iOS/Android Pinball

PinMike8666

New member
Feb 20, 2012
71
0
Since there are quite a few people on this forum that have a mobile device, I thought I'd make this thread. I have both an iPod Touch 4th generation and iPad 2.

Here's my two cents on the pinball games I've bought from the app store:

The Pinball Arcade needs no explanation; bought it, played it, love it. Even with the upcoming Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions (which looks really awesome), I will still get the new tables on my iPad since I love handheld gaming.

Zen Pinball is awesome. Nearly looks like the console versions and plays as well, too. Like all video games, I still prefer using a real controller over the touch controls, especially for nudging.

Pinball Dreams HD is a beautiful remake of the original that greatly improves on the ball physics engine and the flippers aren't as oversized. I also love the new nudge controls; simply touch the middle of the table to nudge. With some exception to The Pinball Arcade, I don't like nudging with the gyro sensor since it feels inconsistent and awkward. I would really love to see Pinball Fantasies, Pinball Illusions, Absolute Pinball, and Slam Tilt get similar treatment. Unlike the mobile releases of Dreams and Fantasies, this has Game Center support.

Retro Pinball is a very well made remake of three Epic Pinball tables (Android, Crash n' Burn, and Pangaea). Very fun little pinball package. No Game Center support, unfortunately.

Tristan Pinball is a very cool little remake of Little Wing's original pinball game. The game looks like a toy pinball game and the physics are really nice. Endless nudging for Arcade Mode, but the nudging feels quite limited. Rock n' Play Mode is worthless; in addition to endless nudging, you can rotate the table anywhere so the ball never drains. That mode should only be used as an impressive physics showcase. Still, this game comes recommended as it's still quite fun, just play Arcade Mode.

Pinball HD is simplistic pinball, but fun enough to recommend. Table layouts and modes are quite shallow and feel less rewarding than the vast majority of older PC pinball games. Still, it's simple fun with very nice graphics.

Frogger Pinball, from Fuse Games, is basically Metroid Prime Pinball with a Frogger theme. Nice little fantasy pinball romp, but less enjoyable than Fuse games other outings.

Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators is a nice port of the Sega Saturn original; however, this app is very insanely overpriced. The original Saturn release consisted of four tables in one package. This, on the other hand, requires $4.99 just for one table; the other three are sold separately for $4.99. Was a nice game to play on the Saturn, but a big-time ripoff on the app store, especially with no Game Center support. If you ever decide to buy this app, just buy the default table as it's the best one of the four.

While I only played it on my mother's Kindle Fire, Pinball Ride is actually a pretty fun no-frills pinball game. For $2.99, there are much better pinball games.

I also have Age of Pinballs, but I found it to be quite dull. Nice physics engine, though.

What are your thoughts on mobile pinball gaming?
 
Last edited:

Jay

Member
May 19, 2012
478
3
I really like Age of Pinball (formerly Theme Park Pinball). I'm blown away by the sheer number of tables you get. I've been less impressed by the one in-app purchase I made, Samurai. But ASK Homework really nailed the look and feel of the old Gottlieb style EM machines. Theme Park, Spaceman, Zombie Invasion, Cleopatra, Casino and Boxing Club can keep me amused for hours.

The main drawback with their tables: they're still really buggy. Balls vanish at random or get trapped with no way to release them. And the camera is often jerky. But outside of those complaints, I love those games.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Members online

No members online now.
Top