Marble Blast Ultra, it's like an HD Oxyd

[njiska]

Just released on the Live arcade and already i'm loving it. It's been years since i've played a good marble game. I mean sure Super Monkey Ball was kind of like one, but Marble Madness is what i was really looking for.

60 Levels, all timed with acheivements being handed out for scoring in under par.

Anyone else picked this one up yet? I was expecting to get the Full Auto demo but this is certainly a fine substitute.

[Nesmaster]

http://games.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1333/Marble-Blast-Ultra/

currently one of the main reasons I want a 360 believe it or not :)

[-hellvin-]

Very addicting game, well worth the ton of extra points I had sitting around. Currently beat the first two difficulties with all scores under par. Haven't had a chance to try multiplayer yet, but sounds fun. After I give Full Auto a whirl, I'll be going after the final difficulty. Nice to see they finally added some new damn stuff after about a solid month. Hopefully some new compatibility will be on the way, but I have a feeling there's not going to be much going on in that department.

[njiska]

Very addicting game, well worth the ton of extra points I had sitting around. Currently beat the first two difficulties with all scores under par. Haven't had a chance to try multiplayer yet, but sounds fun. After I give Full Auto a whirl, I'll be going after the final difficulty. Nice to see they finally added some new damn stuff after about a solid month. Hopefully some new compatibility will be on the way, but I have a feeling there's not going to be much going on in that department.

In terms of backwards compatibility i'm not expecting much until March, but i am expecting a huge update to live. There's a rumour that the next update willfix the save glitches with COD2 and DOA4 and add background downloading.

[drivefast1690]

its out..........**runs down to the xbox and starts downloading**

*edit*

damnit..... 800 ms points for it and all i got is 750:( IM gonna have to run out and buy another card today....

[Raedon]

looks just like one of my favorate PC games that never made it to the states but was still huge here.

Is it just me? or did the Ballance (http://www.ballance.org/) (link) crew lend the code for this?

Ballance was/is one of the best puzzle/marble games never released in the US and if you have a PC with at least a GF2mx400 grfx card I recommend taking a look. It took me a full year to get to lvl 13.

http://www.ballance.org/Images/shots/shotsbig_03.jpg

http://www.ballance.org/Images/shots/shotsbig_08.jpg

and a movie.
http://www.ballance.org/movies2/ballance_2.mpg

[tholly]

i will be downloading Marble Madness Ultra after class today....marble madness was one of my all time favorite NES games, so if this is anything like it, I will be extremely happy....

[Darren870]

I am seriously creaming my pants right now. I just checked the arcade a few days ago hoping there would be an update. WOOT can't wait to try this.

[ClubNinja]

Ridiculous. I actually want a 360 now - for THIS. Those effing bastards!

[Mr.FoodMonster]

It was a PC game first. Might not look as nice and may not have the same levels, but its the same idea.

http://www.garagegames.com/pg/product/view.php?id=15

[tholly]

well, its not marble madness ultra, it is marble blast ultra....but, all i have to say about it....AMAZING!

im done with all beginner levels with all times under par so far....i just started intermediate.....im loving this game soooo much....

[tholly]

LEVEL 28.....that is all I have to say....anyone else who has played this game has to know what I mean about getting under par on 28.....me and my roomie spent hours on this goddamn level....finally, he got 46.68 on it........

[keiblerfan69]

It was a PC game first. Might not look as nice and may not have the same levels, but its the same idea.

http://www.garagegames.com/pg/product/view.php?id=15

Yeah and it was also part of XBOX Live arcade on the first XBOX. I gotta get me some points so I can buy this game, Geometry Wars and Zuma.

[njiska]

LEVEL 28.....that is all I have to say....anyone else who has played this game has to know what I mean about getting under par on 28.....me and my roomie spent hours on this goddamn level....finally, he got 46.68 on it........

42.44

Oh fuck that felt good.

[Darren870]

Im stuck on that now, I almost had it but fell off near the end. Multiplayer is a blast too.

[ClubNinja]

Because I am insane:

1) How much are 360s retail?
2) Are they actually available retail at this point?
3) How much do these downloaded games cost?

[Darren870]

1) 399.99 for the premium, 299.99 for the core
2) Yes. Just dont go to a store that takes preorders. Might take you a week to find though
3) 800 pts. $10 when you convert it out.

[Raedon]

$400 bucks!! No wonder I buy new systems at the end of their lives.

[tholly]

$400 bucks!! No wonder I buy new systems at the end of their lives.


if you look at it that way, then you arent buying new systems ..... your buying old systems....

[Darren870]

Despite being on my 3rd 360. That $400 was worth it in every single way possible. If I could afford to buy another one I would.

[tholly]

Despite being on my 3rd 360. That $400 was worth it in every single way possible. If I could afford to buy another one I would.

what happened to the 1st 2....manufacturers defects??

