(PSN) Magic Ball
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Magic Ball
Get ready to break some blocks!
Sometimes, all we crave is simplicity. With all the HD graphics and deeply nuanced gameplay making the rounds in current gaming, sometimes it’s nice to go back to the basics. Magic Ball, available on PSN, makes no pretensions about being the next big thing in gaming – it’s a traditional old school game that will make you smile with its simple yet entertaining gameplay. Prepare to break some blocks!
Gameplay
Magic Ball is essentially a graphically enhanced version of Breakout or Arkanoid. You control a roving platform at the bottom of the screen and bounce a soccer ball into objects located on the top third of the screen in order to destroy them. However, instead of basic coloured blocks, the objects are now stylized 3D objects such as pirate ships, islands, and castles.
While the game is simple, it does not mean that it is not any fun. What makes the game interesting is the power-ups you obtain while breaking the various objects. There are 3 variations of these power-ups – those that affect the ball, those that affect “you” (the moving platform) and those that affect the environment. The power-ups are a blast to use and they range from spike balls (goes through objects), meteor strikes (busts up some of the objects) and multi-balls (splits your soccer ball into three balls). While some of the power-ups are a little redundant (missile, cannon ball, and laser essentially do the same thing), they add a fun flair. Ironically, the powers can also make the game more difficult for you as trying to grab the next power-up and shooting up the screen can distract you from reflecting the ball. There are also power-ups that hinder you (erratic ball movement or instant death), which is a nice touch. Power-ups are nicely balanced due to a timer or limited use; however, the fun really kicks in when you have multiple power-ups on the go.
The physics of the ball are great – it goes where it needs to go and offers a realistic bounce whenever it hits your platform or other objects. You can angle most shots accurately but for some reason, whenever you go to launch the ball at the start of a stage or after a death, you cannot fire off the ball from the middle of the platform. It always appears off-centre towards the right side. It’s not a deal breaker by any means but I just found it to be strange – you would think that you would at least fire the ball from the middle or be position the initial launch. Also, you can lose track of the ball if you manage to bounce a shot behind the objects – transparency of some type or a marker would have been helpful as the ball will re-emerge suddenly and cost you a life.
However, the game can lose its charm pretty quickly. While there are two themes at the moments (pirates and medieval), the changes are mostly cosmetic as actual gameplay is unaltered. Also, object placements and level designs can get monotonous after awhile as the levels start to blend together rather quickly.
The game offers offline or online multiplayer. It’s very simple but playing against someone doesn’t really add much to the game. You simply play to see who can get a higher score. The online play can make things a bit more frustrating as lag can really break the game. There nothing like seeing the ball stutter around and then suddenly land behind you.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics have a very clean and crisp look. Everything is very bright and looks like it popped out of a children’s story book or a Saturday morning cartoon. The colours are extremely rich, bold, and really jump off the screen. The whole look screams “whimsical” and “cute” and the designs are simple but fun at the same time.
The different themes are well done. The pirate motif is cute with giant ships and circling sharks and the medieval theme is pretty cool as well with horses and castles making up your main targets. The sound effects are solid as the splintering of wood or the punching boom of a cannonball being fired are crystal clear and add some nice audio texture. There’s nothing ground breaking in the sound department but is serves the game well.
There isn’t much to speak of when it comes to music – it’s a light, quasi-new age type tune that doesn’t offend but doesn’t leave an impression either. However, the game essentially repeats the same track over and over again so some variety would have been nice. I don’t expect 48 different tracks but some variety couldn’t have hurt.
Value
For $10, you’re getting exactly what you pay for. The game features 48 levels evenly split between the two themes. Theres even a blank slot on the stage select menu for downloadable content down the road. However, you can blow through this game in an afternoon and the level variety is pretty low. While the randomness of the bouncing ball adds some longevity, the game overall is very short. If you’re a trophy hound you may want to play though several times but for someone who plays the game for fun may feel a little shortchanged and the incentive is not really there. It will be interesting to see what themes will be released in the future and hopefully they will add new power-ups and spice up the level layout a bit.
Conclusion
Magic Ball is a fun game where its nostalgia and simplicity draw you in rather quickly. While the 3D facelift is nice and the stages are extremely cute, the lack of level variety and short gameplay may have you forgetting about it in the long run. Some additional level designs and power-ups would go a long way in improving its replay value so hopefully that will be addressed in future DLC. Still, for only $10, you get a nice little distraction. It’s short in length for now but with the possibility of DLC in the near future, the game is not a bad investment.
Pros
+ Simple yet fun gameplay
+ Bright and bold graphics
+ Nice selection of power-ups
+ 3D graphics add a modern spin to a classic concept
+ Realistic ball physics
+ Solid sound effects
Cons
- Short and repetitive gameplay
- Not enough variety between levels
- Repetitive music tracks
- Only two themes
- Can loose track of the ball behind objects
- Online play features frustrating lag
Final Verdict
Here's a small guide to help you understand our evaluation of games.
PRESENTATION GRADE
Can be from the game's box to the contents of the booklet, and even the game introduction. (Intro, menus, options, etc)
GRAPHIC GRADE
Up to what point the graphics have been worked on my the developper. The design type, the effort used for textures and environments, as well as animations and framerate.
AUDIO GRADE
Is the soundtrack a good match to the game's style, he ambient sounds keeping with the gameplay and the sound effects clear and convincing?
GAMEPLAY GRADE
Placement of the controls and the inferface that the player with be using during the game.
REPLAY VALUE GRADE
The most important factor in the evaluation of a game. It identifies the lifespan of the game and the fun of coming back again and again.
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