Alleyway
↗ 38%
😐 5.8/10
(GameBoy - US, Arcade)
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Developed_By:
Nintendo
Published_By:
Nintendo
Released On:
21 Apr 1989
Alleyway, a Breakout variant, puts you in the shoes of Mario as he navigates through increasingly difficult levels using his podship to deflect a ball towards clusters of blocks.
The goal is to destroy all the blocks by hitting them with the ball, which will either weaken or completely remove them. As you progress through the game, the challenges become more intense, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking to succeed.
Gameplay involves using the podship to control the direction of the ball and aim for the clusters of blocks, while also dealing with obstacles such as horizontal rotation and periodic vertical drops of the entire mass of blocks. With its simple yet addictive gameplay, Alleyway is a must-play experience for fans of Breakout and classic arcade games.
UPC-A:
045496730017 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
1038 (United States)
Nintendo Media PN:
DMG-AW-CAN (Canada)
Nintendo Media PN:
DMG-AW-USA (United States)
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Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Prices as of 19 Sep 2026
Typical $49.98–$54.64 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
How to Play
Game Outline
In "Alleyway," the objective is to hit a descending ball with a paddle to demolish blocks at the top of the screen. Clearing all blocks advances you to the next stage.
The game has 32 stages. If all stages are cleared, the game ends with a fanfare. If the paddle misses the ball, a miss occurs, and the number of remaining paddles decreases by one. The game ends if a miss occurs when no paddles are left.
Using the Controller
Control Pad
•
Moves the paddle left and right.
•
Up and Down are not used.
A Button
•
Press to release the ball.
•
Hold down while using the Control Pad to move the paddle at high speed.
B Button
•
Hold down while using the Control Pad to move the paddle at low speed.
START Button
•
Press from the title screen to start the game.
Pause Function
•
Press the START Button to pause the game.
•
Press the START Button again to resume playing.
•
The pause function cannot be used during the bonus stage.
SELECT Button
•
This button cannot be used during a game.
Reset Function
•
To reset the game, press the SELECT Button together with the START Button. This returns you to the title screen.
Title Screen
•
ALLEYWAY
•
TOP SCORE 0200
•
PUSH START KEY
•
©1989 Nintendo
Screen Explanation
•
Present score indication
•
A character appears if your score is over 10,000 points.
•
Unbreakable blocks
•
Highest score
•
TOP 0200
•
SCORE 0000
•
Breakable block
•
STAGE 01
•
Present stage
•
Ball
•
Number of paddles remaining
•
Unbreakable blocks don't appear from stage 4.
•
The high score is erased when the power is switched off.
Block Types and Scores
•
White block: 1 point
•
Gray block: 2 points
•
Black block: 3 points
•
Unbreakable block: (These blocks are always on screen whether or not the screen is cleared.)
•
When the ball hits the gray or black blocks it moves faster.
•
Starting in Stage 4, when the ball hits the ceiling, the paddle becomes shorter.
Playing the Game
•
When the power is turned ON, "Nintendo®" will appear, followed by the title screen.
•
Press the Start Button.
•
Stage 1 will appear. Next, press the A Button. The ball will appear and the game will begin.
•
If the paddle misses the ball, press the A Button again to bring the next ball onto the screen. You can play on until you have used up the remaining paddles shown on the bottom right of the screen.
•
Each time your score rises by 1,000 points, the number of remaining paddles increases by one. There is no further increase if you already have 9 remaining paddles or after your score is over 10,000 points.
How the Stages Are Arranged
Alleyway has 4 game patterns, called "stages." Each time you clear a stage, you progress to the next. The game has 24 stages plus 8 bonus stages, for a total of 32. Clearing all stages results in a fanfare and the end screen.
Pattern 1: Normal Block Screen
•
This is the basic screen pattern. Demolish all breakable blocks.
•
After clearing, you move on to the scrolling block screen.
Pattern 2: Scrolling Block Screen
•
Blocks move back and forth across the screen regularly. Aim to destroy the breakable blocks.
•
The next stage is the advancing block screen.
Pattern 3: Advancing Block Screen
•
Sometimes, when the ball bounces off the paddle, the blocks descend one step.
•
Just before they reach the paddle, the descending blocks disappear. Play skillfully to destroy all blocks quickly.
•
Clearing this screen leads to a bonus stage.
Pattern 4: Bonus Stage
•
In this stage, try to break as many blocks as you can within a fixed time limit (displayed on screen).
•
If all blocks are cleared before time is up, a special bonus is added to your score.
•
Missing the ball in a bonus stage does not count as a miss; the stage simply finishes.
•
When time is up, the bonus stage finishes, and you progress to the next Pattern 1 type stage (except for the final stage).
Tips & Maps
Master paddle movement
Get used to how fast the paddle moves when the Control Pad is pressed.
The ball moves according to a fixed pattern.
When the ball hits a block or wall, it bounces off at the same angle. If you can correctly predict this movement, it becomes easier to hit the ball.
Use the A and B Buttons effectively
By matching the paddle speed to the ball's movement, you'll be able to return the ball easily.
Button control should be relaxed
The secrets are concentration and reflex action. Operate the buttons in a relaxed manner.
Make use of the snap technique.
Change the direction of movement at the exact moment the ball hits the paddle.
Hit with the end of the paddle.
If you are very careful, you can hit the ball with the end of paddle. This changes the ball's direction of movement.
By operating the paddle in the direction opposite that of the ball's movement, you can vary the direction the ball progresses.
By operating the paddle in the direction opposite that of the ball's movement, you can vary the direction the ball progresses.
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