Ballance is a 3D puzzle video game for Microsoft Windows. It was developed by German studio Cyparade, published by Atari Europe, and first released in Europe on 2 April 2004. The gameplay is similar to Marble Madness, in that the player controls a ball via keyboard, moving it along a course while trying not to fall off the screen.

Gameplay

thumb|left|Screenshot from level 6

In the game, the player controls a rolling ball and must guide it throughout the game's 13 levels (12 levels originally; another downloadable level, level 13 "Speed", is available on the developer's homepage). It can be transformed into a wood, stone, or paper ball via specialized transformer pads, which give the ball varying weights, affecting gameplay.

The wooden ball is very stable and can be used for several puzzles in the game. The player initially launches into and leaves all levels with a wooden ball.

The stone ball is extremely heavy, and can be accidentally rolled off an edge very easily, but can easily push down specific objects like boxes and bridges. Furthermore, rolling a stone ball through a bridge made of planks will make the bridge collapse.

The paper ball is very light. Its surface is not smooth, unlike the wooden and stone balls, and so its movement is slightly variable. A paper ball can be blown into the air by ventilators and can roll up steep hills easily.

Two power-ups are available. and GOG, this time published by Ziggurat Interactive.

See also

  • Neverball
  • Switchball
  • Oxyd and Enigma

References

  • Cyparade
  • Ballance Developer Homepage – from web.archive.org