Marble Blast Ultra

Last updated
Marble Blast Ultra
Marbleblastcover.jpg
Developer(s) GarageGames
Publisher(s) GarageGames
Designer(s) Alex Swanson
Artist(s) Alex Swanson
Composer(s) Tim Clarke
Engine Torque Shader Engine
Platform(s) Xbox 360 (XBLA)
Windows
ReleaseXbox 360
January 25, 2006 [1]
Windows
June 13, 2015
Genre(s) Puzzle-platformer
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Marble Blast Ultra is a platform game developed by GarageGames. It was released on January 25, 2006 for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the sequel to Marble Blast Gold . It features 60 levels, enhanced graphics, 2 new power-ups and a multiplayer mode. A browser port of the game under the title Marble Blast Online was released on March 7, 2008, and was available at InstantAction until the website was shut down.

Contents

Gameplay

In Marble Blast Ultra, players navigate a marble through obstacles and gaps to reach the finish in sixty levels. MarbleBlastUltra screenshot.png
In Marble Blast Ultra, players navigate a marble through obstacles and gaps to reach the finish in sixty levels.

In the single-player mode, the player has the main goal of reaching the finish pad of the level as fast as possible. Obstacles will hinder the player's progress, but powerups are also provided to help the player finish the level. There are sixty single player levels that can be completed by the player. They are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Levels, each category containing twenty levels. Many of these levels (such as 'Survival of the Fittest', 'Natural Selection', and 'Ordeal') are recycled from Marble Blast Gold .

There is a par time set for each of the levels, and if the player beats the level under par time, the player will earn achievements based on how many levels they successfully completed under par time. Additionally, if the player has an Xbox Live connection, their best time will show on a leaderboard where players worldwide can compare their best times. The leaderboard is updated whenever a player gets a new record time.

The game makes use of two new power-ups:

Another added feature is the introduction of Easter Eggs, which are found in hidden locations in 20 of the game's 60 levels. After finding one Easter Egg, the game will award the achievement "Egg Seeker". After finding all 20 Easter Eggs, the game will award the "Egg Basket" achievement.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer mode contains 20 levels and supports up to 8 simultaneous players. There is only one mode which consists of collecting gems within a certain time limit (three to six minutes), which depends on the level. After a group of 2-6 gems are collected entirely, another set of gems appear elsewhere on the board. Players race to these gems and use power-ups to navigate across the level quicker and interfere with other players.

There are three types of gems: red, yellow, and blue. Red gems are worth one point, while yellows are worth two and blues are worth five. Most likely, blue and yellow gems are much harder to get than the red ones. The player at the end of the round with the most points wins. Players can change their marble's appearance by choosing from a variety of patterns and pictures in the main menu, such as a globe marble or a tiger marble as well as adding several different effects to use online. Ranked matches and player matches are supported along with an overall multiplayer leaderboard for ranked and player matches. Users can create a game or join one and filter parameters such as level, players, and gamer zone. Private games are also supported.

Development and marketing

In December 2007, Marble Blast Ultra had its price lowered. In 2008, three new achievements totaling 50 gamerscore were added to Marble Blast Ultra on Xbox.com.[ citation needed ] Three DLC packs were released for the game during that year. On October 29, a DLC pack contained a new multiplayer level "Marble It Up". In December, the Marble-Fu map pack and Agoraphobia pack were released.[ citation needed ] Each pack contained five maps and was available on InstantAction prior to their Xbox 360 release.

Reception

The Xbox 360 version received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [2] IGN gave it an average review over a month before its worldwide release date. [5]

Since its release, the game sold 756,178 units worldwide by January 2011. [12]

Legacy

Marble Blast Ultra was delisted from the Xbox Live Arcade service in February 2011. Despite this, a Microsoft Windows version was released in 2015. GarageGames, now a subsidiary of Graham Software Development, retained the rights to the Torque Engine which powers Marble Blast Ultra, but not the rights to the game. Game rights are property of InstantAction Holdings. GarageGames CEO Eric Preisz said that it was "unlikely" that the studio would reacquire the rights to its games. [13]

The members of the development team later worked on a spiritual successor, Marble It Up!, which was released for the Nintendo Switch in September 2018 [14] and subsequently for Windows [ citation needed ] and Apple Arcade. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Catan</i> (2007 video game) 2007 video game

Catan was the Xbox Live Arcade version of Klaus Teuber's The Settlers of Catan, developed by Big Huge Games in collaboration with Teuber. It was released on May 2, 2007. It is the first German-style board game to be released on Xbox Live Arcade, which was followed by Carcassonne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox Live Arcade</span> Digital video game download service

Xbox Live Arcade was a video game digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles on the service ranged from previously released arcade and console games to brand new games designed for the service, and were priced from a range of 5 to 20 US dollars. While originally requiring a disc to gain access to the service on the original Xbox, the Arcade was integrated into the Xbox 360 along with the rest of the Xbox Live Marketplace with the launch of the new console.

