All About Symbian - Nokia and Samsung hardware and software reviews

Marble Maze

Published by Steve Litchfield at 7:46 UTC, May 30th 2008 under Games in S60 3rd Edition|| 5 Comments / Post New Comment
Version Reviewed:
Score: 76

I love it when new technology replicates old technology - but does it better and does it digitally. Marble Maze is a case in point, bringing the old fashioned wooden tilt puzzle into the modern day, meaning that there are dozens of different layouts, three different ball types, automatic timers, and so on.

Hang on, you think. Tilt puzzles? Yep, Marble Maze uses the accelerometers in the likes of the Nokia N95 and N82, in order to detect movement from the horizontal, so, to all intents and purposes, you can treat the surface of your QVGA-screened smartphone as a proper wooden playing surface.

Marble Maze screenshotMarble Maze screenshot

The modelled sensitivity to movement seems about right, with the rubber and ping-pong ball options adding extra layers of difficulty with their bouncy nature making it even harder to keep control - in the ping-pong ball's case, with seemingly random gusts of wind, to boot! And, as my father (who played the wooden originals back in his childhood 60 years ago) remarked, some of the hole placements are downright evil, especially as you progress from level to level.

Marble Maze screenshotMarble Maze screenshot

Although the vibrator in the phone is used to good effect, there are no sound effects, a minor shame. And some of the levels do seem a little same-y, but then that's the nature of the game - and the wooden original would have had only the one, fixed layout, remember.

Marble Maze is recommended if you looking for a game of this type or if you're looking to make jaws drop down the pub. Hand friends this game, watch their puzzlement as they try and use the d-pad and then watch their amazement when you say 'Try tilting the phone'...

There's no trial version, but at only £3/$6 it's not going to break the bank. Go for it.

Steve Litchfield, All About Symbian

Review Discussion

5 Comments / Post New Comment

evilweasel
**deleted**
malerocks
I have played this game on the iphone, and I must say, its highly addictive and fun...
evilweasel
...works fine after you ignore the ' not compatible for this device' warning ?

...great fun though !!!!!! :icon14:
chrsfrwll
^^^
Thanks for the tip about ignoring the incompatibility message. Now installed and working fine. A mighty fine app further demonstrating that this (over) 1yr old N95 still has no peers.
ninepine
A trial version is available.

Click through to the Buy link and although the "Try it" icon is greyed out it still works:

http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/P...oductId=223799

5 Comments / Post New Comment

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