Marble Blast Ultra

Marble Blast Ultra is a fantastic looking game that is a great addition to the Xbox Live Arcade. It shows that not every game has to be small and simple and shallow. For fans of Super Monkey Ball or its distant cousin from twenty years ago Marble Madness, Marble Blast Ultra is a fun game that is worth the 800 marketplace points.

The first thing you notice about Marble Blast Ultra is just how great it looks. Most XBLA games are fairly simple little pick up and play-type games, but Marble Blast Ultra is a fully featured game that was built just for the Xbox Live Arcade and it really shows.

The gameplay is very similar to Super Monkey Ball in that you have to roll around and collect items before heading for the goal point. You can pick up items that give you super speed, hover ability, super jump, and a powerful explosive blast and you have to use all of these abilities to solve puzzles and work your way to the goal point. The game is rather easy compared to the Monkey Ball games, but it offers enough unique features to make it worth your time.

The only downside I see is that once you play through every level (there's a ton) you won't really want to do it all again. There are hidden easter eggs all over and trying to improve your times on each level adds some replayability, but I think most people will be done with it after one play through. It is a heck of a ride for a 800 point investment, but longevity is a definite issue. Keep that in mind before you decide to buy.