satisfying as hell, gets insanely hard as you approach the later chapters but surely one day
Peak marble game. I got diamond times on every level, I collected all of the treasures from every level, I speedran the game for a while... Yeah, I like this a lot.
Basically Marble Blast, but bits of it didn't get me into it as much. Don't think there's as much content, and the music wasn't as good. Liked what I played though.
I haven't reviewed Marble Blast Ultra, but it's honestly a top 10 3D Platformer. Great presentation, simple yet fun movement, and good variety make it a great time.
In a lot of ways, this is more of the same. It's extremely derivative of Marble Blast Ultra. Many mechanics are taken directly from that one. Now, I'll give this somewhat of a pass, since, if you didn't know, that game is delisted from any online retail, and the developers lost the rights to the game. Maybe they just wanted to deliver the same kind of experience for a modern audience, and I get that.
Even with that excuse, there is one bad change here: The lack of the chargeable shockwave jump. I thought this was an excellent move in Ultra, as it simultaneously lowered the skill floor and raised the skill ceiling. New players could wait to get some extra height, and veteran players could use it to sequence break at least once a level. This worked great in a game where completion speed was the main replay value.
Marble It Up! ditches this entirely, and offers nothing new in return. And ultimately, that's the only notable gameplay change. The level design is somewhat different, but not notably better or worse. The visuals shifted from 'Early Windows Aesthetic' to Vaporwave, and there's finally more than one song, but the gameplay is ever so slightly worse.
There is one way this game does exceed Marble Blast Ultra: The impact from online connectivity. There's a level creator and weekly challenges, which is really cool, but most fan levels won't be up to par and the community challenges reuse the main levels.
Once again, I'd be pretty upset at the lack of ambition if not for the very specific circumstance this series is in. Hopefully, a sequel would take more risks if it ever comes to fruition. For now, while this is a good game, I'd recommend everyone play the fan PC port of Marble Blast Ultra first. 7/10.
In a lot of ways, this is more of the same. It's extremely derivative of Marble Blast Ultra. Many mechanics are taken directly from that one. Now, I'll give this somewhat of a pass, since, if you didn't know, that game is delisted from any online retail, and the developers lost the rights to the game. Maybe they just wanted to deliver the same kind of experience for a modern audience, and I get that.
Even with that excuse, there is one bad change here: The lack of the chargeable shockwave jump. I thought this was an excellent move in Ultra, as it simultaneously lowered the skill floor and raised the skill ceiling. New players could wait to get some extra height, and veteran players could use it to sequence break at least once a level. This worked great in a game where completion speed was the main replay value.
Marble It Up! ditches this entirely, and offers nothing new in return. And ultimately, that's the only notable gameplay change. The level design is somewhat different, but not notably better or worse. The visuals shifted from 'Early Windows Aesthetic' to Vaporwave, and there's finally more than one song, but the gameplay is ever so slightly worse.
There is one way this game does exceed Marble Blast Ultra: The impact from online connectivity. There's a level creator and weekly challenges, which is really cool, but most fan levels won't be up to par and the community challenges reuse the main levels.
Once again, I'd be pretty upset at the lack of ambition if not for the very specific circumstance this series is in. Hopefully, a sequel would take more risks if it ever comes to fruition. For now, while this is a good game, I'd recommend everyone play the fan PC port of Marble Blast Ultra first. 7/10.
Fun successor to the Marble Blast series. It was a lot of fun to compete for best times against family members. The new powerups were fun as well. Although I still hate the gem levels.
I thought Marble It Up! was a solid successor to Marble Blast Ultra, but found it a bit underwhelming compared to it as well.
I got it on Switch and PC, and found the PC version to be a more enjoyable experience with the wealth of Steam Workshop levels at your disposal.
I got it on Switch and PC, and found the PC version to be a more enjoyable experience with the wealth of Steam Workshop levels at your disposal.
it's marbin' time
Good return to form and one of the most satisfying 100% I've ever done.
i love marble based video games.
where’s mega marble nintendo
One of my all-time favorite games, Marble Blast Ultra, got a true spiritual successor this year from the team behind the original. It was a solid effort for the most part. I was impressed that the Switch version ran at 60 FPS and that the physics-based marble platforming still feels extremely good all the years later. The big issue is that the game lacked any real challenge until the closing dozen stages or so, which makes the game feel lopsided and too easy. It’s also sparse in the content department, but with free DLC on the horizon, I’ll pop in for some marble platforming in 2019.
a perfect game until a really bad last world
Schmovemet on the best levels kicks ass. Not enough best levels.
Really fun if you don't care about getting the best times.
