A formidable follow-up that rocks and rolls.
Just a few years again, Marble It Up got here out on Nintendo Swap and whereas the physics and controls of the ball-rolling sport had been incredible, the total package deal was mild on content material. As I stated in that 2018 evaluate: “[C]ontrol of the marble is immaculate, the framerate is buttery easy, and the extent design is robust. Sadly it’s over method too shortly and feels extra akin to a pleasant begin than a full product.” I loved what was there, however it ended too quickly. Marble It Up Extremely is the total realization of the earlier sport, retaining the design ingenuity and easy motion with a wealth of content material in each single and multiplayer.
Throughout six chapters with 60+ ranges, the singleplayer journey is an exhilarating one, usually introducing new ideas, twists, and turns. The preliminary chapter takes its time with tutorials, however when you get by way of that, the remainder of the sport hits the bottom operating (or rolling). Totally different power-ups provide you with single-use skills, whether or not it’s a strategy to decelerate time to enhance your excessive rating or a glide capability that helps you navigate gaps within the air. Past that there are extra problems, comparable to shifting gravity that toys together with your perspective and notion.
Ending the numbered chapters just isn’t the tip, although, as numerous bonus chapters with dozens of further ranges are unlocked relying on what number of medals you rack up within the different phases. A few of these are diabolical. On-line compatibility brings extra content material as properly, together with weekly challenges that take current ranges and tweak them for a distinct problem. On-line leaderboards all through each stage, together with the weekly challenges, add much more to do past the bottom sport.
The multiplayer, which options cross-platform play (no less than on PC, Swap, and Xbox), has 5 completely different modes which are all enjoyable however fleeting. It’s onerous to inform within the pre-launch section whether or not or not these modes will flip into Rocket League or Metroid Blast Ball, however from my time to date, I lean extra in the direction of the latter. These are enjoyable and cute, particularly the Rocket League/Blast Ball-esque Soccer mode. The Zombies mode is notably neat, as a couple of gamers begin off as zombies and need to hit the others to transform them.
Marble It Up Extremely is precisely the kind of sequel that the unique launch wanted. It takes the superb basis and builds a deeper and extra fulfilling sport round it. That is filled with extra challenges and a higher selection. Whereas the multiplayer won’t be one thing that stays populated, the leaderboards do an incredible job of extending the expertise past the marketing campaign. And in addition the terse problem of the bonus chapters and weekly challenges provides to the enjoyable. It’s a (marble) blast to see this come collectively in addition to it does.