Switchball is a three-dimensional platformer inspired by the popular ‘Marble Madness’. It is a game that requires intelligence, intuition, and skill to sort out different situations. Basically, the player controls a marble which has to make its way through a tough trail to find a way out and access the following levels.
The game is divided into five worlds, each one with unique features and challenges to solve. Levels are quite big and consist of a knotty system of platforms that is suspended in the air. To solve the puzzles, you need to push boxes, jump on platforms, arrange pieces of wood to create bridges, roll over delicate pieces of fabric, etc.; and trying to get these tasks done, you will find special 'capsules’ that will transform the marble according to the requirements of each level. For example, into a metal ball to push heavy objects. Each level has ‘check points’, from where you can restart the game in case the marble falls off the platform. What is great is that there are no lives to lose, so the challenge is simply to complete levels in the least time possible.
On the technical side, the mouse response is very fast, accurate, and sensitive to every small move you make. You can also zoom in and out using the mouse wheel, to have different camera views. Graphics are excellent, too; but the biggest boon is that the game uses the Ageia physics engine to make these box-moving and ball-rolling mechanics extremely fun.
So if you like the genre (and games like 'Ballance'), you should definitely download and give a try to Switchball.
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