An addictive and worthy port of its predecessor, this maze classic is great for two people or even playing alone.
Good: Great multiplayer * Fun gameplay * An original idea * Good-quality port * Challenging
Bad: Sometimes hard to control * Annoying soundtrack
Graphics: Of course the arcade original of Marble Madness triumphs in this area, there is obviously no doubt of it. But the presentation of it on the NES does, indeed, a considerable amount of justice with its colorful visuals. Set in a 3D perspective, the 3D look is pulled off nice and clean. The animations are also done well and it isn't hard to see where you're going at all.
Sound/Music: The only complaint with the audio is the music. It seems much too loud and simply irritating, though not quite terrible. The sound effects are less irritating and sound like simple, common sounds in an 8-bit game, however nothing stands out, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Difficulty: Marble Madness starts out quite simple and gives the player(s) a feel for how the game works and how to move about. The later levels increase in difficulty and prove quite the challenge, though careful yet speedy strategy can guide one through the game, maybe even glide right through if done right.
Gameplay: The object of the game is mainly a race against time, but in multiplayer mode, a race against eachother as well. Marble Madness starts off with a set time limit, bonus time gained by how fast one player reaches the end of the stage and how many points are earned during. If played in multiplayer, the player who finishes the stage before the other earns extra points. The game in general is fairly short, but the challenge and obsticles make up for it. It is possible to "die" by simply falling off a ledge or getting eaten by certain enemies, maybe even getting swallowed up by a pool of acid. Dying doesn't take away any lives, as there are none to lose, it only results in time lost. Once the time reaches zero, it's game over.
Controls: Here's where the game gets a little choppy, moving around. While it may look good in 3D, it doesn't exactly play that well in such an environment. The problem is moving around, which is the most important function of the whole game. It's best played with an NES Max or NES Advantage, or any other joystick alternative controller. It is also possible to speed the marble up which can help a lot, it's almost a requirement. It's best to adapt to moving the marble around the field first before attempting such, however.
Overall: In the longrun, Marble Madness proves a worthy port of the original arcade version. It's worth the five bucks it can be found for, if not cheaper, and is especially worth it if you have a friend who likes classic or simply fun games. Again, it is wise to invest in a joystick or the NES Max to play this game with, as it's frustrating to use a D-pad on. But for what it's worth, it's good fun while it lasts.