One of my greatest Xbox Live Arcade memories revolves around a game in which you control a ball and steer it through multiple obstacles and courses to reach a goal. Marble Blast Ultra kept many of my nights occupied, thanks to the immersive gameplay and intense physics involved in playing. Even my roommate, who refuses to play a video game, unless sports are involved, became addicted to the wondrous world of Marble Blast Ultra.

Switchball, created by Sierra Online, delivers another take on the ball-rolling genre. It feels very similar to Marble Blast Ultra in nearly every aspect, from graphic comparisons to almost perfect physics manipulation. But Switchball forces players to reach each goal in a different manner than those presented in Marble Blast Ultra. Instead of racing to the finish as quickly as possible or collecting diamonds within a certain time limit, you are asked to simply reach the end of each level. The way you get there is what Switchball is made of.

At first sight, the player will note just how simply, yet stunning the visual presentation of Switchball appears. Every aspect is smoothly created, textured nicely, and lighted even more impressively. The ball you roll around looks as sleek as Antonio Banderas. Nothing is groundbreaking about the visuals, but it is obvious that Sierra Online did not simply skip over the graphics altogether.

Once you breathe in the scene, you will begin to realize what your task is and where you must go to reach the goal. There are a total of five different worlds, each containing six separate puzzles to complete. In addition, you can work towards reaching each level’s goal under specific times to earn medals. To add another dimension of depth to the gameplay, players will be able to “transform” the ball into different physically affected forms. The first form obtained will stack on the pounds and make the marble weigh a significant amount. This will allow players to fall through canvases, push different items, and feel the effects of eating too much without looking like you did. The other forms include a lighter-than-air transformation and the ultimate power ball, which will allow you to use skills such as magnetism and high jumping. In order to transform, you must simply find the correct capsule and roll into it. As you proceed and gain access to more forms, the puzzles will get progressively more difficult.

There is no actual storyline, but the “story mode” will take players between four and six hours to complete. Afterwards, you can easily jump back into any previous stage and go for the bronze, silver, or gold timed medals.

From an audio standpoint, the game delivers relatively serene sounds and catchy tunes as you traverse the varying levels. Much of the music is enjoyable, but only when taken in moderation. If you spend too much time on a specific level, for exploration or medal obtainment, you will surely begin to tire of the same tune being played nonstop during your venture.

When the multiplayer aspects are brought into view, the true value of Switchball is discovered. You can jump online at any moment and play some co-op with a friend. The entire co-op standpoint is separate from the single-player experience. This allowed Sierra Online to create maps (four in all) that utilized two marbles instead of one. You can also compete against up to eight other players in races to the finish. Maps are altered to provide more paths, but also allow less leeway to avoid falling. You can even compare leader boards with friends.

Overall, the game is a well-deserved experience that forces its players to think on the roll. Switchball is a step up in puzzle games provided in the Xbox Live Arcade, and for 800 Microsoft Points, the game is well worth the purchase. If you enjoy puzzles, make sure that you don’t roll past this title during your search for a next big challenge.

Gameplay: 9.0
Switchball is a switch on puzzle gameplay. Thanks to intricate level creations paired with marble transformations, players can experience a pleasant world driven by physics.

Graphics: 8.5
Visually stunning on initial impression, Switchball proves to be very easy on the eyes. Colors abound create a fresh, serene field while rolling your way through the puzzles.

Sound: 7.0
Although the musical score is nicely done and welcomed at first, after spending time to obtain special medals, you will quickly grow tired of hearing the same tunes over and over.

Difficulty: Medium
Switchball provides a plethora of difficulty levels by encouraging players to obtain different medals, as well as a “story mode” that gets progressively more difficult as the player presses on.  

Concept: 9.0
Interesting puzzles with even more intriguing concepts drive the addiction behind Switchball. You will find yourself thinking out of the box in order to reach the more difficult goals.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Leader boards, Co-op, and head-to-head will keep gamers who enjoy competition busy for a long time. The multiplayer aspects also prove to be very entertaining and fun to play.  

Overall: 8.5
Following the path of Marble Blast Ultra, Switchball delivers a well-chiseled puzzle experience to Xbox 360 owners everywhere. And for only 800 MS points, the experience is completely worth it.