[tholly]

Anyone want to share a list of the easter eggs they noticed and the locations....

I found 5/20 ... I collected 1/20

Level 32 - Under the set trap doors

Level 35 - Egg is in the air off of a jump a little past 1/2 way down the mountain

Level 38 - Outside of the highest loop

Level 43 - Under the bottom of the level, close to the start, you have to use the speed boost that is aroudn the turn to get it

Level 44 - Directly under the finish beam's platform

[Darren870]

Yea one was deffective after 5 hours of playing it. The 2nd one just died last week. I had it for a good two months too, was so random when it just shut off and died.

Oh well I returned the first one and got a new one amazingly and then for the 2nd Microsoft replaced it in 4 days including them shipping me the box. They did next day air for everything.

anyways just about to make that easter egg post

Have 4.

level 1 : Go up to the top level, once you get up the little stairs stop. look at the goal and if you look to the left you can see a ledge and back there is an egg. Do a super jump (a + r-button) to get up there.

Level 3: (didn't get yet). If you go foward and get the first gem and then turn around you will see the start pad. Well look up towards the sun and you see that giant piller? Well its up there. Well You go to the top...so go up that ramp you see infront of you. Go all the way up to where the higest gem is. Then do a super jump on that little ledge right there. Then you get a gyro copter. Do a super jump on to that ledge infront of you. Then a super jump to the middle pillar. Yse your gryo/superjump and go to the very top and up there is another gryo. Use gyro/superjump to the top of the tallest pillar.

Level 9: Go down three platforms. (the one before the goal) Turn around and you can see an opening and inside that is an egg. You use a gyro/super jump to get there.

Level 21. After the first set of stairs there is one sitting at the very bottom of the level. You actually fall out of bounds to get this one. Its on the curve. So you go up the stairs and if you get to the edge and look down you can see it. Just go up a little more and then fall off. It takes a few times but it can be done. Have to hold back slightly when falling.

[Darren870]

Level 17: Fall down to where the goal is, get the super jump and super jump in the goal. Its right up there.

Puts me at 6 thanks to one of yours. I can't do that black diamond on its god damn hard!

[segagamer4life]

Ridiculous. I actually want a 360 now - for THIS. Those effing bastards!


hellllz yeah I am downloading this tonight... woot!!!!!

[-hellvin-]

I'm stuck on the last 8 or so levels...

I could probably finish most of em off, but the one that kind of took the drive out of me is like 52 or something. It's a HUGE level that can be fully rotated with the gravity switches. I'm horrible at those, and the levels too damn big for me to figure out. =\.

[Anthony1]

I downloaded the demo off marketplace last night, and I was playing it while chatting with nijiska via the headset. Pretty remarkable little game if you ask me. I saw screenshots of this game awhile back in a Game Informer issue, and it looked really pimp back then. I've been wondering when this game would hit the scenes.


I can tell you that this is definitely the first Live Arcade game that is going to force me to buy the Marketplace points card. I almost bought some points to have the full version of Mutant Storm Reloaded, but ultimately, I still haven't actually purchased any points yet. But this game is going to force me to actually do it. My kids haven't seen this game yet, but I'm sure they are going to get a real kick out of it when they see it. I think my wife might actually play this game too.



P.S. - If you purchase a Arcade title, and something happens where you have to erase your hard drive or something, or you have to get your 360 repaired or something, do you have to pay for it again to get it? That's the one thing that kinda bothers me about downloadable content. I kinda like to own a hard copy as a backup. Also, what if you own two 360 systems? Do you have to pay for it for each 360 system that you own? Inquiring minds want to know!

[njiska]

I downloaded the demo off marketplace last night, and I was playing it while chatting with nijiska via the headset. Pretty remarkable little game if you ask me. I saw screenshots of this game awhile back in a Game Informer issue, and it looked really pimp back then. I've been wondering when this game would hit the scenes.


I can tell you that this is definitely the first Live Arcade game that is going to force me to buy the Marketplace points card. I almost bought some points to have the full version of Mutant Storm Reloaded, but ultimately, I still haven't actually purchased any points yet. But this game is going to force me to actually do it. My kids haven't seen this game yet, but I'm sure they are going to get a real kick out of it when they see it. I think my wife might actually play this game too.



P.S. - If you purchase a Arcade title, and something happens where you have to erase your hard drive or something, or you have to get your 360 repaired or something, do you have to pay for it again to get it? That's the one thing that kinda bothers me about downloadable content. I kinda like to own a hard copy as a backup. Also, what if you own two 360 systems? Do you have to pay for it for each 360 system that you own? Inquiring minds want to know!

Nope the purchase is bound to you're gamertag. When i recoveed mine i was able the re download everything i had bought.

