Dark Roll

The Good
This is one of those good looking, simple games that should be easy but isn't.

I used to have a real physical labyrinth type of game where I tried to manoeuvre a real marble through a maze. I was rubbish at it just as I am pretty bad at this. I just haven't got the co-ordination needed to use a controller accurately, but if I keep on playing this game I'll certainly improve. It can be played with a keyboard, tried that and I'm even worse.

This game just 'feels' right. I played with an Xbox controller and the way the marble responds to the controls is spot on. Whoever's responsible for the in-game physics has done a good job, it is possible to move with precision - it's just that most of the time I can't. There are twenty levels and I'm stuck on level four 'coz I keep falling off the edge. The fact that I keep on trying is because the game has me hooked, it is that well made. The levels, so far, are short but they look achievable even though I suspect they were designed by a sadist.

What makes this game work for me though is the look and feel of it; the black void surrounding the game area, the dark game surface, the odd lighting, the deep shadows and the background sounds/music. The overall combination speaks to me and it says that this isn't some cutesy game for kiddies, this will be a challenge.

The Bad
So I'm still in the easy bit of the game and the puzzles so far are challenging. The controls work very well. The game saves & loads as it should. It looks and sounds both 'grown up' and 'classy'. The promo video appears to show later levels in which enemies have to be avoided and tasks have to be completed while being chased.

So, to summarise, it's a tough puzzle that plays well, it's going to get tougher and it will push the boundaries beyond simply keeping a marble on a path. Apart from the very good chance that I may not be equal to these challenges I can't see anything to dislike.

The Bottom Line
I find this a tough game to play but that's OK because I get a bigger buzz than most whenever I complete a level. I'd recommend this game to anyone who is tired of playing solitaire and is looking for something a bit different. It's fun, it's free, and it's a challenge - but it's best played with a controller.