Marble Blast Gold is a 3D

3D computer graphics

3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...

 platformer game. It was pre-installed on some Apple Inc. computers like the iMac

IMac G5

The iMac G5 was a series of desktop Macintosh computers designed and built by Apple Inc. using the PowerPC chip architecture. It was the last line of iMac computers that used a PowerPC chip, making it the last of the iMacs that could run Mac OS 9 applications. In August 2004, the iMac design was...

 and iBook

IBook

The iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer from 1999 to 2006. The line targeted the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers....

. It is also available for Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 operating systems as well as various Linux

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

 distributions. The sequel, Marble Blast Ultra

Marble Blast Ultra

Marble Blast Ultra is a 3D puzzle/action game involving a marble 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 brand new levels, enhanced graphics, 2 new power-ups and a multiplayer mode...

was released a few years later for the Xbox 360

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...

platform, and features improved graphics and new features.

Gameplay

Basic gameplay involves moving a marble from a start pad to an end pad, without falling out of bounds. Levels may contain hazards to make this more difficult. The player controls the marble spin, and therefore movement, and can also make the marble jump. There is a variety of power-ups available to the player, which are collected by touching them with the marble. Some levels must be completed within a Qualification time, to increase difficulty. Each level also has a "Gold Time," an additional challenge to complete the level in a specified time-frame. Many levels require a number of gems to be picked up before the level can be finished. There are 100 levels, divided by difficulty: 24 Beginner, 24 Intermediate, and 52 Advanced.

Power-ups

There are 7 power-ups available to the player. Non-inventory power-ups are activated automatically on acquisition, and inventory power-ups are activated by the player. Only one inventory power-up can be held at a time, although multiple power-ups can be in effect at the same time, if acquired and activated before the previous power-up expires.

Inventory Power-ups

• Super Jump: Gives the marble an instantaneous upwards boost in velocity.
• Super Speed: Gives the marble an instantaneous horizontal boost in velocity, in the direction that the camera is facing.
• Shock Absorber: After activation the marble cannot bounce for a set period of time. While active the marble is surrounded in a semi-transparent sphere.
• Super Bounce: After activation the marble bounces much more than usual for a set period of time. While active the marble is surrounded in a semi-transparent sphere.
• Gyrocopter: After activation the marble can jump much higher, and falls much more slowly for a set period of time. While active the marble appears to hang from helicopter-like spinning blades.

Non-Inventory Power-Ups

• Time Travel: On collection the in-game timer is frozen for a set amount of time (usually 5 seconds), allowing lower finish times to be achieved.
• Gravity Modifier: Instantly changes gravity in the level so that down is wherever the arrow on the power-up points.

Hazards

Hazards are scattered throughout levels to make it more difficult to stay in bounds, and to finish levels. Most hazards can also be used by the player to their advantage, usually to launch them upwards, or increase their velocity. Hazards in Marble Blast Gold include:

• Trapdoors: As soon as the marble touches a trapdoor, it swings down letting the marble fall out of bounds, unless the player moves away quickly enough. After a set period of time the trapdoor swings back up.
• Bumpers: When the marble touches a bumper they are knocked away quickly. There are two types of bumpers, triangular and round.
• Tornadoes: The tornado pulls in the marble and spits it out the other side.
• Mines: When the marble touches a mine it is knocked back in the resulting explosion. After a set amount of time mines respawn.
• Fans: Fans push the marble away in the direction that they face.
• Oil Slicks: Oil Slicks are small slippery areas on the ground.

Frictions

There are various friction surfaces through the game, increasing or decreasing traction of the marble rolling on them. Higher frictions allow the marble to start and stop rolling, and change direction more easily, and also allow the marble to climb steeper slopes. The marble rolls slightly slower on higher frictions. Lower frictions make it more difficult for the marble to start, stop, and change directions. Frictions in Marble Blast Gold include:

• Normal: Medium traction.
• Mud: Medium low traction.
• Space: Very low traction.
• Grass: Medium high traction.

Custom Levels

Marble Blast Gold allows support for user created custom levels, which may be shared between users. To date there are over 1,600 custom levels for Marble Blast.

Reception

On GameRankings Marble Blast Gold received an 8.4/10 rating, "Addictive gameplay and appealing levels lead to some of the best fun that $14.99 can buy". On Gametunnel, the game was rated 9/10 overall, "Marble Blast Gold is another great entry into the marble genre and a showpiece for the Torque engine. Highly recommended!". On GamersInfo, the reviewer noted "The game can be a lot of fun, especially if you are the type that likes to challenge your hand-eye coordination."

On February 1, 2011, Marble Blast Gold was removed from the GarageGames store and is no longer available to purchase. The license to the MarbleBlast franchise is retained by IAC.

External links

• Marble Blast Gold product webpage
• Marble Blast forums