Pinball Smiley

Pinball first became popular in the 1950’s and 60’s and since then has remained a popular game for all those enticed by the magic that is caused by a ball, a spring, a couple of flippers and the ringing sound to tell you that your score has increased.

I have been known to try and better the scores of those who’ve gone before me on the pinball machine at coin-op amusement arcades so I was really pleased to get the chance to review Pinball Smiley.

As you would expect you start the game with a catchy and somewhat annoying tune which you can only switch off in the options menu. Unlike most other games out there, it presumes you’d like to hear the 80’s-esque ditty rather than asking first. Minor gripe over with, on with the review proper.

You get the option to start a new game or continue with an old one (should it have been interrupted previously). If you decide to continue when you have no game to carry on, you will simply start a new game.

The pinball table is pretty standard, two flippers at the bottom of the screen, ball catapult on the right side and an extra flipper at the top right of the screen. I’m impressed by how the ball moves as it travels around in a pretty realistic and random manner from the moment it’s launched. As you hit the left and right paddle (via pressing 4 and 6 or the left/right direction pad buttons), the ball will hurtle about the table picking up points with every ricochet off the various pads, bumpers and buttons.

As you press the right and left flipper buttons the lights on the various pads will illuminate in a rotating sequence. This twist in the interaction allows for quite a bit more playability to the game. Rather than trying to hit a really awkward button to complete a sequence through timing alone, you can aim for a much easier to hit sensor instead by rotating the colours around correctly – just remember you may have to rotate the sequence round by the paddle button presses as you could have to do it again otherwise. For completing these tasks objectives become highlighted, and for doing so you are rewarded by more bonus points.

I found the power from the paddles less than sufficient on many occasions as the top level of the table would be virtually impossible to reach and score from unless you got a lucky hit from a sprung buffer or got the ball to flick on with extra vigour from your additional paddle at the top end of the table.

In many ways it’s an authentic experience and behaves much as though a real pinball machine would. It doesn’t obviously feel like you’re playing on a full blown machine however as you can usually get more power from the flippers on such devices. It is a little confusing as to what you are to do at times and can be quite frustrating to score any huge figure. It would have benefited if it could be nudged by the motion detection function on the phone so you could help the ball get where you want it to. In truth, this is a good game and very enjoyable and a great way to practice your skills. I would have liked to have seen more pinball machines to play on to keep this games addiction levels high and variety in the challenge and appearance.

Rating 74%

Positives

Quite an authentic looking and feeling pinball game/machine

Enjoyable for anyone no matter what age

Tests your timing as well as luck

Negatives

Cheesy music

Not too much power from the flippers made the game a little annoying

No nudge facility

Only one table to play on and no rewards other than a high score for doing well