For those of you who enjoyed the soundtrack, some sad news: Brad Fuller, who composed the music for this and many other games, passed away from pancreatic cancer on January 3, 2016. R.I.P.
+Trevor White Sad to hear. His work left an imprint in my mind until I die, most likely. I played the hell out of that game and love, love, love the soundtrack and effects.
Holy balls, that was awesome! Never seen anyone finished the entire game so quickly. Thanks for posting this. Loved the game, the music and all the arcade memories.
Wow! Who knew. I never got past level 3. I only played it a few times. It's quite a work of art with the graphics and the avante garde soundtrack. Thanks so much :)
I remember BEATING this in the arcade…. and I was the first person I seen beat it. Roller ball controller made me sweat trying for quite a while to complete it. When I was done I was surprised to see The rest of the arcade was mostly empty.. but a handful of dudes crowded around to watch me end the game…. he he. Great times.
everyone was blown away if you showed them this back in 84/85..the graphics were amazing at that time..still looks good though. this made the purchase of an atari trakball controller worthwhile.
Bloody hell. That's some doing. I remember when this came in a massive big arcade cabinet when I used to play. Brought back memories. The only problem I found with this game is that there are not enough levels.
Great abstract game mechanic but man, the sound design on this game was amazing. Everything from the iconic Stage 2 theme to that satisfying little techno-trill as your marble crosses the “GOAL” line. Really puts it over the top.
pegelpuk I actually do think the NES version is possibly the most accurate version to the arcade original, despite the fact that it's a hardware generation removed from the arcade cabinet while other ports aren't!
I'd say "because" rather than "despite", as the way they made licensed home versions in those times was to let the programmers play the game and then make something from scratch based on their impressions. The CGA IBM-PC port I had was basically navigating a flat picture of the map with rectilinear controls.
This is like being in hell, the black empty space at the background, all the effects and the weird music, the creepy enemies and their tactics, all seems as a nightmare, like the "Robocop Robo-Cain" from robocop 2, a human mind trapped on a computer machine suffering panic
This is one of those games where it was so hard for me that i didn't like it, but not so cheap that i didn't have a decent respect for it. And, it looked and sounded cool.
A lot of Atari's arcade games from '84 and onward all had some sort of Paperboy sound effects because this one has the extra life cue that plays on Paperboy.
This was a System 1 game. Paperboy was System 2. Marble Madness came out in 1984. Paperboy came out in 1985. Don't you think it is FAR MORE LIKELY that Paperboy used Marble Madness sound effects instead of vice-versa?
I liked games like this, where after a few levels, you were "rewarded" with easy levels that neutered the enemies. Sort of like the tiny, squishy enemies in this, or the non-firing enemy plane levels of Capcom's 1942.
I only remember this game because of a Gameboy version that also had KLAX on it. The game would say Game Over after you reached the goal of Intermediate Race. I never knew why it just abruptly ended that way.
it was first of its kind with using a synthesizer. and it even is the same exact chip that would still be used into the early 90s in games like street fighter 2 etc.
I hope somebody someday makes this world in full 3D for use with VR. I have dreamed countless hours of exploring what was just over the horizon of this incredibly enticing world. Can you imagine the crazy alien ecosystem that could exist here? What are the tubes that want to eat the silica ball? Is the acid actually a goo of nano machines? Oh I love it....I
Addictive ONLY until the 6th level's beaten??? I beg to differ. I've been playing this game on NES since I was 5. I still to this day play it nearly every day, even after being able to beat it every time. This is one of those games I can't put down simply because I want to see if I can beat my old high scores.
This game was a masterpiece of Atari and the sound and it was not unfair, because i watch somebody he could do that, it was very sad, that Merkur Spielothek forbidden any video-cams, whatt a pitty, we never could look this masterpiece of videogameplayer. I know only he was a moto bike driver from kawasaki 1000 or i'am not sure; he was some of the best from Lehniner Platz Kudamm Merkur Spielothek mit filmverbot.
I played it yesterday with a friend for the first time. The furthest we got was 1:56. But we couldn't even get the ball to roll as fast as seen in the video! And we rolled those track balls with all the power we had D:
Since you've shown me the 1980s VGs (video games); I really wish I did have a foul mouth reprobate with a conscience, sensitize me when I was a hard core looney, in every bygone era such as like including the mid 1960s you name/mention.
ATARI was & is my favourite, so many classic perfect Arcade Game, but the was this "pads" video game "Yoisticks"; Marble Madness, Missele Command, Peter Pack Rat, Star Wars, Empire strike back, return of jedi,sorry, but i can say you, i look for my personal highscorelist. and then i want my ultimate Battle of 100; that would be my game of tron...thrones....Uuuuuiiieeeeh..what---
Yeah there's a couple instance of spliced footage in this run. It happens again near the end of the race. Like I get it, it's hard but you should've either spliced better or just admitted to using save states xD _Razzle Joestar_
I always considered the music for level 2 to be the iconic theme for the game.
That's the level most people played at.
