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Marble Saga: Kororinpa: Roll Balance
Company: Hudson Soft

Is anyone else surprised at the number of marble-themed games that have been hitting in the last few years? It hasn't been like the deluge of WWII games or invasion of bald space marines, but considering I could only think of seeing two before XBLA hit, that's a lot.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa is the sequel to Kororinpa: Marble Mania, which hit the Wii shortly after launch. For the most part, the follow-up sticks to the same basic play mechanics behind the first, but developer Hudson has gone back and fixed a few problems, as well as introducing a few new features as well. The biggest of these new features are stages designed specifically for the Wii Balance Board. Compared to the Wii-mote only stages, Balance Board stages feature a simplified design, but with the added challenge of having to use your entire body to balance the levels. Anyone who has played the ball balance game in Wii Fit could tell you this is no easy feat.


Wii owners who haven't been able to get their feet on a Wii Fit just yet shouldn't feel left out. A majority of the game's 150 stages are meant solely for Wii-mote play. These stages require all sorts of complex maneuvers, including flipping the controller around in full circles - something that isn't feasible on the Balance Board.

The game's premise involves an ant, Anthony, on a quest for a golden something-or-another, but the overarching story isn't a major component. Instead, the focus is on clearing each board by tilting the entire level to navigate traps and other apparatuses. These include cannons, ramps, bridges - you name it. Some will even change your ball's properties, such as altering the size. Each level has its own theme and you can even unlock up to twenty themed balls, including a football for added challenge. There's even Mii support for players who want to personalize the experience.


As you travel through the game, you'll collect items that you can then use in the game's level editor. Once you complete a level, you can share it with friends using WiiConnect 24.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa is set for release next month.



-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker
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