[-hellvin-]

Well, finished up the game tonight. Pretty tough levels in the advanced difficulty. The one that gave me the most trouble because I couldn't figure it out was the half pipe one. All I needed to do was jump a few times while rolling down it, heh. Did pretty well on the leaderboard, like 48 or something...

Good addictive game, well worth the amount of points. Currently using gamefaqs to grab the easter eggs, some of them are a BITCH. The one on black diamond is pure luck. Should take me a while to get em all.

[Darren870]

Post em here when you get them. I hate going to that board/place.

I know there is one on 22 that im trying to get right now on top of the very tippy top pillar.

Oh if anyone wants to add me my tag is xX Pelvis Xx.

That of course is until I can get my old "Pelvis" one back :(

Just put a message on that says like from dp on it so im not like WTF?

[Dobie]

Everyone on my friends list seems to have this game, so I downladed it last night. I didn't want to buy it at first, because I already have Marble Blast Gold (it came free on my Mac), but I'm glad I did. Some of the Ultra levels are similar to Gold, but the newly added multiplayer is (pardon the pun) a blast. The game is a lot easier and fun to play now that I'm not trying to use my laptop mousepad and single stupid "mac-button" to play.

With the new Live capabilities, its amazing how quickly word of mouth spreads on these D/L games. I wasn't interested at all, not even the demo, until I saw 2/3 of my friends list playing it, and one of my friends started messaging me to "buy it now, its soooo sweet. We can play online too." Jeeze--who needs salespeople or advertising? I'd say the free demos are the best part of "new" Live so far. I get to try out a game I'm "meh" on, and usually I end up buying it. My poor wallet.

[drivefast1690]

Anyone want to share a list of the easter eggs they noticed and the locations....

I found 5/20 ... I collected 1/20

Level 32 - Under the set trap doors

Level 35 - Egg is in the air off of a jump a little past 1/2 way down the mountain

Level 38 - Outside of the highest loop

Level 43 - Under the bottom of the level, close to the start, you have to use the speed boost that is aroudn the turn to get it

Level 44 - Directly under the finish beam's platform
The only one ive found is on level one, not really that hard to find:P You just have to look:P

[unwinddesign]

I bought it too. I finished the first 28 levels, all under par. Level 28 is horrible though. It's the "sledding" one with all the ice. It sucks ass.

[lol monster]

i think i will buy this today

[-hellvin-]

I'll throw in two more eggs I've found which I've not seen listed:

Level 3 - When you get to the top, there is a small ledge at the edge of the map with a gyrocopter. Grab it, and wait for your charge to fully fill. After that's done, jump, hit your blast and immediately hit the copter, and fly to the little ledge across from you, above where the last gem is. Once you land on that, jump to the top of this column and there will be another gyrocopter up there. Wait to fully chrage your blast again, and then jump, hit it, and use the gyrocopter to fly to the corner where there's a really high column, you should see the egg up there.

Level 9 - Fly to the second island. On this platform, there's a little cubbyhole under the ledge, on the right side. Hit your gyrocopter while on the ledge, then slowly fall off and fly right in.

Someone also mentioned one in Level 1 which is really easy to find, but I'll point it out real quick just in case. When you get towards the top of the ramps, you should see a little ledge you can burst jump onto. Just roll across this ledge. The egg should be in plain view.

[Darren870]

I'll throw in two more eggs I've found which I've not seen listed:

Level 3 - When you get to the top, there is a small ledge at the edge of the map with a gyrocopter. Grab it, and wait for your charge to fully fill. After that's done, jump, hit your blast and immediately hit the copter, and fly to the little ledge across from you, above where the last gem is. Once you land on that, jump to the top of this column and there will be another gyrocopter up there. Wait to fully chrage your blast again, and then jump, hit it, and use the gyrocopter to fly to the corner where there's a really high column, you should see the egg up there.

Level 9 - Fly to the second island. On this platform, there's a little cubbyhole under the ledge, on the right side. Hit your gyrocopter while on the ledge, then slowly fall off and fly right in.

Someone also mentioned one in Level 1 which is really easy to find, but I'll point it out real quick just in case. When you get towards the top of the ramps, you should see a little ledge you can burst jump onto. Just roll across this ledge. The egg should be in plain view.

I listed all these on page 1 :P

[-hellvin-]

I'll throw in two more eggs I've found which I've not seen listed:

Level 3 - When you get to the top, there is a small ledge at the edge of the map with a gyrocopter. Grab it, and wait for your charge to fully fill. After that's done, jump, hit your blast and immediately hit the copter, and fly to the little ledge across from you, above where the last gem is. Once you land on that, jump to the top of this column and there will be another gyrocopter up there. Wait to fully chrage your blast again, and then jump, hit it, and use the gyrocopter to fly to the corner where there's a really high column, you should see the egg up there.

