Marble Blast Ultra

Sometimes, the simplest games can be the most fun, and that's something that Marble Blast Ultra proves in spades. In this easygoing action game, you control a lonely marble that must roll its way from one end of the stage to the finish without falling off the edges. Luckily, with the use of some power-ups and crafty movement, you can hop, skip, and bounce your way to victory. Careful though, as there are various obstacles in your way, and one wrong move can spell instant defeat. With its remarkably straightforward concept that anyone can understand, Marble Blast Ultra is a perfect arcade-style game for any kind of gamer.

Main Game Features

• Roll your marble through challenging courses
• Single-player and online multiplayer
• Over 60 levels to beat

Basic Gameplay

Like the best arcade games of all time, Marble Blast Ultra presents players with a simple challenge. Controlling a sleek, fast-moving marble, you must dodge obstacles and roll through winding courses as you try to reach the end of the stage as fast as possible. Bonuses can be found for those who are looking closely, including both collectibles and power-ups. Power-ups are a great help, especially as the levels get more challenging, giving you a major edge in times of need. As a sequel to Marble Blast Gold, Marble Blast Ultra contains many of the same power-ups, but also adds a few new ones. This includes the Mega Marble, which grows your marble to massive size and prevents you from falling through dangerous cracks. Other power-ups, like the spring bounce, let you access ledges and secret paths otherwise out of reach.

While the concept of Marble Blast Ultra is super easy to grasp, completing levels can be more challenging than you'd think. While early levels are basic and won't cause you too much hassle, you'll quickly need to consider your speed, trajectory, and other important factors if you want to win. Success always feels very close and failure is rarely unfair, putting the weight on your skill as a player. Like Marble Madness or any of the other classic arcade games, Marble Blast Ultra succeeds by offering an approachable concept with fun designs and a good difficulty curve.

Modes of Play

The main attraction in Marble Blast Ultra is the single-player campaign mode, which presents you with 60 levels to tackle. These levels are separated into three tiers of difficulty, including Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. While levels in the Beginner category can be cleared with ease, it'll take a lot of practice to nail some of the harder Advanced levels. Additionally, there are 20 Easter Egg collectibles hidden across the campaign, some of which are very difficult to find. Hunting down these collectibles and finding them all is very rewarding and one of the best parts of the game. Also, your fastest times are uploaded to a worldwide leaderboard, so you can compete with other players to get the lowest time possible.

Marble Blast Ultra also offers an exciting multiplayer mode that supports up to eight players in a lobby. You can compete in casual matches or join the ranked playlist to see how you stack up against others, but there are still leaderboards for both options. Unlike the campaign, the objective in multiplayer is to collect more gems than your opponents, with different colored gems worth various point values. Using power-ups like the Ultra Blast, you can even knock opponents off the map, giving you precious time to recover. While there are 20 maps to play on, there is only one mode, which is slightly disappointing. However, multiplayer is still lots of fun and makes Marble Blast Ultra even better.

Conclusion

Marble Blast Ultra might not have a lot of extra features or a crazy progression system, but it's still a charming game that provides tons of fun. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned pro or are new to gaming, Marble Blast Ultra offers an addictive and lighthearted challenge that everyone will enjoy.

Pros

• Easy for anyone to learn
• Easter eggs are really fun to find
• Multiplayer is exciting

Cons

• Some campaign levels are reused from previous games
• Could use a few more modes
• Simple presentation and effects