On a roll.
From Super Monkey Ball to Marble Madness, and especially 2018’s Marble it Up!, Marble games have consistently brought enjoyable if brief, puzzle-like experiences. Each game has presented its gameplay in different ways. From controlling the level itself in Super Monkey Ball to the ball itself in Marble it Up!, there has always been something satisfying about getting that ball to its goal in the least amount of time.
Marble it Up! Ultra is a sequel to the previous game in offering new stages, new features, and a multiplayer suite that I probably found the most enjoyment out of its package. While a few levels seemingly return from Marble it Up!, at least from what I’ve seen via its trailer, Marble it Up! Ultra is a worthwhile purchase for those looking for more.
Marble it Up! Ultra’s concept is simple. You roll a marble through a series of largely linear tracks, using a small assortment of pickups such as a boost or jump to navigate it to the goal. Sometimes this is as simple as navigating a straight line to complex platforming fortresses that have spinning or rotating platforms, and various obstacles that will have you slide off the map, bounce into oblivion, and more.
While the overall goal is to complete each stage, you’ll want to earn the gold medal as well track down the collectible item in the stage as well, often earning you a skin for your marble as well as hats or the glowing trail your marble leaves behind. Gold medals aren’t just for show as they collectively unlock bonus stages as you push through all 100+ stages across six unique worlds. These four bonus stages don’t really feel too different from the main campaign but do act as a reward for your overall skill.
Your progress during each stage will also earn you marble cash that you can use to fast-track some unlocks. As mentioned, unlocks feature skins for your marble, such as a translucent skin that has a collective of gears rotating inside the marble, to top hats and styled headgear to equip as well. The Marble trails range from glowing trails to more, usually presented heavily when you are boosting, showing that trail off in all its glory.
Despite the look of your marble, it’s the feel that is most important and while some stages require you to reduce your speed and take things slow, the mobility present here when paired with the momentum and weight of your marble, works exceptionally well, making it feel like you have decent control of your little spherical friend. The physics of moving your marble could have been the make or break, but given that Marble it Up! Ultra is essentially the same gameplay as 2018’s Marble it Up!, this isn’t news to fans of the original; it’s basically business as usual.
Apart from the main campaign, Marble it Up! Ultra has a pretty decent multiplayer suite that I wasn’t really expecting. From a game of zombies, where you try to infect the other players, or roll away from those who are infected, you also can take on collecting gems or playing a game of soccer, largely feeling like a marble version of Rocket League. In my experience online, 90% of each match was voted on playing zombies, so yeah, I got a lot of time in that particular mode whether I wanted it or not.
The multiplayer mode also has items tied directly to it to unlock, so you may want to go with the flow of what is voted on if you want to earn those unlocks. You also have the weekly level challenges to take on as well, giving you something to work on day in and day out.
Marble it Up! Ultra’s main campaign can easily be played through in a sitting, with unlocking the Bonus stages to be something far more difficult and time-consuming to work towards. However, it is the multiplayer suite that I found the most engaging as its modes, even if zombies was a bit played out, are pretty damn fun, especially its take on soccer. If you are looking for a return to the Marble it Up! world or a fun puzzle game that isn’t about matching colors or using your brain too much, then you’ll certainly find enjoyment here with Marble it Up! Ultra’s simple, and vibrantly colorful, marble world.
Developer - Marble it Up. LLC. Publisher - Marble it Up. LLC. Released - August 10th, 2023. Available On - Xbox One/ Series X/S, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows. Rated - (E) - No Descriptors. Platform Reviewed - Xbox Series X. Review Access - A review code was provided by the PR/publisher for the purpose of this review.
Jeff is the original founder of Analog Stick Gaming. His favorite games include The Witcher III, the Mass Effect Trilogy, Hi-Fi Rush, Stellar Blade, Hellbade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and the Legend of Heroes series, especially Trails of Cold Steel III & IV.