Pinball (game)
| Pinball | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD[citation needed] |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | NES, VS. System, Family Computer Disk System, e-Reader, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), Nintendo Switch (Arcade Archives, Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online) |
| Release date | Famicom/NES: February 2, 1984 October 18, 1985 January 9, 1986VS. System: August 1984 October 1984Disk System: May 31, 1989[1]e-Reader: September 16, 2002[2]Wii (Virtual Console): November 19, 2006 December 2, 2006 December 15, 2006 December 15, 2006Wii U (Virtual Console): October 23, 2013[3] October 24, 2013[4] October 24, 2013[5] October 24, 2013Nintendo Switch (Arcade Archives): August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online: May 26, 2022[6] May 27, 2022[7] May 27, 2022[8] May 27, 2022 |
| Genre | Pinball |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Media | Arcade:
Built-in NES:
 Game PakFDS:
Floppy disk Wii:  Digital downloadWii U: Digital download |
| Input | Arcade: Joystick NES:
Wii:  Wii Remote (horizontal)Wii U: Wii Remote (horizontal)Nintendo Switch:
|
Pinball is a game released for the Family Computer in 1984 and the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. It is based on the arcade machine of the same name. A competitive multiplayer version of this game was released on the VS. System under the name VS. Pinball. Hudson Soft had planned to release ports of Pinball for home computers in Japan in 1985, but these ports were cancelled for unknown reasons.[9] The Family Computer version was preceded by a Game & Watch version in December 1983.[10] However, this version has no Mario elements.
The NES version of Pinball was re-released on the Family Computer Disk System, for the Game Boy Advance's e-Reader as part of Series One, on the Virtual Console for the Wii and Wii U, and on the Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online application for the Nintendo Switch. VS. Pinball was re-released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch as part of Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives series on August 30, 2019.[11]
Gameplay
Pinball is a game where the player controls the paddles of a virtual pinball machine. The game has three scenes: Scene A, Scene B, and the Bonus Stage. The goal of the game is to achieve a high score.
Gameplay begins when the player launches a ball with the striker from the bottom of Scene A to the top of Scene B. Gameplay switches between Scene A and Scene B depending on where the ball moves. In Scene A and Scene B, the player controls the flippers on either side of the screen to deflect the ball. If the ball falls off the bottom of Scene B, the player loses the ball. If the ball falls through the hole in Scene B, it enters the Bonus Stage.
Bonus Stage
In the Bonus Stage, the player controls Mario carrying a platform. The objective of this mode is to rescue a lady by bouncing the ball off Mario's platform so it passes through bingo lamps. If all of the bingo lamps with a certain number become the same color, the floor above the lady decreases in size. If the gaps in the floor become too wide for the lady to jump over, she falls down. Mario must catch the lady using his platform and carry her to one of the exits on either side of the stage. If the lady reaches an exit, she reappears at the top of the screen. If Mario does not catch the lady or she falls off of Mario's platform, the player loses a ball. If the ball falls off the bottom of the screen, it exits the Bonus Stage and is ejected from the hole kicker in Scene A.
Controls
– activate striker; control left flipper
– control right flipper; control Mario in the Bonus Stage
VS. Pinball
VS. Pinball made several changes to the original game in graphics, music, and gameplay. If the player hatches three pink chicks and the ball falls off the bottom of Scene B, Bubbles from the game Clu Clu Land appears and returns the ball.
References in later games
- Family BASIC: This accessory to the Famicom features sprites of the lady and a penguin, which are very similar to the ones found in Pinball.
- Super Smash Bros. series: Mario's outfit on the American boxart of Pinball is used as one of Luigi's alternate costumes in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
- NES Remix / NES Remix Pack: Several challenges in NES Remix are based on this game.
Staff
- Hirokazu Tanaka - Music Programmer
- Satoru Iwata - Programmer
- Satoshi Matsuoka - Programmer
- Yukio Kaneoka - Composer
Gallery
Game logo
Title screen
Scene B
Sprite of Mario
Sprite of the lady
Animated sprite of a penguin
Japanese Famicom box art
- PinballJpalternateBoxart.jpg
Japanese alternate Famicom box art
VS. