Platform: iOS

Developer: Peiying Huang

Publisher: Oye Faction

Release date (NA): October 22, 2013

Genre: Marble shooter, casual

Nerd Rating: 7 out of 10

Similar games: Sparkle, Luxor.

Reviewed by Brazil75

To learn how marble shooters work, please read review of Sparkle HD.

Fireball is a decent little game, despite a slow beginning with oversized marbles (in this game they are called eggs and your shooting device is supposed to be a turtle) and a short range that makes accurate aiming kind of chancy. Luckily the “eggs” get smaller in further levels (69 levels in total for this game as of the January 1st, 2014).

There was a real effort made on the graphics as they are above average. The developer could use the services of a decent translator for this English version! Supposedly you can get rid of the ads when you reach a certain level. It is a lie. You have a banner remaining at the top of your screen which interferes with your shooting (very very annoying.) The easy level is actually quite difficult and becomes downright frustrating on some of the levels where the “flying eagle” makes an appearance. This game would be absolutely perfect for very young players if that easy mode was truly easy! There are no language or content issues. Maybe something to look for in the next update?

As in most marble shooting games, you can attempt to shoot away and clear from your string of marbles/eggs to avoid adding the wrong color when you are feeling pressured (if you have had a few fails and/or when you are getting close to the end point.). It works well in most cases but in this game, when a bird (the “flying eagle”) flies across your screen, it will not help. Your shooting turtle will become “disoriented” for a few seconds. You will not be able to aim during that time, you will shoot randomly. You can decide to wait through the few seconds of penalty in order to avoid the increasing the number of eggs on your string or just accept the fact that you have to deal with whatever comes, as you shot through the few seconds of madness.

This “flying eagle” creates a level of difficulty uncalled for on a “easy” level, it is frankly quite annoying.
You may try to replay again again any level giving you grief until odds are more in your favor. Some game factors, such as the flying eagle from hell, vary each time. You want that particular one to come in early in your game, when you have more time to recover; towards the end it will bury you.

It is a shame that when you turn the music off, it turns the “jungle sounds background” off as well (I thought it was very attractive and relaxing.)

Overall, this game -initially free- needs some fine tuning** but it is worth a try and possibly worth the 2$ in-app for support and to get rid of the ads. You will need to click on the shopping cart to access that option.

** fine tuning or revisions highly recommended for the likes of the description of the app as a “girl’s” game!?! (…because there are some flowers in the background, possibly???) mmmm…

Written by Nerd Bacon