Amen
kilroy987 my favorite
yup
For those of you who enjoyed the soundtrack, some sad news: Brad Fuller, who composed the music for this and many other games, passed away from pancreatic cancer on January 3, 2016. R.I.P.
+Trevor White Sad to hear that!
+Trevor White :(
+Trevor White Sad to hear. His work left an imprint in my mind until I die, most likely. I played the hell out of that game and love, love, love the soundtrack and effects.
Sorry to hear this. May that 2nd level music live forever!!
Totally! That 2nd level score was the best!
Holy balls, that was awesome! Never seen anyone finished the entire game so quickly. Thanks for posting this. Loved the game, the music and all the arcade memories.
Nobody played this, must be some minty cabs left
Game is so detailed and smooth for its time. Wel done Atari.
Wow! Who knew. I never got past level 3. I only played it a few times. It's quite a work of art with the graphics and the avante garde soundtrack. Thanks so much :)
Everything about this game is avant garde.
That was great! I never made it to that last race when I played this almost 40 years ago.
I remember BEATING this in the arcade…. and I was the first person I seen beat it. Roller ball controller made me sweat trying for quite a while to complete it. When I was done I was surprised to see The rest of the arcade was mostly empty.. but a handful of dudes crowded around to watch me end the game…. he he. Great times.
The Stereo-Sound was so ingenious(goosebumps) . I saw only one person in the Video Game Hall, he could play this to the End-Goal!
everyone was blown away if you showed them this back in 84/85..the graphics were amazing at that time..still looks good though.
this made the purchase of an atari trakball controller worthwhile.
The graphics is incredible for 1984!
LOVED this game and dumped so many coins in...never made it past the level you go upwards. That was hard. Thanks for the trip down memory lane
2:48 that illusion with the bridge is killing me 😂😂
Wait till you see the bridge in Rolling Madness 3D
Thanks, I'd never noticed it before.
Bloody hell. That's some doing. I remember when this came in a massive big arcade cabinet when I used to play. Brought back memories. The only problem I found with this game is that there are not enough levels.
well, this was a revelation. I had no idea you could shatter the Steelie by landing on it at the end of the catapult shot!
That was surprising to see for sure!
0:34 - Go to the top chute for 4000 points and pick up time.
This game is very difficult. You have to be superhuman just to even beat it.
I beat it in the arcade when it first came out. Was sweating up a storm. Had a crowd of dudes watching me at the end, too. Great times.
This soundtrack has been forever burned into my memory.
Great abstract game mechanic but man, the sound design on this game was amazing. Everything from the iconic Stage 2 theme to that satisfying little techno-trill as your marble crosses the “GOAL” line.
Really puts it over the top.
what a incredible audio compartment it had.top atari
This was the first game to use the YM2151 sound chip.
This chip would later be used very often by SEGA, as well as on Capcom’s CPS-1 board.
Pure FM synthesis. Sounds like every cheap module Yammy did from later on. The use of stereo as a compositional sort of tool is great.
Wow I forgot all about this game. I used to love it. That music is great.
Dope music and sound effects.
Thanks for posting. This is my favorite videogame soundtrack; it's so unique and the melodies stick with you for (many) years.
I'm used to thinking of this as an NES game . . . had no idea they made a arcade cabinet version
and a Specrum 48k and Commodore 64 and possibly Amiga500 too :) All before the NEs version.This Arcade version is the original.
considering the hardware capabilities, the NES port of Marble Madness is one of the best
pegelpuk I actually do think the NES version is possibly the most accurate version to the arcade original, despite the fact that it's a hardware generation removed from the arcade cabinet while other ports aren't!
I'd say "because" rather than "despite", as the way they made licensed home versions in those times was to let the programmers play the game and then make something from scratch based on their impressions. The CGA IBM-PC port I had was basically navigating a flat picture of the map with rectilinear controls.
+pegelpuk the NES port (version) Marble Madness one of the best ports (versions) 😆😆😆😆😆
I remember during the easy levels the ball was nearly off the screen at the bottom, had to slow down lol.
This is like being in hell, the black empty space at the background, all the effects and the weird music, the creepy enemies and their tactics, all seems as a nightmare, like the "Robocop Robo-Cain" from robocop 2, a human mind trapped on a computer machine suffering panic
One of my all time favs!
Loved thus game when it was in my local arcade. So difficult against a timer though. From memory I got to level 3!
This is one of those games where it was so hard for me that i didn't like it, but not so cheap that i didn't have a decent respect for it. And, it looked and sounded cool.
A lot of Atari's arcade games from '84 and onward all had some sort of Paperboy sound effects because this one has the extra life cue that plays on Paperboy.
This was a System 1 game. Paperboy was System 2. Marble Madness came out in 1984. Paperboy came out in 1985. Don't you think it is FAR MORE LIKELY that Paperboy used Marble Madness sound effects instead of vice-versa?
An awesome soundtrack indeed. Many quarters I had died in this game back then lol
I liked games like this, where after a few levels, you were "rewarded" with easy levels that neutered the enemies. Sort of like the tiny, squishy enemies in this, or the non-firing enemy plane levels of Capcom's 1942.
