Game Information

Original Release Date: December 15, 1984

Platforms: Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Arcade, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, FM Towns, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Nintendo Entertainment System, PC-98, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sharp X68000

Involved Companies: Electronic Arts, Mindscape, Inc., Tengen, Midway Home Entertainment, Milton Bradley, Virgin Games, Atari Games, Atari Games, Home Data

Genres: Puzzle, Arcade

Summary: Marble Madness is an isometric platform game in which the player manipulates an onscreen marble from a third-person perspective. The player controls the marble's movements with a trackball, though most home versions use game controllers with directional pads. The aim of the game is for the player to complete six maze-like, isometric race courses before a set amount of time expires. When a player completes a race, the remaining time is added to the next race's allotted time. The game also allows two players to compete against each other. Courses are populated with various objects and enemies designed to obstruct the player. As the game progresses, the courses become increasingly difficult and introduce more enemies and obstacles. Each course has a distinct visual theme. For example, the first race, titled "Practice", is a simple course that is much shorter than the others, while the fifth race, named "Silly", features polka-dot patterns and is oriented in a direction opposite from the other courses