Sega's Woody Pop is a Breakout clone that must be included in every system. Following the success of Taito's Arkanoid, Sega developed this game to cater to the demand for arcade-style games in the mid-eighties. Woody Pop is a unique take on the genre.
In Woody Pop, you control Woody, a wooden paddle that can bounce a ball against bricks laid out in a house filled with toys. The twist is that some bricks are "mystery" and will release wind-up toy soldiers or robots when hit, obstructing your ball. A toy train also appears on some levels, adding an extra layer of challenge. When you miss the ball, it might bounce back in the corners, providing a new route to try.
What sets Woody Pop apart from other games is its non-linear design. Once a room is cleared, you can choose between up to three adjacent rooms to progress, making the game less linear than usual.
The game features a range of power-ups released from special blocks. These include familiar items like the double-ball and growing bat, as well as some invented by Sega, such as the fire ball, which sets blocks on fire, and the big ball, which hits bricks with more power.