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Marvel Pinball

 

 

SCORE: 81

 

Marvel Pinball 

 

ZEN Studios has crafted four amazing pinball tables based on some of your favorite Marvel Superheroes. These four tables are based on Wolverine, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Blade. If you’re a fan of any or all of these iconic heroes you’ll definitely want to check out Marvel Pinball.

The visual presentation of Marvel Pinball is outstanding. Not only has the Marvel license been used to its fullest potential, it has also been done extremely well with great respect for the source material. Each table contains an insane amount of detail creating the closest thing you’ll find to an actual pinball table. As if creating visually stunning tables weren’t enough, the extent to which the Marvel characters are utilized is sure to please fans. Each table takes on the personality of its hero. The Wolverine table for example has a rugged, worn look with slashes gouged into the wooden frame while the Iron Man table looks high-tech and pristine. The tables all feature an animated 3D figure of each hero as well as villains with whom to do battle. Spidey’s table for instance features 3D animated versions of the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Mysterio. And if enjoying these tables during gameplay isn’t enough, you can enter “Free View” mode for a close up look at the table where you’ll really see just how much time was put into designing these layouts. For parents wondering what potentially offensive content may have found its way into the game, you’ll be pleased to know that it is very minimal. The only real issue I can see here for parents is the Blade table in general. If you’re not familiar with Blade, he’s a vampire and thus his table features much imagery along these lines. While Blade is a vamp of the friendly, sun loving variety, his foes are not. Parents can expect to see demon-like imagery while playing this table as well as a dark and depressing theme. Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Iron Man all have tables featuring bright colors and virtually no negative imagery. I should note that Peter Parker can be seen briefly smooching his special lady and a scantily clad female appears on Wolverine’s table.

The audio in Marvel Pinball matches the quality of the graphics. The music is sure to get your heart pumping and perfectly suits each hero. The sound effects are top notch and help to create a realistic pinball experience. One of my favorite aspects of the audio in this game is the banter that takes place between heroes and villains as you play. Spider-Man and the Green Goblin have some particularly amusing dialog and you’ll definitely feel the rivalry between Wolverine and Sabertooth. Again the downside here will be the Blade table where Frost proclaims himself a “god among the undead” and the “first vampiric deity”. I didn’t detect any other potentially offensive audio on the other tables with the exception of Wolverine and Sabertooth occasionally threatening to kill one another.
If you’re looking for replay value, Marvel Pinball fits the bill. This is one of those games that you can just pick up and play…and then find it hard to put down and stop. With several different modes, missions, and battles on each table to partake in, players will have plenty of excuses to come back for more. Players can also compete locally or on-line with friends. With on-line leaderboards you can try to dethrone the top scorers and work your name to the top of the list. The PlayStation 3 version of the game also features trophies that are awarded for certain accomplishments within each table. Marvel Pinball carries a price tag of about $10. You’ll be hard pressed to find a game with a better cost to replay ratio.

The gameplay of Marvel Pinball is just plain fun (if you like pinball that is). The design of the tables is great and the physics in the game will make you feel like you’re playing an actual game of pinball. The controls are simple: press and hold X to determine the strength you want to put behind the plunger and then use L1 & R1 for your flippers. The game makes great use of the vibration feature on the PS3 controller to give you a little feedback during gameplay. Each table definitely has its own unique feel to it and you’ll need to adapt your style to be successful. While all of the tables are truly fun, I personally found the Wolverine and Blade tables to be the most enjoyable overall. This is certainly subjective and will vary depending on the player. Each table also provides players with a “Rule Sheet” in the options menu. These sheets will give you tips on how to win battles and enter the different modes of play.

Marvel Pinball is a great family friendly game for fans of the world of Marvel Superheroes. Pinball is simple enough for even young players to grasp and yet provides plenty of challenges for older family members. I must again caution parents that the Blade table may be too intense for younger family members and does contain a demonic tone. Marvel Pinball allows players to choose which tables they want to play, so if you feel that you’d like to enjoy the game’s other tables you can simple avoid playing Blade. ZEN Studios has produced a top notch pinball game that is certain to get Marvel Comic fans drooling. ZEN has also promised to offer players more tables in the future, which is definitely something I’ll be looking forward to.
-Roger

 

Graphics: 77%
Sound: 78%
Replay/Extras: 86%
Gameplay: 87%
Family Friendly Factor: 78%
System: Playstation 3/Xbox 360
Publisher: ZEN Studios
Rating: 'E' for Everyone
{Mild Fantasy Violence}

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Roger@familyfriendlygaming.com