6. Marble Madness
Just mentioning the title 'Marble Madness' can bring out the mega-fan in some long-time video game players. It's innovative, simple game play - maneuvering a shiny little marble around a three-dimensional course from one starting point to another on the other side of the course, the designated ending point-was one of the greatest ideas for a game, hands down. Once you completed a course, you move on to the next level where a new course is presented, with creative challenges and even a few enemies passing about out to stop your marble from rolling to the finish line. The game's simplicity and originality was warmly accepted when Madness was released in the golden age of coin-ops in 1984 by Atari. To add to the game's unique experience, there were no buttons to smash and for control of the marble, there was no joystick, only a trackball to be rolled about. A great idea, it was like you were rolling the marble across the course yourself, the game's challenging later levels only added to its respectful reputation, and legacy wise, Madness has still remained a favorite of eccentric players up for a challenge. How to bring back the rolling fun for a modern audience without losing the authenticity of the original? No matter what kind of new version of Marble Madness that would be released, I think first things first, any new version of Madness would need to include an option from the Start menu to play a nearly flawless port of the original arcade coin-op, just for old times sake. If there's one running theme I've tried to stay true to on my list, it's a respect and loyalty to the roots of wherever these games first came from. Alright, so after we pay homage to the original, how could we update Madness for today's audience? Well I say we stick with Madness' legacy of originality. So how about two new ways to play a new Marble Madness with GORGEOUS courses that would push the limits of today's console graphics. How about playing from the perspective of BEING the Marble on the course, playing the game with the point of view as if you were a gerbil in one of those strange plastic balls they sell for the furry critters.(Do they really enjoy those?) Two, how about trying to maneuver your slippery, shiny round friend from an overhead view that would only add to the degree of difficulty to some of the courses immediately. Throw in some added obstacles in the sky, pesky clouds, birds, and the game can be approached in all new way. Making a new Marble Madness is almost a no-brainer with its built in fan base, but I think this is actually one game that could be made to look nearly flawless with gorgeous new courses and stimulate even some hardcore gamers with my unique, if not somewhat
ODD suggestions for added game play features.