We first reported on Marble’s Marbles, a new Steam game from developer James Oliver and publisher Destined, earlier this year. Since then, we’ve had a go at the isometric arcade adventure and played through the first couple of hours to bring you our first impressions. The developer has described Marble’s Marbles as “a modern love letter to classic arcade marble games” and sends players on an adventure to recover all of Marble’s marbles after they are lost.
Anyone who has played Marble Madness will instantly understand the mechanics of Marble’s Marbles. The object of every level is to guide the marble to the exit. It all sounds so simple, and on the face of it, it is. You use the analogue stick to move the marble around, and tap the L and R triggers to switch the viewpoint to get a better look at the next obstacle. However, the brilliant physics within the game make the task very treacherous, and you’ll need to consider speed, direction, and even the spin of the marble at times.
The reward for reaching the end of each level is gaining one of the marbles back. Along the way, there are bonus hourglasses to pick up, and these also add some additional time to the level. You have infinite lives, but you will need to restart if you run out of time. Thankfully, the time allowed is very generous, especially if you pick up all the hourglasses. Marble’s Marbles will infuriate you at times, it will make you want to throw the controller at the wall, it will make you want to scream. But you instantly get that ‘one more go’ feel after each death.
The level design in Marble’s Marbles is brilliant; each section has been thoughtfully laid out. The checkpoints are also well placed, and you feel a sense of relief at times reaching one. There is also a great variety in obstacles to overcome. Some of the best we encountered were Mario-style pipes and the long corkscrews that really show off the excellent physics implemented within the game. Some of the obstacles didn’t work quite as well. There are sections with wind tunnels that fly your marble upwards and give it some speed. These sections didn’t feel as good as others and caused us the most issues at times.
It’s not just the great level design and clever physics that help Marble’s Marbles stand out. The pixel art is sensational in places, and everything is clearly laid out. There is a good use of color throughout, with muted tones mixed in with vibrant ones to help players see exactly where to head next. We especially enjoyed the second set of levels that paid tribute to the Game Boy with that iconic green glow. The game’s soundtrack is a little subtle and lacks the arcade flair the rest of the game has. That said, it is very relaxing and does help to keep the calmness going when you are in a very tricky area to beat.
Overall, Marble’s Marbles is a well-made game that has been put together by a developer who understands the genre. Everything from the physics to the level design, right through to the overall presentation, is great. There is also a lot of replay value as each level has a star system that will require many goes to complete. Anyone who enjoys a proper arcade experience, with challenge and variety, will enjoy this one. It’s really tough and rewarding, as any good classic arcade title should be.