I only remember this game because of a Gameboy version that also had KLAX on it. The game would say Game Over after you reached the goal of Intermediate Race. I never knew why it just abruptly ended that way.
Man, this looks and sounds a lot like a Sega Genesis or DOS game, and this was release 10 years before I was born!
it was first of its kind with using a synthesizer. and it even is the same exact chip that would still be used into the early 90s in games like street fighter 2 etc.
I absolutely loved this game.
I hope somebody someday makes this world in full 3D for use with VR. I have dreamed countless hours of exploring what was just over the horizon of this incredibly enticing world. Can you imagine the crazy alien ecosystem that could exist here? What are the tubes that want to eat the silica ball? Is the acid actually a goo of nano machines? Oh I love it....I
work out a decent concept for 3D VR and sell it to Atari for a million ;)
1:25 sega?
Nice catch! Makes you wonder...
1:27 The yellow horns start to join in with the 'SEEEEEEGGAAAA!' logo...but a bit late🤣
Que de bons souvenirs. Merci.
Addictive ONLY until the 6th level's beaten??? I beg to differ. I've been playing this game on NES since I was 5. I still to this day play it nearly every day, even after being able to beat it every time. This is one of those games I can't put down simply because I want to see if I can beat my old high scores.
This game was a masterpiece of Atari and the sound and it was not unfair, because i watch somebody he could do that, it was very sad, that Merkur Spielothek forbidden any video-cams, whatt a pitty, we never could look this masterpiece of videogameplayer. I know only he was a moto bike driver from kawasaki 1000 or i'am not sure; he was some of the best from Lehniner Platz Kudamm Merkur Spielothek mit filmverbot.
wow the black marble is far more aggressive in this version, he was like "IMGONNAGETCHU! IMGONNAGETCHU-WHOAH!
I love Marble Madness❤️
Today: "Meh only 20 hours of game play? I won't buy that."
Marble Madness in the 80s: "watch me getting beaten in under 5 minutes"
I played it yesterday with a friend for the first time. The furthest we got was 1:56. But we couldn't even get the ball to roll as fast as seen in the video! And we rolled those track balls with all the power we had D:
Could be the controller was old and needed fixing/oil….
What lol, so in the arcade, that’s it, over that fast, and I still couldn’t beat it lmao
I have only played the NES version of this game, but this sounds FAR better than the NES version, and I liked that version.
awesome game, but not enough levels
What do you mean? This is a 1984 arcade game from Atari.
It was hard enough just to learn how to make it through level 2. Many quarters and time spent on this game.
Since you've shown me the 1980s VGs (video games); I really wish I did have a foul mouth reprobate with a conscience, sensitize me when I was a hard core looney, in every bygone era such as like including the mid 1960s you name/mention.
Why do I find everything about this so unsettling
Looks like it was made by the same people who made Spindizzy on the Amstrad CPC.
ATARI was & is my favourite, so many classic perfect Arcade Game, but the was this "pads" video game "Yoisticks"; Marble Madness, Missele Command, Peter Pack Rat, Star Wars, Empire strike back, return of jedi,sorry, but i can say you, i look for my personal highscorelist. and then i want my ultimate Battle of 100; that would be my game of tron...thrones....Uuuuuiiieeeeh..what---
Only the So-called Computer can finish all the level s ... From Cyclone loc's Victor Trejo Jr...
Favorite game!!!!
This doesn't look like an arcade game, it looks like a PC game.
I love me some first person shooters, but that genre has all but killed creative gaming.
check the title, plus midway published a lot of atari games on the arcade like Primal Rage for example :)
Serious question: I can't get the ball to move that fast on the arcade version, not even if I go from trackball to joystick...what's the deal?
You need a good track ball. If it’s old, you have no way to win.
1:25 SEGA
haHAA, never noticed that
hahaha, but is very similar
Good job, made it look easy to beat.
what's with the cut at 3:10 - did I catch you?
I wondered about that as well as the sudden drop in the time remaining.
The quality of the sound is very good. Is this recording from the original Atari arcade machine, or maybe from an old Atari home computer?
0:29 Marble: oh no
Weird editing on that last level but nice playing.
Whoever did the soundtrack on the Sega version massacred this soundtrack
Great ball wafting game
How?!!!!
Aquela gameplay que você assiste e quer comprar um Yamaha DX7...
best game ever
0:21 Marble: running
This is America
4:03 marble and good night
How crap the first level now seems
This game is too tough for me.
0:31 marble: oh no I die
Great game.
0:24 Marble: 😡
Mom: Dinner in 4 minutes!
Me:
Atari Will Always Kick Ass On The Arcades!
1:34 lol
and I still cant beat level 3...
3:11 have you cut the scene???
Yeah there's a couple instance of spliced footage in this run. It happens again near the end of the race. Like I get it, it's hard but you should've either spliced better or just admitted to using save states xD
_Razzle Joestar_
but this is midway.
Boring hard game!
It’s a different game in the Arcade using track ball. I beat it there… once. But it was tough.