Pinball machines were once a mainstay of the American arcade experience, but as the decades wore on their numbers dwindled. As the real thing’s presence evaporates from the fading modern arcade gaming scene, the virtual versions on other gaming platforms are perhaps all we will have left of the genre. Due to the uniqueness of the pinball machine’s tall format, its translation to smaller screens has frequently met with problems. On the portable platforms in particular, the pinball games too often felt cramped and lacked the myriad enticing targets that the authentic articles possessed. Developers either employed a disorienting scrolling screen, which hampered planning, or instead pared down the table content to fit on one tiny screen, neither being a satisfying solution. However, the stacked dual screens of Nintendo DS are uniquely qualified to take on the pinball genre, and Metroid Prime Pinball represents one of the best translations of pinball yet onto a portable platform.
Starting from your choice of two initial levels, the basic flow of the game is a mission-based format where completed missions earn artifacts. After earning enough of these artifacts, you are allowed to advance to a different level. The missions range from the usual hitting of static targets to squashing moving enemies and timing-based button pressing games. There are also combat-oriented missions where Samus stands in the middle of the level and shoots at an onslaught of critters as you guide her aim with the paddle buttons. The game’s controls are straightforward, as the user can use either the triggers or the crosspad and buttons to control the paddles. To "bump" the table, the user can quickly flick the touchscreen with either the left or right thumb to nudge the table from that direction.
On the whole, the game is actually quite combat oriented, more so than people may initially expect from a pinball title. You actually do have a health meter, and if Samus gets crushed by debris or get munched on by Metroids too long, you’ll lose the ball. Samus can fight back by laying down bombs with the B button, which is the primary way you destroy enemies.
"...the use of weaponry in a pinball game is quite novel..."
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Some levels feature boss battles, where you will even employ missiles and super-bombs. This added dimension of the use of weaponry in a pinball game is quite novel, and it gives you a lot more to think about during play than just where you should hit the ball.
Many Metroid fans will check out this game based on the pedigree of the series alone, and Nintendo made sure to not disappoint them. Indeed, this game does a great job of integrating its theme, and fans will enjoy all the references to previous Metroid titles. Every level is based on a world from one of the previous titles, and the music tracks are recognizable remixes of Metroid tunes past.
"...this game does a great job of integrating its theme..."
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Familiar enemies make their appearances, but beating them in pinball form may require more resourcefulness. Unfortunately, a couple of the levels are maybe a bit too authentically dark colored, with the brighter levels like the Phendrana Drifts being welcome respites from the muddier look of some of the other levels.
The game doesn’t seem to require too much precision pinball skill, as there aren’t many tricky shots required of the player and almost all the targets are easy to hit. The minor boss battles are somewhat simple to win, with only the final boss being noticeably harder than the rest. This means that even pinball beginners will be able to get a lot out of this title. Still, it won’t take the average player more than a couple dozen or so plays through before they are on the threshold of beating the game. While the mix of mission types keeps the pace brisk, placating even short attention spans, it doesn’t take long to see all the game has to offer on this front.
"...it still really comes down to whether you find beating high scores fulfilling..."
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Despite six levels and various missions, in the end it still really comes down to whether you find beating high scores fulfilling. Unless you’re this kind of motivated gamer, it’s not really the type of game that you’ll come back to over and over after you’ve beaten it; there’s only so much to see. Regardless, it is an excellent title to keep around in portable situations to kill pockets of time. Very importantly, you have the luxury of going into suspend mode if you’re on an epic scoring run but need to go do something else.
The game also includes a multi-player mode where up to eight players can share one game pack. It’s worth noting as well that the game comes with a Rumble Pack accessory that plugs into the GBA slot, giving rather noisy force feedback during play. While the rumble feature as implemented in the game works pretty much like one would expect, the Rumble Pack is also compatible with Mario and Luigi Partners in Time and likely many other future titles.
While the game still boils down to a "beat the high score" title in the end, Metroid Prime Pinball is still one of the most comfortable and enjoyable portable pinball games yet made; it really does represent the state-of-the-art of its genre. Happily, we have one more title showcasing an example of the two screens of the DS doing the job better than one.
