We have talked about the fact you can download games through the marketplace on the Xbox 360. In the forums we have talked about a few of the better games you can buy. Here we go with a review of the newest game to hit the 360 Arcade. Marble Blast Ultra at first will remind older players of the classic Marble Madness game which hit the arcades and later the home consoles. However, once you get past the first few levels, the game takes on its own feel and the only similarity is the fact you are controlling a marble.

The Marketplace and the Xbox Live Arcade has been a topic of heated discussion. Some think its a way for Microsoft to get more money and others love it for the convenience. I happen to fall into the second group and while I think a few games are a bit high in price, I have enjoyed the service. So the real question here is Marble Blast Ultra worth 800 market place points?

Gameplay

The game is made up of two parts; a single-player mode that contains 60 levels and a multi-player mode that uses ten maps. I will talk more about the multi-player mode in the Xbox Live section. The single-player mode starts off as a tutorial on how to play the game and uses the various power-ups and items that can be used to reach the higher parts of each level. In each level the goal is to reach the end gate in the fastest time. Now sometimes you may need to collect gems on the way to the finish line or activate levers that change the gravity and direction of the marble. Its part arcade game and part puzzle all rolled up into one.

The 60 levels are split into three levels of difficulty with 1-20 as beginner, 21-40 as intermediate and 41-60 as advanced. Just like all the games released for the 360 there are achievements you can earn and some are very simple to acquire. For example, reaching the end of a level below the par time will earn you an easy achievement. Then there is reaching all 20 of the beginner levels under the par time to unlock another one. The makers of the game also threw in Easter eggs. The first one is found on the third level. You grab it and unlock another achievement then find the other 19 hidden in the game to unlock a bigger achievement.

You also will need to master the power-ups found in the game like the ultra ball, mega jump and the speed blast. Several other power-ups can be found like turning back time by grabbing an hour glass and this will freeze time for five seconds for every one found. There is the simple blast to help reach slightly higher places and the mega blast that will make you fly higher. You also need to keep control of the marble and the course. Flying off the edge won’t cost you any lives but it takes time to re-spawn. In the beginner mode the courses are pretty easy to beat and then the game gets harder. At times you may need to climb a wall and need to roll over the right anti-gravity switch to go in that direction. It can get frustrating but there is a way through every level. Timing is the key and a steady hand is needed.

Most players will breeze through the first 40 levels pretty quickly but then find something they missed. You can go back and replay any level or even skip a level which I like. Overall, the gameplay is addictive and after a few levels most players will find it hard to stop playing. You will also need to use items like the gyro copter to reach a gem or the right ramp to go through next. Every level has something special and it may be an ice covered floor or pinball like bumpers that will knock your marble off course. It’s these small things that show how much work was taken to make the final game and certainly worth the 800 marketplace points to buy.

Control / Playability

The left analog stick controls the marble and speed while the right analog stick adjusts the camera angle. You have a blast meter that will fill up and can be used by hitting the right shoulder button. Every power-up found can be used by pulling the left trigger. The controls are well laid out and respond very well. It will take time to learn how to use the jump technique by pressing the A button and bouncing off the right area to grab a gem or fall into the right track to go on. Most players will get the hang of all the controls in about 30 minutes, a few tricks and techniques will take longer to learn or master. The multi-player mode, while it has the same controls, there is a different strategy and the best way to learn is just by playing against others. Overall the controls are great and well done.

Xbox Live

Marble Blast Ultra is one of the first games where you can play against those on your friends list. Most will allow you to play with a friend but not rank against them. The whole point of having a friends list is that those are the players you wish to play with. It makes sense that you should be able to make ranked matches and invite them to play. Not every game has this issue but most will only allow you to play and will not count towards the leader board. Now in the multi-player mode up to eight players all compete to get the most gems in the time period of the game. Red gems are worth 1 point, a yellow gem is worth 2 points, and a blue gem is worth 5 points.

Now the strategy changes here a bit. Instead of using the blast or ultra blast for just reaching a higher level on the map, you can use it to knock players off the level so you can grab the gems first. A whole new set of achievements can also be earned by playing this mode. The multi-player mode is also faster paced. Hopefully, they will offer new maps later as a free download since they can get a bit old after a while. The fact that they made the game different for the single-player and multi-player modes shows that the games developers wanted to make this one worth buying.

For those who have played online against others and have seen players with different looking marble and wonder how to change the look of theirs, all you need to do is go into the options. It’s on the same page as the leader board and how to play. You can pick one of 40 different looking marbles then hit A to save that look and the next game you will have that marble. This works for both the single-player and multi-player modes. Making or finding a game is easy as well as making a slot for friends and sending game invites. I noticed no lag at all while playing.

Graphics / Presentation

The graphics are good, especially the way the marbles look, however, the buildings and tracks seem to use the same style. At times it is a bit blocky looking but with the fast-paced action, it fits the theme. It may also have been purposely made this way to avoid long load times and possible lag. Since the multi-player game is very fast paced, I would have liked to see a few different styles used in the way the buildings or basic levels looked, but it is nothing that makes the game look bad. The effect of being blasted in the air looks realistic and the clouds add to this illusion. Overall the graphics are good but won’t push the limits of the Xbox 360’s power. While they used a blocky style to build the surroundings, the game looks smooth while playing so I had no major complaints.

Audio

The game only has one main techno-theme throughout the entire game. You will want to stream some of your own music in while playing. It fits the game but can get on your nerves after awhile. The announcer’s voice seems a bit generic as well but she is only there to tell you what power up you picked up. The sound effects of the blasts and the speed burst are well done. I just wish they would have created a few different types of sounds of the marbles rolling on the different surfaces. They tend to sound the same except for the ice levels. It’s not horrible but needed more and again maybe the developers focused more on the overall game and the two different modes instead of fancy sound effects. Overall, when compared to the other games available to buy in the Marketplace, it’s certainly worth the 800 points.

Replay Value

For fans of puzzle action games, this one will please most out there. They added some cool things like finding the hidden Easter eggs and the multi-player mode. Everyone will find something they enjoy in the game. Just like any other game on the market place, there is a free downloadable demo. Although the demos really won’t allow you to experience everything, it will show you what to expect to a point.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 7.9/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

While the game would have benefited from more enhanced graphics and sound effects, it’s a solid title. It’s fun and addictive and offers a chance to not just complete the single player and be done but compete against friends and others in a faster paced setting. For fans of this type of game the 800 points will seem cheap. It’s not a cake walk and the multi-player games can get pretty intense. It shows that they are trying to add different games and is not just another ported arcade shooter. The game has some complicated and great mazes. All in all Marble Blast Ultra shows something different and I liked that.

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