Marble Saga: Kororinpa

The Wii was born for tilt-and-tumble marble games. The console's remote has yet to fulfill such fantasies as simulating the perfect golf game, or swinging a lightsaber with the ease and accuracy of a Jedi Knight - but by God, we can play marbles! That's not nearly as bad as it sounds, either. Marble Saga: Kororinpa is a deep and charming distraction in the spirit of Super Monkey Ball, though some control issues might lead you to lose your marbles.

THE VERDICT by Will Herring Will Herring's Avatar Even some not-so-responsive controls couldn't deter Nadia's appreciation for this unique and charming puzzler.

Keep Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Marble Saga: Kororinpa has a story, surprisingly, that has something to do with striving towards a Golden Sunflower Seed. Ultimately, it means very little, though stages have to be played in the story mode before they can be accessed in free play mode.

Though the story mode doesn't relay this year's most heart-stopping tale of love and tragedy, it eases the player into the game's mechanics and gradually increases the difficulty curve. Marble Saga: Kororinpa is very easy to jump into (optional tutorial levels are accessible from the main game menu), but the heat is turned up before long. Gradually, levels have fewer and fewer safety walls, and floors become riddled with holes parked beside bumpers that will fling the ball for miles if it brushes against them.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa

Try To Control Yourself

In a marble-based game laden with tricks and traps, sharp controls are vital. For the most part, playing Marble Saga: Kororinpa is highly intuitive, and the floor tilt responds very well to the Wii remote (players also have the welcome option of holding the Wii remote vertical or horizontal - the latter is recommended). It's not perfect: some boards require ninety-degree climbs up walls, and although it's easy enough to flip the board, controlling the marble while keeping the board in such a position is not. The marble will almost certainly go careening off into space at least ten times before the player really begins to get a hold of the game's crazier physics. Said physics feel even looser in the multiplayer mode, which dampens the fun on what should be an amazing multiplayer experience. The squashed split screens make it difficult to navigate a marble race between three or four people.

But Marble Saga: Kororinpa does provide compensation for players who are having a difficult time getting the hang of the marble mechanics. Differently-styled marbles can be unlocked, with the "Panda" marble being available early in the game. Not only is the Panda marble adorable, but it rolls very slowly down inclines, making it easy to control in any situation. In fact, Marble Saga's veritable zoo of cute marbles is delightful, from doggies to duckies to kitties, all with sound effects. Much like a selection of bowling balls, each marble gets the job done, but has different grips and weights. However, it's kind of heartbreaking to hear the kitty marble's pained "mew!" when it rolls hard into an object.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa

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