Pinball (game)

Pinball is a game for the NES released in 1984. It is based on the arcade machine of the same name.

Gameplay
Pinball is a game where the player controls the paddles of a virtual pinball machine. The game has two screens to represent the traditional pinball table and one for a bonus mode. Play begins when the player launches a ball with the plunger from first screen—the bottom of the pinball table—through the top of the screen to the second screen. Play will move to the first screen if the ball falls through the bottom of the top screen and will return to the top screen if the ball is hit back through the space at the top of the first screen.

If the ball falls through the hole to the right bottom at the top level, the player will enter a mini-game featuring Mario and Pauline.

The player controls the paddles on either screen to deflect the ball to keep it from falling off the bottom of the lower screen.

Mario mini-game
In this Breakout-like mode, the player will control Mario (in his NES Mario Bros. palette) carrying a platform. The objective of this mode is to rescue Pauline (previously seen in Donkey Kong). The player achieves this by bouncing the ball off Mario's platform and hitting various targets, the destruction of which also earns them points. When the blocks under her are all gone, she will drop. Catching her on Mario's platform earns the player bonus points, but allowing her to hit the ground causes the player to lose.

Staff
Hirokazu Tanaka is credited for creating original music for Pinball.

Pinball-e
In 2002, Pinball was released as Pinball-e for the e-Reader, the add-on device to the Game Boy Advance.

Card 1 of 5/codes 1-2
English flavor text: Get the highest score possible by hitting targets with the pinball.

+ Control Pad Operates left flippers

L Button + R Button Resets game to Title Screen

START Start/Pause

SELECT Selects game mode
 * Game A is beginner mode
 * Game B is expert mode

A Button Releases pinball Operates right flippers

B Button Same as A Button

Card 2 of 5/codes 3-4
HOW TO PLAY Your first pinball will appear at the bottom of the plunger lane, in the lower right corner of the screen. The A Button launches the pinball onto the table. The longer the A button is held down, the harder the pinball will be hit with the plunger.

Once the pinball is on the table, use the flippers to hit it. You can direct the pinball to aim for targets, hit the correct combination at the slots, and unlock the Mario mini-game. If three pinballs are lost, the game is over.

Card 3 of 5/codes 5-6
SLOT TARGETS


 * A 3-3-3 combination gives you a 3,330 point bonus and the block post is raised for six seconds.


 * A 7-7-7 combination gives you a 7,770 point bonus and the block post is raised for 14 seconds.


 * A three-penguin combination raises the block post and all points earned while it is raised are doubled.

TIP: The block post is lowered when the pinball goes through the lane on the right hand side of the table.

Card 4 of 5/codes 7-8
SCORING An extra pinball is earned at 50,000 points.

The flippers and block post disappear after 100,000 points and reappear after 150,000 points. Knock out one lane light in the top left corner and receive 100 points. Knock out all lane lights and receive 2,000 points.

Each card that is turned over by the pinball is worth 500 points. If five spades are turned over in a row, you'll receive a 5,000-point bonus and the block post is raised.

Card 5 of 5/code 9
MARIO MINI-GAME You'll be able to play this game when you direct the pinball into the hole on the right of the cards.

Use the + Control Pad to move Mario, rebounding the balls that come down. When the lady appears at the top of the screen, prevent her from falling. If she does fall, position Mario so she can catch her.

Tips
 * If Mario doesn't catch her, you lose a ball.
 * If Mario catches her safely to the exit, you'll receive a 10,000-point bonus.
 * If Mario drops her on the way to the Exit, you lose a ball.
 * If you lose a ball, the mini-game will end.

Arcade Archives series
In a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2017, Nintendo announced a port of the multiplayer arcade version of Pinball, VS. Pinball, for the Nintendo Switch as part of 's  series, although a release date is yet to be announced.

Trivia

 * Pinball is the first released video game that Satoru Iwata programmed for Nintendo; his first Family Computer project, a 1983 home conversion of the 1982 arcade game Joust, remained unreleased for over four years until its eventual 1987 production by HAL Laboratory.
 * Technically, this is the first game to depict Mario's girlfriend from Donkey Kong as a brunette, predating the 1994 Donkey Kong remake for the Game Boy.