Switchball is perfect for the more casual, Xbox Live Arcade market. Its graphics, while looking excellent, have a very simplified feel to them that probably wouldn't sell very well if it was a standard store retail release. Each of the worlds have a very distinct feel to them, not only because of the changing styles of the objects in and on the levels themselves, but also because of the background and any other visual effects that might accompany the level (like falling snow in the Iceworld levels). The various forms of the ball also have very distinct colorings and looks, so that you can always be sure which type of ball you are controlling. The Metalball is large and shiny with lots of pits in it while the Airball is larger, but has a distinctive beach ball feel to it. It's the attention to detail that makes this game fun to watch and enjoy visually.

Switchball's audio isn't all that bad either. The background music, while always staying out of the way, has a tune that is very fitting to the world you are in, while the sound effects just feel right. Nothing is more satisfying than the sound you get when you ram your Metalball into a group of heavy boxes and nothing is more depressing than the electrical sound you hear when you accidentally get that same ball attached to a magnet.

It isn't that much of a secret that I really enjoy puzzle games, and this particular type of puzzle game is high on my list. There have been plenty of these games to come out over the years, and while they all but died out for a long time, there has been a resurgence of them recently. Everything from Mercury to Marble Blast Ultra to Marble Mania have tried, and typically succeeded, in capturing the fun simplicity of trying to navigate a ball through a strange maze full of environmental hazards to the finish line, and Switchball also does a really solid job of this.

What makes Switchball stand out a little from these other games is the ability to change between four different types of balls, and the puzzles that surround those types. You can morph your ball into the normal Marbleball, the Metalball, the Airball or the Powerball by rolling through specific morph points. Each ball has its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, the Metalball is heavier and while that means it can push larger crates around, it can also tear through items like sheets (which may or may not be the best thing). The Airball can be rolled up steep ramps a lot easier and can be filled with helium so it can float for a limited amount of time, but if you are near a fan, it can push you off of the level. As you can probably tell, there will be a lot of puzzles that will require you to change the state of your ball, move the environment around some and, more than likely, morph back into the previous state because the next leg of the level might be a bit too dangerous for that particular ball.

Not only does the game offer a fairly large single player game, but you can also take part in several levels that are specifically designed for co-op play, as well as races to see which of up to eight players can get through a level the fastest. While these multiplayer aspects have a semi-tacked on feel to them, it is nice that they are there, but the main focus of the game is the single player mode.

Switchball has its ups and downs in the difficulty department. The game does a good job of slowly building up the more complicated levels and harder to get through obstacles, and almost every platform has a puzzle that isn't quite what you've seen before. But there seems to be times when the level I am playing through feels significantly easier than the previous one, or there is a really hard level stuck in the middle of a world, where it would have felt better near the end. Of course, like many puzzle games, once you figure out what you need to do in order to progress, it can be easy to duplicate, but there are a lot of times in this game when timing is critical, especially if you are trying to beat an existing time or get a gold on the level. But then again, if you aren't the type that cares about maxing out your score with each puzzle and you just want to get through the levels without regard to the time, then the game probably feels a lot easier.

The controls for Switchball really couldn't be easier. While some similar games might have odd or complex controls that will not only let you manipulate your ball, but also jump or perform special moves, you pretty much spend your entire game rolling your ball around with the Left Analog stick and rotating/zooming your camera with the Right one. The only time you have anything more complicated to deal with is when you have the Powerball and you want to perform its action with the (A) button.

At 800 points, this is a mid-priced game and, for fans of the genre, it is definitely worth the price. I found hours of enjoyment in the game and its varied worlds, and while many of the puzzles seem easy at first glance, there are a lot that will keep you tied up for a while.