<i>Lumines Live!</i> 2006 video game

Lumines Live! is a 2006 puzzle video game developed by Q Entertainment for the Xbox 360. It was released worldwide in October 2006 and in Japan in March 2007. The objective of the game is to move and rotate 2×2 blocks to form colored squares of the same color. Points are awarded to the player when the Time Line erases the colored squares. Lumines Live! introduces online multiplayer, Xbox Live achievements, and a leaderboard.

<i>Castle Crashers</i> 2008 2D hack-and-slash video game developed by The Behemoth

Castle Crashers is a 2D side-scrolling hack-and-slash video game developed by The Behemoth. The Xbox 360 version was released on August 27, 2008, via Xbox Live Arcade as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. The PlayStation 3 version was released in North America on August 31, 2010, and November 3, 2010, in Europe via the PlayStation Network. A Microsoft Windows and MacOS version, exclusive to Steam, was released on September 26, 2012. The game is set in a fictional medieval universe in which a dark wizard steals a mystical crystal and captures four princesses. Four knights are charged by the king to rescue the princesses, recover the crystal, and bring the wizard to justice. The game includes music created by members of Newgrounds.

<i>Boom Boom Rocket</i> 2007 video game

Boom Boom Rocket (BBR) is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. Boom Boom Rocket is the first rhythm game for Xbox Live Arcade and was developed by Geometry Wars creators Bizarre Creations and published by the Pogo division of Electronic Arts. The game was made backwards compatible on Xbox One on July 26, 2016.

<i>Band of Bugs</i> 2007 video game

Band of Bugs is a turn-based tactics video game developed by NinjaBee. The game includes a level editor, leaderboards, Xbox Live Vision camera support, and multiplayer gameplay. It was released for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade on June 20, 2007.

Every Extend Extra Extreme is a game for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service released on October 17, 2007. It is an expanded version of the PlayStation Portable game Every Extend Extra which is, in itself, an expanded version of the 2004 freeware title Every Extend.

<i>Jetpac Refuelled</i> 2007 video game

Jetpac Refuelled is an arcade-style shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released worldwide on the Xbox Live Arcade service on March 28, 2007. The game is the fourth instalment of the Jetman series and a remake of Ultimate Play the Game's 1983 ZX Spectrum game, Jetpac. The game follows Jetman as he attempts to rebuild his rocket in order to explore different planets, whilst simultaneously defending himself from hostile aliens.

<i>Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2</i> 2008 video game

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is a multidirectional shooter developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft Game Studios and Activision. It was released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30, 2008 as a sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. It was followed by Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions, a sequel published in 2014 by Lucid Games, which was founded by former members of Bizarre Creations.

<i>N+</i> 2008 video game

N+ is the console and handheld version of the Adobe Flash game N, which was developed by Metanet Software. N+ for Xbox Live Arcade was developed by Slick Entertainment and published by Metanet Software. Unique versions of the game were also ported separately to the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS by developers SilverBirch Studios and Atari. Metanet Software licensed their N IP for this deal, provided single player level design for both versions, and consulted on the project.

<i>Lips</i> (video game) 2008 video game

Lips is a 2008 karaoke video game for the Xbox 360. Lips was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game features the use of motion sensitive wireless microphones and supports the use of songs already owned through a Zune or iPod. Lips has spawned three sequels: Lips: Number One Hits, Lips: Party Classics, and Lips: I Love the 80's. Localized versions of the game and sequels have been released in several countries, including Lips: Canta en Español, and Deutsche Partyknaller.

<i>OutRun Online Arcade</i> 2009 video game

OutRun Online Arcade is a racing video game and the most recent release in the OutRun series. It was developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. The game was released on April 15, 2009 on Xbox Live Arcade and released exclusively in Europe for the PlayStation 3 a day later via the PlayStation Network. Gameplay involves players racing their choice of Ferrari through a selection of fifteen stages in the shortest time possible.

<i>Toy Soldiers</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Toy Soldiers is an action and strategy video game developed by Signal Studios released on Xbox Live Arcade on March 3, 2010. It is featured in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Store. It has been available since February 29, 2012, debuting alongside the Windows 8 Consumer Preview beta release. The game was officially released for Microsoft Windows on April 27, 2012. A high-definition port, published by Accelerate Games, was released on October 21, 2021, for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows.