Level 9 - Fly to the second island. On this platform, there's a little cubbyhole under the ledge, on the right side. Hit your gyrocopter while on the ledge, then slowly fall off and fly right in.

Someone also mentioned one in Level 1 which is really easy to find, but I'll point it out real quick just in case. When you get towards the top of the ramps, you should see a little ledge you can burst jump onto. Just roll across this ledge. The egg should be in plain view.

I listed all these on page 1 :P

My bad, I must have just missed the post.

[Dobie]

LEVEL 28.....that is all I have to say....anyone else who has played this game has to know what I mean about getting under par on 28.....me and my roomie spent hours on this goddamn level....finally, he got 46.68 on it........

42.44

Oh fuck that felt good.

I finally finished this one under par. Time: 37.81. :D Don't ask me to repeat it though, I don't think I ever will.

[tholly]

me and my roomie have 11 more levels on the hardest level to beat and we have them all done under par........pretty soon....then we have 18 more eggs to get......

[tholly]

my 3rd roommate got addicted.....

he loves level 48.....he is ranked #20 on xbox live with a 15.89

he's working on the quickest time...1.12...only 2 ppl have it, he is hoping to get 3rd rank.....

[tholly]

Well, I just got done with the game....all 60 levels beaten under par. I have 10 of 12 achievements....just need to get about 900 more gems in multiplayer and 15 more eggs......pretty soon....I think my overall single player rank is like 290 or something like that....


Edit.....make that 8 more eggs....

[njiska]

^^ NOTE: My predecessor, really likes playing with balls. :p ^^

[ClubNinja]

Ok, I've been playing for a few days, have completed most of the levels (many under par), and have found 4 eggs (haven't read up on any locations yet). Some of these are vastly frustrating (my best time on that castle level is over 17 minutes...), but still, I'm enjoying it greatly.

Here's the question, though. I look at the leaderboard sometimes and it makes me absolutely sick to see some people completing levels in like two seconds when I can barely break a few minutes at best. Are these people REALLY getting those times or is there some kind of way to manipulate the game a bit? I'm guessing that it's all about finding the hour glasses at the right time, doing crazy things, etc? Some of these people must not have day jobs!

[Darren870]

Some times are insane, but im sure there are secrets everywhere we dont know about. I have about 5 levels to go on the hardest skill to get under par. Anyone have any tips for the last level?

Otherwise I have all the eggs and everything else. Its just practice really. I did the half pipe level this morning in 18 secs and I thought under 30 was impossible. Before that I had about 5 mins.

[Daria]

Here's the question, though. I look at the leaderboard sometimes and it makes me absolutely sick to see some people completing levels in like two seconds when I can barely break a few minutes at best. Are these people REALLY getting those times or is there some kind of way to manipulate the game a bit? I'm guessing that it's all about finding the hour glasses at the right time, doing crazy things, etc? Some of these people must not have day jobs!

Sometimes it's just a matter of collecting all the hourglasses, but most levels do indeed have a trick or variety of short cuts. Basically I'm playing discover the secrets. For example, in beginner the Gravity Helix. Best time is something like 6 seconds. Skipping the ice and mountains you can throw yourself at the glass wall, hop over, and roll right into the finishing beam.

Good clues of course involve looking at the best times, and keeping an eye out for tools that don't appear useful in the level. Stray super jumps and super speeds. Those sorts of things.

[Darren870]

DONE 200/200!

When you play the levels more and more you develop your own little thing to help you do it faster. :)

[ClubNinja]

So, I started playing this one on Live yesterday. I'm curious if anyone here plays it often or enjoys it? I really like the concept, but really dislike one thing about most of the maps: the way the gems spawn. They all spawn in a cluster in one location, everyone races over to scoop them up, then a bunch spawn in another cluster someplace else, and everyone races over there. It seems that more of the skill is being the first to the cluster, not actually finding gems randomly spawning around the map. I would much prefer it that way.

[tholly]

So, I started playing this one on Live yesterday. I'm curious if anyone here plays it often or enjoys it? I really like the concept, but really dislike one thing about most of the maps: the way the gems spawn. They all spawn in a cluster in one location, everyone races over to scoop them up, then a bunch spawn in another cluster someplace else, and everyone races over there. It seems that more of the skill is being the first to the cluster, not actually finding gems randomly spawning around the map. I would much prefer it that way.


yea, i only played multiplayer on live long enough to get my 200/200 achievement points....the live 2000 points was the last achievement i needed....

the single player is amazing, but multi could have been better .... and i would have like a local multi on the same console....

[Nesmaster]

Well, I've been playing this for the last 2 days, excellent little game. Got about 8 levels left to go, but I'm going for the eggs first :P

In regards to level 28.. yeah that level was kind of a pain. eventually got it after about 10 minutes with 39.38 :)

Definitely worth the 6 bucks this game cost _me_ :D