Block Blast: A Tale of Strength and Perseverance

By Minna Tatiyamaneekul

THIS IS AN OPINION ARTICLE, THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHOR DO NOT REFLECT WHAT THE INQUIRER BELIEVES AS AN ORGANIZATION.

Blockblast is something I have always felt regardless of the noise, flashy screens and the pesky ads. There is an energy that few grasp but many experience – for me, it goes by the name of Blockblast. It is more than just a game, not a simple instance of winning or losing. Rather, Blockblast is the embodiment of my life, the summation of my choices and hardships all in my quest to master the disorder around me.

Blockblast is the ultimate evaluation of one’s power of precision, timing and never giving up on anything and to me, it seems an accurate depiction of my life. Each block which hammers the ground is a hurdle on its own with little to no warning which seeks to engulf me. Focus, however, becomes hard the more complicated the structure and design is. The same goes for life, when one is busy with many things without realizing there is so much more in front of oneself. Even so, the game requires molding, progression and life. The onset of every game is simple, and, rest assured, why wouldn’t it be when all that is required is matching colors and shapes but soon after I found myself under the spell of the rhythm and ashing the blocks. This especially stood out to me: how my mental pattern would jumble everything together moving from point A to point Ba to Ba endlessly seeking logic in the chaos. With every wrong move I made I became more and more lost in the confusion and the more time I have wasted the more drag points I got. But regardless of all that confusion, it was the perfect time to learn.

Blockblast is also able to stay relevant in our times because of something it teaches: the power of perseverance. It is not about winning all the time or being right; it is the time when the blocks are too high, and the pressure builds or too many mistakes have been done. Just as in life, I also had to realize that not each defeat meant the end of everything. Each defeat was part of a process, preparing for something greater. It was to be in control again. To be able to try again despite the odds. What is most fascinating about Blockblast is also the most banal: it’s a deep and unending soundtrack of the rhythmic beats that compose my life, time, pace and competing forces. Every game of Blockblast is the different stage of one’s life that encapsulates raw determination and provocation to do better. The blocks, the colors, the sound - everything becomes a reflection of the inner chaos I try to control. And I am greatest when I fail to control. At that point, I am able to reach the most incredible conclusion: the best of us is not perfect and orderly, but rather a powerful and beautiful combination of failing and trying again.

Ultimately, Blockblast is no longer a simple game. It is representative of life for that too consists of highs and lows, accomplishments as well as failures. It is this game that has taught me how to enjoy the noise, how to be goal-oriented and, most importantly, how to never quit.