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| | Title:
Marble Blast Ultra
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System:
Xbox Live Arcade
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Genre:
Platformer
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Publisher:
GarageGames
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Developer:
Garage Games
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Release:
1/26/2006
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
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Being a big fan and early adopter of the Super Monkey Ball franchise, I was quick to download Marble Blast Ultra when it was released on the Xbox Live Arcade. Marble Blast provides a fun and long lasting single player experience, as well as an adequate Xbox Live multiplayer game. At 800 points (roughly $10) it’s hard to say no to this frustrating, yet extremely fun Arcade title.
The inevitable comparison to Super Monkey Ball will always be apparent, so allow me to address that now: this game isn’t Super Monkey Ball, but it sure plays a lot like it. Whereas Super Monkey Ball had a more clearly defined path for you to traverse, Marble Blast allows you to accomplish your goal on the sixty included levels however you wish. You’ll generally be doing one of two things on each level: collecting a certain number of gems and then racing to the finish, or simply racing to the finish. The premise is simple, but as you get to the later levels (those being the ones you find on the Intermediate and Advanced difficulties, which are comprised of levels 21-40 and 41-60, respectively) you’ll find yourself vexed as to how you’re going to reach the end. At certain points, it seems like reaching the end is impossible, or worse, you’ll be sent into a controller-breaking rage. However, the satisfaction for completing one of these difficult levels is more than enough justification for the frustration it may have caused.
Powerups are scattered throughout certain levels, including the superjump, superspeed and gyrocopter, each of which is essential to your victory. Various environmental hazards are also apparent, including bumpers, fans, and a number of different surfaces for you to travel over with your ball. Each level is designated with a par time, although you don’t actually need to pay any attention to it. For the hardcore players, however, achievements are available for those who can defeat each level under par, which is no easy feat.
The controls are simple and intuitive; after spending a minute or two with the controller in your hand, controlling your ball will become second nature. The left stick controls your ball, while the right stick steers the camera. Your left and right triggers act as a jump button and powerup button respectively, and the bumpers activate the blast.
Your initial impression of the blast may be that it’s a weak move that can help give a small boost to your jump - but you would be sorely mistaken to think that. The blast can actually help to pull off some insane moves, and to finish levels with seemingly impossible times (think less than 4 seconds for a level with a par of more than a minute.) Casual players may never find themselves taking advantage of the power of the blast, but for the aforementioned hardcore players, it adds another layer of depth and replayability to the game. I personally loved trying to look for loopholes on each level, and then taking advantage of them while a friend watched in awe.
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