Kororinpa Marble Mania is a
perfect vehicle for the Wii with its use of the Wii remote to propel a marble
through maze-like levels, tilting the ball to keep it rolling in the right
direction. Unfortunately, this game is a one-pony show and it’s over pretty
quickly. Still, this game has a decent amount of fun to offer for short
periods of time.
The premise is simple:
roll a marble through mazes by using the Wii remote to tilt the gameworld
while it rolls, and collect gems along the way. Each maze is presented as a
square for most of the movement, with the puzzle action presented as maze
areas above and below the current maze path. Players will have to figure out
how to get their marble to these different paths. While rolling along, players
will also need to collect all the red gems to successfully complete each
level. If all of the red gems are not completed, then the player will have to
begin again. If the marble falls off during play, the level will be
restarted. And that’s about it.
Play is similar to Monkey
Ball, but different in the level of control of the environment. Players can
tilt the camera 100% in this 3D environment. Using the Wii to move the ball
around by tilting the camera feels very natural and intuitive, and is a great
use of the Wii remote. This ability to tilt is crucial to solving the maze
puzzles, as seemingly impassible walls will become floors that can be rolled
on just by tilting the camera.
As play advances, more
marbles will become unlocked. There are different marbles to choose from,
including sport balls and animals. These each have different attributes that
affect the speed and other marble motions, and some of them are really cute,
like the Panda. Besides the red gems that have to be collected, there are
optional green gems that give additional bonuses.
There is a two-player
mode, but this mode isn’t all that much fun. Players will only race against
each other in a split screen, and can’t affect each other in any manner.
While fun and
entertaining to play, there’s not a whole lot of variety because of the type
of gameplay. Each level is pretty much the same as the other, and there isn’t
a whole lot of challenge for most players. The game can be beat fairly
quickly. However, it does offer some amusement, and it is an easy game to pick
and play, making this a good choice for families with multiple children. The
game price, though, is a little steep for this type of game at $40. Parents
may want to wait until the price goes down.
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Gameplay: 6.5
The gameplay is
fun and amusing, but it’s over all too soon. More modes and variety of
gameplay would have been an asset.
Graphics: 8.0
We enjoyed the
bright colors and themed worlds like the city and candy levels. The marbles
are cute, too!
Sound: 6.0
The sound is
wholly average.
Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty
level ranges from easy to hard.
Concept: 6.0
It’s a Monkey
Ball clone.
Overall: 6.5
This is a fun,
cute game to play and one which everyone in the family can enjoy. It utilizes
the Wii nicely. It’s not a game that will last a long time, though, and it
doesn’t offer enough game hours to warrant the initial price. Best as a rental
or bargain bin purchase.
