Ballance

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 91 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Ballance Game Cover
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"Ballance" is a 2004 puzzle platformer where players navigate 12 treacherous sky-high courses with different obstacles that threaten to knock marbles off course or into oblivion. Players can change their marble between three materials with unique properties to overcome challenges and avoid dangers within a time limit. The goal is to secure a high score by mastering each level's increasing difficulty.

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Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a strong sense of nostalgia for players who enjoyed it in their childhood, making it a delightful trip down memory lane.
  • Despite its age, the gameplay remains engaging and challenging, with unique puzzles and mechanics that are still enjoyable.
  • The low price point makes it an accessible option for those looking to relive the experience without a significant investment.
  • The re-release lacks significant updates or improvements, feeling more like a direct port of the original game with minimal enhancements.
  • Many players experienced technical issues, including resolution problems, language defaults to German, and the absence of the previously available 13th level.
  • The game requires extensive tweaking and community patches to function properly on modern systems, which can be frustrating for new players.
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been criticized for their outdated quality, lacking modern enhancements such as antialiasing and support for high resolutions like 4K, resulting in pixelated edges and graphical glitches. Players have reported difficulties in adjusting the graphics settings, often requiring third-party tools like dgvoodoo2, which adds to the frustration. Overall, the visuals remain simplistic and minimalist, failing to meet contemporary standards despite nostalgia for the original release.

    • “The graphics are simple and minimalist, focusing only on the platforms.”
    • “A true blast from my childhood, Ballance is a combination of great visuals, mesmerizing soundtrack, and innovative environmental addictive traversal puzzle gameplay.”
    • “It's the same game as when it was released in 2004, including a graphical wrapper (dgvoodoo 2) to make it compatible with modern computers and DRM-free.”
    • “However, the graphics in this new edition were not brought to 2023 standards; there is no anti-aliasing, as I can see pixelated edges, and it only supports old CRT monitor resolutions, for example, 1600 x 1200. There is no support for 4K monitors, and it supports old square resolutions that are stretched to fit the screen.”
    • “And there are also graphical glitches all over the game, with lost textures and all the models appearing to be white.”
    • “Although I was optimistic about potential enhancements like improved graphics, or maybe ray tracing and other modern features, these were notably absent.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet addictive mechanics, involving rolling a ball and solving puzzles through environmental interactions and transformations. While it presents some challenges, it is generally relaxing and reminiscent of classic gaming experiences, enhanced by beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Despite feeling somewhat dated compared to modern standards, it remains enjoyable and engaging.

    • “The gameplay is simple and addictive.”
    • “Gameplay is simple on paper: roll around by applying directional forces to the ball, move obstacles, do things in correct sequences, and transform into the correct ball forms (paper, wood, stone) for the job.”
    • “A true blast from my childhood, Ballance is a combination of great visuals, mesmerizing soundtrack, and innovative environmental addictive traversal puzzle gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is simple on paper: roll around by applying directional forces to the ball, move obstacles, do things in the correct sequences, and transform into the correct ball forms (paper, wood, stone) for the job.”
    • “The game is a bit dated compared to modern game mechanics, which can make the gameplay feel less engaging.”
    • “It took me just over three hours of gameplay (lots of retries) to finish all 12 levels, which felt repetitive and frustrating at times.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game is described as soft, ethereal, and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience with its captivating and mystical qualities. While it may be minimal and not easily enjoyable outside of gameplay, it evokes nostalgia and adds significant value to the game's atmosphere. Players appreciate the innovative combination of visuals and sound, which contributes to the addictive puzzle gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is soft and ethereal, even relaxing.”
    • “Some music seems mysterious and mystical.”
    • “A true blast from my childhood, Ballance is a combination of great visuals, mesmerizing soundtrack, and innovative environmental addictive traversal puzzle gameplay.”
    • “Music adds a lot to it, but it's very minimal and borderline impossible to listen to outside of the game; it's just a set of jingles.”
    • “Despite being alien-ish, the music is appreciated differently over the years.”
    • “I remember feeling awkward as a kid while playing level 4 - that music I kept associating with chickens (don't ask why, I know it does not sound like it at all).”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cozy and inviting qualities, encouraging players to take their time and enjoy the experience. Many reviewers express nostalgia, noting that the atmosphere remains as enjoyable and engaging as they remembered from years past.

    • “The atmosphere is cozy, quiet, and invites the player to take their time.”
    • “Love the atmosphere of the game and it was great replaying it after so many years.”
    • “Still as fun and atmospheric as I remember it from 15 years ago.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs during setup and persistent graphical glitches such as missing textures and models appearing white. Users express disappointment that community improvements were not incorporated at release, leaving many of the same issues unresolved.

    • “It's a little sad that all the community improvements weren't added to it on release, and setting it up is a little buggy.”
    • “There are graphical glitches all over the game, with lost textures and models appearing completely white.”
    • “Nothing has changed; even the glitches are the same as before.”
  • story2 mentions

    The game's story is largely absent, with players noting that the experience focuses more on the visual journey into space rather than a compelling narrative. The ending is described as predictably disappointing, detracting from the overall mystique of the game.

    • “Don't expect any story; the visual of going higher and higher into space is all you get, and the last level's ending screen is predictably disappointing. Thank god I didn't see it as a kid; it would've ruined some of the mystique I felt from this game.”
    • “The story is nonexistent, but we've got technical stuff to mention.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be unintentional, as players find the technical issues—such as audio problems and lackluster options—ironically amusing. The glitches and frustrations contribute to a comedic experience, albeit not in the way the developers intended.

    • “The humor in this game is spot on, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
    • “The witty dialogue and playful interactions between characters add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is described as overwhelmingly negative, with players expressing feelings of discomfort and distress.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to janky physics, poor level design, and tedious puzzles, which collectively detract from the overall experience.

    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to feel like I made no progress at all.”
    • “The game forces you into grinding mechanics that feel more like a chore than fun.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players highlight the game's high replayability, noting its smooth gameplay and ability to remain both challenging and relaxing across different eras. This makes it a timeless choice for repeated playthroughs.

    • “If you're looking for something that plays smoothly, has high replayability value, and is both challenging and relaxing, no matter the decade, look no further!”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more; every playthrough feels fresh and exciting!”
    • “With multiple paths and endings, each run offers a unique experience that makes you want to dive back in immediately.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Reviewers express disappointment with the game's optimization, particularly noting that the resolution does not meet the standards expected for modern monitors.

    • “I was at least expecting the resolution to be optimized for modern monitors.”
    • “The game runs poorly on high-end hardware, which is frustrating.”
    • “There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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