grab Catch on hard layouts. Holding and re-aiming the ball is invaluable when bricks are moving or regenerating.
  • Watch moving bricks. Some bricks slide side to side β€” time your shots for when they line up with a clear path.
  • Save lasers for the bosses. The Laser power-up makes the giant brain and DOH far more manageable.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

Arkanoid II: Revenge of DOH is the bigger, bolder block breaker β€” branching paths and new brick tricks give it serious replay value. Running the NES version right here means no cartridge hunting and no console setup: just press Play and start bouncing. Because it's the genuine NES build, you get the warp-gate branching, the new bricks and power-ups, and DOH's two-form finale exactly as Taito designed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arkanoid II free to play here? Yes. Press Play and the full NES game loads in your browser β€” no cost, no account, no download.

When did Arkanoid II come out? It released in arcades in 1987 as the sequel to Arkanoid, and was ported to the NES and home computers. The version here is the NES release.

What are the warp gates? At the end of a level (or when you catch the Break pill), two gates appear β€” choosing one decides which version of the next level you play, creating branching paths through the game's 64 possible rounds.

How is it different from the first Arkanoid? It adds branching warp gates, regenerating and moving bricks, new power-ups and enemies, a mini-boss, and a two-form final battle with DOH.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. It plays great on mobile thanks to a custom on-screen gamepad modeled on the classic NES controller, and just as well on desktop with the keyboard or a connected gamepad.

Ready for round two with DOH? Press Play and launch the ball.