The Ball (2010)

 PC
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 62
  3. Negative: 14 out of 62

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Othrandur
    Nov 13, 2011
    4
    On paper, this game might seem like a cross between Portal, Tomb Raider, and Twin Sector, but it sure doesn't feel that way when you play it. The graphics are nice enough, but nothing to fall on your knees for. The atmosphere might work if there were a decent plot, but it's basically: you fall in a hole, find a gravity gun and a big ball metal, so "obviously", these must be used to helpOn paper, this game might seem like a cross between Portal, Tomb Raider, and Twin Sector, but it sure doesn't feel that way when you play it. The graphics are nice enough, but nothing to fall on your knees for. The atmosphere might work if there were a decent plot, but it's basically: you fall in a hole, find a gravity gun and a big ball metal, so "obviously", these must be used to help you press the glowing blue and orange buttons. Oh, and to crush innocent monkeys. The whole thing just feels contrived and meaningless, so there's no sense of immersion and you're left shaking your head and asking, "why would someone have built this place?" You're always aware that you're in a game solving some artificial puzzles that are so simple, if sometimes awkward, that you wonder why they didn't just put the exit right by the entrance. And there's something missing: a hero/star/protagonist. You're certainly not it. In this game, you're nothing more than the guy who's taking the ball out for a walk. Your ability to interact with the environment is nil, except for the occasional blue button. The ball isn't it either. It's just a big, stupid ball that's in your way half the time. Damn thing isn't sentient or cuddly like a weighted companion cube. It's not the gun. All that does is tug at the big stupid ball or push at a handful of things, and usually not the things that you want to push. And it's not the environment either. It has about as much personality as the ball. It's not a completely horrible game. It's pretty and except when you get stuck between two pebbles and are forced to restart a level, it doesn't feel too badly crafted, but it's just not much fun or interesting or exciting. Oh, and I was going to give it a charitable 5, but this pet peeve of mine just lost it another point: the strength of a force field, like gravity, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. That means that if you're half the distance, it's 4 times stronger. If you're 100 times the distance, it's 10,000 times weaker. The gravity gun in this game has a constant strength regardless of distance, so you can tug at the ball from 300 yards as if it were on your lap, but it's too weak to lift the ball out of a hole if you shoot it point blank. Suspension of disbelief can only go so far.… Expand
  2. SuperTakashii
    Jan 22, 2011
    4
    This game looked so fun. The Ball whizzing around ancient ruins with some epic 3D graphics and puzzle elements thrown in. Yet when I played the game I found something very different to the generic Super Monkey Ball gameplay that I'm very fond of. A commonly overused and irritating gameplay element is the idea of pushing a ball around, trying to make sure it doesn't skid off the edge of theThis game looked so fun. The Ball whizzing around ancient ruins with some epic 3D graphics and puzzle elements thrown in. Yet when I played the game I found something very different to the generic Super Monkey Ball gameplay that I'm very fond of. A commonly overused and irritating gameplay element is the idea of pushing a ball around, trying to make sure it doesn't skid off the edge of the map. This is a horrible, gruelling form of gameplay that seemed to be made to be frustrating and stupid. Why anyone would base an entire game off it is beyond me. The Ball is huge, so you can't see what on earth you're firing it at. The graphics are poor and inefficient, constantly lagging. Even the screen resolution options are limited as if it was created in 2000, when about 4 screen resolutions were used. The game as a whole is frustrating and excruciating. The only place where this kind of game works is when you're in direct control of the ball.

    Generally, this game is a complete and miserable failure in most aspects. It had a lot of potential, but the developers almost seemed like they wanted to create a game around awful core gameplay.    … Expand
  3. HELLBOT
    Feb 7, 2011
    4
    Another dud! Played for mabye a hour. Unistalled and threw away. Nothing worse then a shooter without a gun. Just some big ball you have to drag around. Just plain boreing. PC gamer gave this the action adventure game of the year over assasins creed and Bioshock 2. It seems they need to get out more. Or mabye play a good game now and then.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
71
#71 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Absolute Games
    Mar 14, 2011
    50
    Teotl Studios had the concept and the tools they needed to make The Ball a great game; they only lacked patience and experience.
    Read full review
  2. PC Format
    Jan 29, 2011
    80
    Smart design... Lacks visual innovation. [Jan 2011, p.110]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 15, 2011
    70
    Stylish environments and smart puzzles create great working space for all virtual archaeologists with domesticated ball. Weak story and redundant duels prevent The Ball from becoming a new Portal. [Issue#199]
See all critic reviews »