PixlBit

It's pinball as you've never seen it before, with Sonic as the pinball!

One of the first major spin-off games for the Sonic series, Sonic Spinball was developed by Sega Technical Institute (Sega's American branch), developed by Sega, and released for the Genesis in 1993. It was then ported to all of Sega's consoles. Since pinball was one of the inspirations for Sonic's creation, it was obvious that we would eventually get a Sonic pinball game, and it didn't take long. Sonic, of course, rolls up to become the pinball. The game has four tables based on Sonic's cartoon adventures.

The instruction manual gives us the story: "The evil scientist Dr. Robotnik has unleashed his most diabolical plot yet to turn the animals of Planet Mobius into robots. His monstrous contraption, the Veg-O-Fortress, built on Mt. Mobius, is already transforming happy creatures into mindless slaves! Robotnik's fiendish machine draws its power from the mountain's volcano. Fiery lava fuels the lethal Pinball Defense System that protects the Fortress. Sonic and his pal Tails mount an air assault on the Fortress, only to be blasted in mid-flight by Robotnik's cannons. Sonic is knocked into deep waters near the volcano. But he has friends in wet places--and is saved at the last moment!"

Pretty goofy, right? Pinball Defense System? Anyways, Sonic sneaks into the Toxic Caves beneath the fortress and begins infiltrating, making his way to the top. Along the way, he'll need to save the animals and find the chaos emeralds. The four tables include Toxic Caves, Lava Powerhouse, The Machine, and Showdown. Each area is quite large with different sections, plenty of switches and buttons to push, and tunnels to speed through. You can control the left and right flippers by using the A and B buttons on the controller. You can also move Sonic while in the air using the D-pad, and can move him around if he lands somewhere.

In each level, you'll have to get access to new areas by opening hatches via hitting switches; once the hatch is open, you can move to that area. Your goal is to collect the chaos emeralds which are hidden in each level. Once you collect all three emeralds, the boss room will open up (which you must find) so you can beat the boss. It sounds easy, but these areas are huge! This means it can take a long time to beat a level. There's a screen at the top that will give you hints and keep your score. It will say stuff like "Good Job, Sonic!" when you're racking up points and "Too Baaaaad" when you die.

Between levels you'll get to play a bonus game on a real pinball table using a real pinball in which you try to free trapped animals. Of course, Robotnik has to get in your way. You'll have three pinballs to use, and during the time you can actually shake the table to help you out. It's a fun diversion from the main game.

Sonic Spinball is really a game about exploring. Each table has plenty of places to explore, and you'll have to explore each one in order to find all the chaos emeralds. But here we find the game's biggest flaw. If you die, you must open up latches or hatches you had previously opened AND you must acquire any chaos emeralds you already got. In other words, you have to start over! To make things worse, you only have three lives. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so easy to die. Sonic can easily slip off platforms and fall to his death (which happened to me WAY too many times). This means that only the most patient players will be able to make it through to the end of the game. In short, the game starts out fun, but quickly becomes a chore and can be very frustrating. If anything, pinball should never be frustrating.

Final Verdict--3 Stars: It's Okay

I was hoping to give this game a higher score, but in the end, it's simply "Okay." It's very easy to die, and many times you'll bounce around in the same area trying to get through a certain part but finding yourself frustrated. The game would have been much better if they allowed you to carry over everything you had done after you died. The only thing you DO carry over is your points, but who cares about points when poor Sonic is falling into toxic waste?

You may find enjoyment in this game. If you really love pinball games, give it a try. It's available on tons of platforms, so you won't have trouble finding it. But be warned, it may lean closer to the frustration side than the fun side. If you have the patience for it, go for it. Maybe Sonic will fare better when you're at the flipper controls.

Join me every Saturday as we take a look back at all kinds of retro games, good and bad.