One of the first games my family ever own on computer, and one that will always hold a special place in my heart. The aim is simple - navigate a marble from one point to another. The task is much more difficult, however, as other marbles move around the board, narrow paths slope downwards dangerously, and every second you risk going over the edge into utter nothingness.
The physics of this game are remarkable, especially considering the time. The marbles speed up predictably down slopes, crawl to nothingness up hills, and all naturally enough that you can unconsciously predict and plan your path.
Of course, you're still going to need a LOT of practice for each track. While you can take as many tries as you want, you're up against the clock, so you're going to need all the practice you can stand!
The graphics are almost impossibly simple - and yet, every bit as detailed as needed to show a marble moving around a 3d world. The gridded floor shows exactly how many bumps and turns you have to maneuver, just how steep that next hill is, all without complex shading. This simplicity, epitomized by the use of only 4 colors, was also a boon back in the days when computer memory was measured in only kilobytes or megabytes. So hard to remember that time, when now we have near-photo-realistic
3d graphics gigs of hard drive. And yet, Marble Madness still held thrall, without modern fleshiness.
As for the sound - I suggest taking advantage of your new, more powerful computer to run the game in mute while you're playing a cd or something. Some things HAVE improved with time.
A joystick is highly recommended for Marble Madness. Not only are the keyboard controls awful, but the added interactivity is one of the secrets of this game. You get a finer touch, tipping the stick just an eight of an inch one way, half an inch the other, as you snake past obstacles. Don't be surprised if you get your entire body in the act, leaning with the marble as you almost beg it to stay on the path.
To be perfectly honest, I was horrible at this game as a child, spending hours teaching myself how to get past the first few levels. And, once you memorize those paths, it all becomes a matter of repetition. For those levels, at least - there are plenty more challenges if you get cocky! But the very fact I kept playing despite not being a natural just lets you know how addictive the game was, and still is.