<i>Hydro Thunder Hurricane</i> 2010 video game

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a boat racing video game developed by Vector Unit and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. The game was released on July 28, 2010 as part of Microsoft's Xbox Live Summer of Arcade promotion. It is the sequel to Hydro Thunder, originally an arcade game, and part of the Thunder series, developed by Midway Games and under license of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It was also released onto the Windows Store. The game was added to the list of Xbox 360 backward compatible games on Xbox One on December 17, 2015.

<i>Voodoo Dice</i> 2010 video game

Voodoo Dice is an action puzzle game produced by French studio Exkee and distributed by Ubisoft on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and WiiWare. In Voodoo Dice, the player rolls dice through a path containing barriers, switches, conveyors and trap doors. The game consists of 60 single-player levels and 20 multiplayer levels. There are four multiplayer play modes. In single-player mode, the player must finish each level within a set time limit in order to win achievements.

<i>Pinball FX 2</i> 2010 video game

Pinball FX 2 is a pinball video game for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows and is the sequel to Pinball FX. It was developed by Zen Studios and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released on October 27, 2010, via the Xbox Live Arcade service. The game includes several new features, such as local multiplayer and the ability to tweak table settings. Players can also import all of the tables from Pinball FX they had previously purchased. The Windows 8 version of Pinball FX 2 was released on the Windows Store on October 27, 2012, two years after the original XBLA release. The game was subsequently released for other Windows platforms via Steam on May 10, 2013. Pinball FX 2 was announced for Windows Phone in February 2012. A sequel, Pinball FX 3 was released in September 2017.

<i>Marble Blast</i> 2002 video game

Marble Blast is a 2002 3D platform game. It was pre-installed on some Apple Inc. computer systems like the iMac, iBook, and Mac mini. It was also available for Windows operating systems as well as various Linux distributions. It was remade for the XBOX Live Arcade during Marble Blast's final years.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team</i> 2011 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a top-down shooter game with twin-stick control, set in the Warhammer 40,000 future fantasy universe. Players play as Space Marines attempting to halt an Ork invasion spaceship, facing orks and, later, Tyranids. Four Space Marine classes are playable Sternguard Veteran, Techmarine, Vanguard Veteran and Librarian. The first two focusing on Shooting the later two on melee. The game supports single player and same screen multiplayer modes.

<i>3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures</i> 2006 video game

3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures is a 2006 arcade golf video game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 developed by Wanako Games and published by Vivendi Games. The game released on December 20, 2006, for Microsoft Windows, and April 18, 2007, for Xbox 360. It is part of the 3D Ultra Minigolf series.

Geometry Wars is a series of top-down multi-directional shooter video games developed by Bizarre Creations, and, later, Lucid Games. Originally published by Microsoft Games Studios, the first title was included as a minigame in Project Gotham Racing 2 for Xbox. An updated version was released in 2005 as a launch title for Xbox 360 and later ported to Windows. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, the second installment in the series, was released for the Xbox 360 in 2008.

References

  1. ↑ "Marble Blast Ultra Available on the Xbox 360 Live Arcade". GameZone. January 25, 2006. Archived from the original on February 3, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Marble Blast Ultra (X360)". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ Reed, Kristan (February 14, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (January 27, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Onyett, Charles (December 21, 2005). "Marble Blast Ultra". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ chinaski2 (January 14, 2010). "Test: Marble Blast Ultra". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Marble Blast Ultra". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. June 2006. p. 60.
  8. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (July 25, 2007). "XBLA Marble Blast Ultra Review". PALGN. PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Jones, Darran (March 2, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra". Retro Gamer . No. 22. Imagine Publishing.
  10. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (January 31, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Huschka, Ryan (June 18, 2006). "Cheap fun for Xbox 360". Detroit Free Press . Gannett Company. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ Langley, Ryan (January 27, 2011). "In-Depth: Xbox Live Arcade's 2010 Sales Revealed". Game Developer . Informa. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (April 13, 2011). "Marble Blast Ultra rolls right off of XBLA". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ Winslow, Jeremy (August 27, 2018). "New Switch Game Isn't Super Monkey Ball, But Might Just Scratch That Itch". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ Madnani, Mikhail (November 8, 2019). "New Apple Arcade Game Releases: 'Discolored', 'Guildlings', 'Marble It Up: Mayhem!', 'Sociable Soccer', 'UFO on Tape: First Contact' and 'Takeshi and Hiroshi'". TouchArcade . TouchArcade.com, LLC. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.