Marble It Up! Ultra is a platformer with a difference. It involves steering a marble through curvy levels as fast as you can, avoiding traps and collecting items along the way. Think of it like Sonic the Hedgehog crossed with Mario Kart; it’s a combination that totally works.
The Sonic reference is easy to justify; your spherical avatar strongly resembles the blue blur in spin mode. And your marble rolls just as quickly, zipping across gaps and zooming around corners at top speed. It makes for a fun time as you journey through sections to reach the goal at the end.
This is where the Mario Kart comparison comes in. Each level is also a race against the clock, complete with a timer ticking away in the corner. If you beat the suggested time, you’ll earn yourself a gold star, while lower times result in silver or bronze. This naturally adds a great reason to replay and beat your scores, especially after your first run-through as you get to know the lay of each level. A local top score is also on display to show off your best time. It’s a simple yet effective touch.
Playing is easy, with the first world dedicated to showing you the ropes. You can roll with the L stick and control the camera with the R stick, while other buttons let you jump and dash. Power-ups add further dimension with items that let you do things like boost and float, giving you greater speed or longer jumps. It’s fun to experiment with these power-ups, as they add a lot of diversity to a game that seems quite simple at the outset.
Physics is another important component that makes gameplay feel quite realistic. For example, your speed will decrease as you attempt to roll up a slope. You’ll need to build momentum to make it all the way. Soaring across gaps is just as satisfying, but without that same momentum, you’ll free fall like Wile E. Coyote.
Marble It Up! Ultra is divided into six worlds composed of twelve levels each. I love that you can attempt the levels within a world in any order. You will need to complete a set number to unlock the next world, but not all. For example, complete seven of the twelve levels from world two to progress. It means any tricky sections can be skipped and returned to later. More freedom leads to less frustration, which is absolutely a good thing.
There’s another incentive to replay via a special collectible within each level. There’s nothing as satisfying as seeing a green tick next to fulfill those completionist goals. These collectibles also serve as skins for your marble. It’s absurdly fun to find new looks for your marble and try them out. There are some really cool ones, along with silly accessories like hats and goggles. Again, it adds another dimension that keeps you coming back for more.
Apart from the single-player mode, you can compete in weekly challenges or join your friends in the multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, both of these extra modes require an online account for your Switch. This is a little disappointing, particularly when it comes to the multiplayer side of things. A little local multiplayer goes a long way. In this case, Marble It Up! Ultra is less like Mario Kart.
Graphically, things look great, with colorful backdrops and smooth platforms. The music is another plus, with beats that keep your adrenaline pumping as you wind your way around the grounds. It works together to create an atmosphere conducive to short bursts of fast and furious marble-ing.
Overall, Marble It Up! Ultra is a fun platforming adventure with a speedy twist. It’s a quick and fluid time with compact levels ripe for repeat playthroughs. The star rating and collectibles add plenty of replayability in a game that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down. Additional modes are nice, but it’s a pity about the lack of local multiplayer.
