Edge
Each time the ball hits the edge of the screen, you lose a point of health. When all five points are gone, it is game over. Lost health does regenerate over time, thankfully.
Reacting
As with any brick-breaker, anticipate where the ball is heading and move the paddle preemptively. Reacting to where the ball is means you are responding too late and will ultimately miss bouncing it back.
Stages
Some stages require hitting white panels in order to access the gem in the centre. Be careful when doing this, though, since white panels also trigger special effects that can help or hinder you.
