On the planet Orb live a gang of notorious Madballs who decide what is passed
through parliament. They have no leader, and this is where a ball simply known
as Dust Brain comes in. It is his quest to persuade the other Madballs on the
planet to join him in his quest for power, and he does this by bumping them
off the multi-directionally scrolling platforms. Once a Madball has been
persuaded, it appears in a tube at the bottom of the screen. When a Madball
ends up in the tube, Dust Brain must find the ‘downtube’ exit so that he can
pursue other Madballs.

While searching for other Madballs, Dust Brain encounters many obstacles that
include trampolines, springboards, catapults, ramps, pyramids, and oil slicks;
and these obstacles can either help or hinder Dust Brain. Each platform has
its own dustbin, and if Dust Brain bounces over this, he changes into a
Madball already in the tube. Also, he will make contact with three bureaucrats
who will make his task harder, but they can also be pushed of the edge of
platforms, giving Dust Brain plenty of time to bounce around before the
bureaucrats have the chance to resurrect themselves.

Each Madball has its own speed and strength, and it can be difficult for a
strong Madball to fall off a platform. Each of them also have their own energy
source, which include cabbages, fish heads, bones, and Coke. When eight
Madballs have been persuaded, this tube is full. When the active Madball falls
off the platform, another one takes its place. When the last Madball in the
tube falls off the platform, his quest for power has failed.

Madballs