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 recreation have been unbelievable, the complete package deal was gentle on content material. As I stated in that 2018 evaluation: “[C]ontrol of the marble is immaculate, the framerate is buttery easy, and the extent design is powerful. Sadly it’s over means 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 complete realization of the earlier recreation, 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 trip is an exciting one, repeatedly introducing new ideas, twists, and turns. The preliminary chapter takes its time with tutorials, however when you get by that, the remainder of the sport hits the bottom working (or rolling). Completely different power-ups offer you single-use talents, whether or not it’s a method to decelerate time to enhance your excessive rating or a glide means that helps you navigate gaps within the air. Past that there are extra problems, corresponding to shifting gravity that toys together with your perspective and notion.
Ending the numbered chapters is just not the tip, although, as varied bonus chapters with dozens of extra 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 effectively, together with weekly challenges that take current ranges and tweak them for a special problem. On-line leaderboards all through each stage, together with the weekly challenges, add much more to do past the bottom recreation.
The multiplayer, which options cross-platform play (a minimum of on PC, Swap, and Xbox), has 5 totally different modes which are all enjoyable however fleeting. It’s onerous to inform within the pre-launch part whether or not or not these modes will flip into Rocket League or Metroid Blast Ball, however from my time to this point, I lean extra in 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 strictly the kind of sequel that the unique launch wanted. It takes the superb basis and builds a deeper and extra fulfilling recreation round it. That is full of extra challenges and a better selection. Whereas the multiplayer may not be one thing that stays populated, the leaderboards do an excellent 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.
