GameSpot editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 04/02/2009
- Released on: 03/17/2009
- Originally published on GameSpot: Marble Saga: Kororinpa (Wii) Review
Your goal in Marble Saga: Kororinpa is to guide your marble to the end of each stage by tilting the Wii Remote, while collecting a set number of crystals and any bonus items you feel daring enough to go after along the way. There's an unnecessary story about Anthony the ant's hunt for a golden seed in there somewhere, but the cleverly designed levels are the real stars of Marble Saga. There are still a few flaws that continue to plague the series, but the jump in content, features, modes, and length (not to mention its lower price) makes this marble-in-a-maze game worth checking out.
The quilts and crafts theme is one of several used to dress up the gravity-defying level designs.
At just 40 levels, the original Kororinpa was over before you could get a grip on the controls. For the sequel, the developers have more than tripled the number of levels available. The 150 stages spread across several themed areas should keep you busy for hours. Most of the puzzles feature some sort of trick or trap, like conveyor belts, magnetic rods, or pinball bumpers, in addition to the curvy platforms. These traps keep the levels interesting and the challenge at a reasonable curve, though some of them can be frustrating. The cannons in particular might raise your blood pressure quickly, because they give you only a fraction of a second to aim from a wonky perspective and you're forced to start over if your marble is launched into space.
In addition to the core single-player levels, Marble Saga includes a level editor and four-player split-screen multiplayer. The level editor will lets you make some crazy creations from pieces gathered in the story mode and share them with friends online. The controls for editing a level are a bit clumsy, requiring you to tilt the remote to move between the vertical and horizontal axes, but if you're willing to invest the time, you can come away with some dangerous-looking mazes. Both included levels and custom mazes can be enjoyed with up to three friends in multiplayer, though the tilty nature of the visuals and the slow, precise moves required to navigate the mazes don't lend themselves well to split-screen play.
The controls in Marble Saga are simple, occasionally frustrating, and at times amazingly intuitive. Holding the remote toward the screen or sideways, you guide your marble by tilting the maze around it. There are some levels that connect the remote and maze so seamlessly that you'll forget the remote can be used to play other games. Unfortunately, these moments don't happen enough. There are several levels that require you to flip the maze on end to guide your marble, which leaves you holding the remote at a strange angle. Other times, the limited camera movement and frozen perspective will have your marble moving in the opposite direction of your tilts.
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Where to buy
Marble Saga: Kororinpa (Wii):
$19.92 - $28.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$19.92 | Backorder |
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$28.99 | Yes |
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