20-Nov-2003 Pokémon and pinball come together in a marriage made in heaven
They're everywhere! Resistance is futile. Accept their power and buy that novelty loo seat you were eyeing only last week. Snuggle under a Pikachu-adorned duvet cover, but only after you've brushed your teeth with a Pokémon-emblazoned toothbrush. It's the only way: buy everything and maybe they'll eventually bugger off.
But wait. Beneath the cynical marketing blitz lies a truth - Pokémon games are brilliant. There hasn't been an arse-sucking game yet. Fact. And Pokémon Pinball isn't going to buck that trend. It's probably one of the best handheld pinball games ever made.
One More Go... It's all to do with the way the developers have created two supremely playable pinball tables, then added the gaming crack of Pokémon collecting. It's a double whammy and tailor made for all kinds of gaming sessions, both long and short, thus appealing to obsessed rug rats and those wishing to sample the, um... cultural phenomenon of Pokémon without the hardship of travel-weary questing.
Obviously, you know how pinball works so we'll skip over that bit and get to the heart and soul of the game - collecting critters. Rather than the usual fare of hitting the ball and racking up mega-scores, Pokémon Pinball requires precision. Catching the damn beasts means having to direct the ball at certain sections of the tables, and doing it more than once, which injects skill into the equation. Not only that, but more often than not you're up against the clock as well.
But there's more to it than just collecting. You can buy stuff at the Poké Mart, go travelling to far-flung climes and take part in mini-games. You can even evolve captured Pokémon or hatch them from eggs. In short, it's a Pokémon party that anyone can join, and after just one go, you won't want to leave.
This will appeal to just about everyone. It's
fast and fluid for the casual player, yet has collecting and evolving for the obsessive. Go on, give in - you know you want to.
Just like in the 'real' world of Pokémon, catching the little blighters is easier said than done. You'll need patience, skill, a cool head and a little luck... You know the score.
Smash the Pokémon that appears three times and it’s yours. Gotcha!
Now fire a ball right into Sharpedo’s open cake-hole to activate Catch ’Em mode
Hit the Poké-bumpers until the Pokémon panel is revealed in the play area beneath
Just like in the ‘real’ world of Pokémon, catching the little blighters is easier said than done. You’ll need patience, skill, a cool head and a little luck… You know the score.
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