To compensate for the lack of level variety, the stages are filled with tons of stuff to smash. The level design isn't bad, it's just that rearrangements of the same objects make up most of the mix. Likewise, the main differences in the medieval castles and forests of the second themed series of stages are just the number of dragons or knights that occupy the space. Smashing the same set of stranded scalawags in multiple levels will leave you wondering if you've already played a particular map, and the few differences that you'll notice boil down to the number of sharks or oars you can count surrounding each island. A creeping sense of familiarity sinks in soon after you start, and it never goes away. Sadly, Magic Ball loses its luster before long. From tiny lily pads to giant pirate ships, there are no fewer than 48 levels in total, so there's plenty of game to go around if the simplistic formula of smashing things sounds appealing. Not all of the enhancements are beneficial, so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled for items that shrink, slow, or even kill you as you attempt to slide into the falling goodies. In addition to these power-ups, environmental bonuses like windstorms and meteor showers add a fresh element to the gameplay, and constantly keep you on your toes. Upgrades like spiked balls that tear through rather than bounce off of destructible items can be combined with an equipped laser gun, larger paddle, and speedier ball to create a cool concoction of abilities. Sliding your paddle from side to side to keep the ball in play is simple fun, but numerous power-ups add a great new dynamic to this established formula. Magic Ball is about as basic as it sounds, so you'll use only the left analog stick and the X button to play. Using a wide paddle at the bottom of the stage, you'll launch and deflect a series of balls as you try to destroy all of the objects that litter the playing field. Overcrowded and repetitious levels, as well as crummy multiplayer support make Magic Ball feel overpriced at $10.īreaking these pieces looks cool, but good luck keeping track of your ball. Tipping tall structures and playing with the plentiful power-ups affords the kind of fun that can be enjoyed by anyone, but the charm doesn't last for very long. Physics play a major role in this PlayStation Network-exclusive, and there are plenty of objects to destroy with your rebounding ball. Magic Ball adds graphical flair to the conventional gameplay of ball-bouncing arcade classics like Arkanoid and Breakout by transforming those games' multicolored bricks into 3D stone fortresses.
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