Balls of Steel

Summary

Genre: Arcade
Number of players: 1

Review

As you have (hopefully) gathered from the rather crude title of this game, it is a pinball simulation game, featuring a total of five distinct pinball tables. On each table, your goal is the same, and just the same as in regular pinball: to score the highest you can, while keeping an eye on your balls. Sorry. Since it's a computer game, the designers were able to put in some features that would be physically impossible on a real pinball table, so there's at least some point in having the game rather than a real pinball machine. That, and the fact that it's a lot cheaper than buying five pinball tables.


Gameplay: First of all, the game is fast, and in places maniacal. Keeping track of your ball is never really a problem, but the speed of gameplay can take a bit getting used to. To make it easier, you can choose to have a non-scrolling screen (the standard mode shows you a bit of the table, moving up and down to follow the ball), although this makes everything a lot smaller.

Apart from being fast, the gameplay is certainly enjoyable too. It's not exactly what you'd call 'deep', but it's very addictive. On each table, there are a number of missions and bonus mode which move away from the ordinary 'pinging a steel ball around the table' state of play, which bring some variety, and there's enough to do that it never feels boring or repetitive. The five tables are highly distinctive, and feel totally different from one another. Simple fun, and just as well that you don't have to put in a few coins each time you play.

If there's a gripe, it's that sometimes the game feels a bit restrictive by the trickiness of hitting one or two tiny ramps on several tables. You often miss out on some enjoyable features by not being able to shoot these poorly-placed openings, and this can be a bit frustrating. However, there's plenty of other things to do, and the occasional bit of poor-design can be overlooked. Overall, addictive and enjoyable gameplay.


Challenge: Challenge is a bit of an interesting question. There's no real long-term objective in the game, apart from getting the highest score, although trying to attempt all the missions in one play often brings up secret missions. Other than this, you're basically doing the same thing over and over. Sure, it's fun, and frankly in a pinball game there's not a lot more the designers could put into the mix, but the fact remains that there's really no 'challenge' to speak of. Long-term appeal is definitely there, though, since there are plenty of tables and several bonuses on each. It's not tough, not easy, not really anything - but it's addictive, if mindless, entertainment.


Graphics: There's not much to say about the graphics. The overall graphical feel is a good simulation of a real pinball table, complete with a few extra effects like flames, monsters and exploding bombs. One particular graphical annoyance is the fact that when you switch the table view to non-scrolling, the table takes up only one half of the screen, with the entire right-hand side of the screen taken up with a single picture. This makes the table extremely small, and it can be a tiny bit tricky to make some things out. The scrolling screen, on the other hand, can make it tricky to properly aim the ball, and can result in missing it entirely when it comes back down. Other than that, the graphics are more than adequate, if not especially good.


Sounds: There is plenty of speech in the game, which all sounds clear and distinct, and definitely adds to the quality of the game. Background music is alright, fitting well with each distinctive table, and always remaining in the background, never becoming obtrusive. Perhaps a little sparse on some tables, though. The various bouncing, hitting and exploding noises are all fine, and appropriate enough. The sounds add to the game, but don't really stand out.


Summing up: A fun little game, particularly to fans of real pinball. Fast-paced and addictive gameplay, although the very nature of the game means there isn't that much hidden depth. Reasonable graphics and sounds consolidate the experience, but at the end of the day, it's a pinball game and no more.


Gamesmark: 74%


Reviewer: Maverik



Tangycheese's opinion: It's pinball. Bottom line. If you don't like pinball, don't buy it. It is quite good fun, balls move realistically, and the six tables give it some variation. But at the end of the day it is still pinball. You like, you buy.