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Metroid Prime Pinball Review |
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Written by Donny De Leon
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Tuesday, 25 July 2006 |
Is a free Rumble Pack enough of a reason to pick up this game. Find out Inside
Nintendo has tried to publish other pinball titles such as: Mario Pinball land, Odama and Pok?mon on multiple consoles, but none compare to this one. Metroid Prime Pinball is one of those games with unique features that other pinball games don’t have. It features many challenges such as: collecting artifacts, finding weapon upgrades and boss battles across different tables. The game makes good use of what the DS has to offer: DS wireless download, sound, graphics, and a new Rumble feature. All of this is displayed as a single display that spans through both DS screens.
“One of seven pinball tables”
When the game starts, you will be able to choose from 1 out of the 4 menus displayed on the touch screen. Unlike other DS games where you can choose to use your stylus, finger or D-pad, the does not feature touch-screen support (so much for Nintendo’s Touch Generation).
The 4 menu options are: Multi Mission, Single Mission, Wireless Mission and options.
In Multi Mission it takes you straight to a level selector. You can only choose 1 of 2 levels in the beginning: Pirate Frigate or Tallon Overworld. After you pass certain objectives, you can unlock extras for use in single mission.
Single mission is more of trying to get a high score, you can select different levels depending on how many you have unlocked.
Wireless mission is basically wireless download and play where you and up to 8 friends can battle each other. So far there is only 1 table for this feature and it looks like a rendition of Magmoor Caverns.
Options are basically turn either off/on the backlight and the rumble pack.
The graphics are some of the most impressive I’ve seen on the DS. The game is played from a top to bottom point of view just like other pinball games out there including the ones for real life. The game is mixed with 3D graphics and 2D like game play. The environment reflects those environments found on Metroid Prime with stunning details and mixed with element found in pinball.
“Collecting Missiles is hard enough”
The controls are very simple but some buttons have the same functions so you’ll have to be careful what you press otherwise it could cost you a ball. The flippers are controlled with either left or right on the D-pad or L or R buttons.
The controls are as follows:
A controls the right flipper,
B you can place bombs anywhere,
Y is used for Power Bomb, but first you have to acquire them first.
X is used for missiles in Combat mode.
Select has no function.
The game lacks the touch screen function. You can’t even use it to select menu options. The only thing the touch is used for is rocking the table. In combat mode you’ll be able to see Samus in her original form shooting at enemies. You can use left and right on the D-Pad to control her movements. She automatically shoots while you control her movement however you also have the option to shoot missiles if you want.
“Samus in combat Mode”
The music is one of the best features of the game, unlike other handheld games where you don’t even pay attention to the music because it sucks. The music is one of the major factors within the game because you actually listen to the music that is being played to get you motivated to reach for that high score.
All the musical score and audio effects from Metroid Prime made it into this portable pinball game. There is even a remix of the original Metroid theme when you play the level of pirate frigate. The remix is so perfect that I play the game just to listen to it. I wish I could download it but it’s no where to be found.
Lifespan: Metroid Prime Pinball’s multi mission will only last for so long. After wards you will take on single mission to try to beat your own high score, and eventually you’ll call your friends to play multi mission and in the end you’ll get tired and put the game away for a very long time. However like in real life, a pinball machine is not for just one person to enjoy. If you hold the high score eventually someone else will come and beat it. If you want to make the game last longer, just pass this game to your friends. Eventually one of them will get a higher score than you.
"Eventually one of your friends will beat your high score"
Closing Comments and Score:
Metroid Prime Pinball is the same as the Gamecube version of Metroid Prime only in pinball form. This is a fun game and the fact that it has a free rumble pack just makes things even better. Not to mention that the rumble pack works with other games as well. The game is short but takes a while for you to unlock every level and collect all the artifacts in each level. There are 12 artifacts scattered through out the entire game and finding all of them is a challenge.
Game Interface: Short Sweet and to the Point, but could have used a touch screen feature. 8/10
Graphics: Some of the best Graphics and Details I’ve seen in any DS game. 9/10
Controls: only a few buttons need to be used through out the entire game but sometimes you get confused and press the wrong button forcing you to loose one round. 7/10
Sound: All the music and Audio effects from the original Metroid Prime are here and the theme remix keeps forcing me to comeback. It’s just that perfect. 10/10
Life Span: Unless you pass this game to your friends, you like pinball games or if you’re like me and hooked into the theme remix this game is shorter than other handheld games, and the multiplayer doesn’t help this game at all. 7/10
Overall Score: 82% = B-
Reviewed by: NightHawk |
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