If you do care then prepare to witness/commit a lot of exploiting.
Trying to find all the secret Marble skins was the best.
If you do care then prepare to witness/commit a lot of exploiting.
Trying to find all the secret Marble skins was the best.
Don't let anyone know this but I think this is better than Monkey Ball.
very fun game!! satisfying physics and fun level design!
Marble It Up has quick addicting levels and extra satisfying marble physics. You'll endlessly attempt stages to get that perfect clear time or scratch your head as you puzzle your way through collecting unique marble cosmetics. Overall, it's an impressive game that even for newcomers to the series like me, makes this exceptionally fun. It surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. NameBrand
As mentioned, I'm a newcomer to this series, but I suppose I have dabbled in the "genre" a bit with the likes of Monkey Ball. I didn't have too many high expectations for it going in, but they were exceeded! Once I started playing I got hooked until I completed the game. Some levels are so slick, so fast, and so satisfying, that I imagine it would be difficult to not find many of the levels here as fun.
The only issues that I seemed to come across were some longer-than-expected load times, and there were a few times when the physics acted up and did something I thought wasn't entirely fair, either because it reacted in a way that I had not seen up to that point, or there was randomly inconsistent object collision. But those instances were few, and overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable experience.
I'm not always the type of person who "tries for world records" or anything, but I did make sure I earned the platinum/ace ranks for each track. Some of the levels I played multiple times… just for fun. Especially the tracks that give you a dizzying sense of speed… Which strangely reminded me of the best of the 3D Sonic games. It's so cool how they were able to pull off such a realistic sense of velocity as you zip around half-pipes and down mountains. It's something you have to experience for yourself.
There's a wide variety of levels, all lightly themed, and all varying in difficulty. In the later stages, I found myself stuck on a couple of difficult tracks for quite some time, but it was nothing entirely unreasonable, all of which I eventually conquered. On that same note of difficulty, even some of the weekly challenges are pretty accessible. But to REALLY master the "tech" in this game… and get some of those other marble colors and such… those are conundrums that I have no idea about. The skill ceiling is incredibly high, so much so that I can't fathom it. It's crazy. I think some people will get hooked on that.
But if you're just casually coming in like me and hoping for a good time with some fun platforming with marble physics, I'm here to let you know that you'll have a good time. Gets my recommendation.
As mentioned, I'm a newcomer to this series, but I suppose I have dabbled in the "genre" a bit with the likes of Monkey Ball. I didn't have too many high expectations for it going in, but they were exceeded! Once I started playing I got hooked until I completed the game. Some levels are so slick, so fast, and so satisfying, that I imagine it would be difficult to not find many of the levels here as fun.
The only issues that I seemed to come across were some longer-than-expected load times, and there were a few times when the physics acted up and did something I thought wasn't entirely fair, either because it reacted in a way that I had not seen up to that point, or there was randomly inconsistent object collision. But those instances were few, and overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable experience.
I'm not always the type of person who "tries for world records" or anything, but I did make sure I earned the platinum/ace ranks for each track. Some of the levels I played multiple times… just for fun. Especially the tracks that give you a dizzying sense of speed… Which strangely reminded me of the best of the 3D Sonic games. It's so cool how they were able to pull off such a realistic sense of velocity as you zip around half-pipes and down mountains. It's something you have to experience for yourself.
There's a wide variety of levels, all lightly themed, and all varying in difficulty. In the later stages, I found myself stuck on a couple of difficult tracks for quite some time, but it was nothing entirely unreasonable, all of which I eventually conquered. On that same note of difficulty, even some of the weekly challenges are pretty accessible. But to REALLY master the "tech" in this game… and get some of those other marble colors and such… those are conundrums that I have no idea about. The skill ceiling is incredibly high, so much so that I can't fathom it. It's crazy. I think some people will get hooked on that.
But if you're just casually coming in like me and hoping for a good time with some fun platforming with marble physics, I'm here to let you know that you'll have a good time. Gets my recommendation.
played due to nostalgia from playing Marble Blast Ultra as a youngin combined with recommendation from Patricia Taxxon (https://youtu.be/ejz5JUIjhjw). mostly played to kill time and was not entirely sure if I was really having fun. inherits all of the shitty level archetypes from previous games, even the gravity puzzle gem collection ones which i kind of like even though they're not very fun. not really sure the devs understand the parts of this genre that are actually fun. really all levels should either just embrace tough-as-shit 3D ball precision platforming or be the fuck-off huge hill levels where you get to reach absurd speeds. those are the only fun level archetypes in my experience.
way too short for its own good
marble go weee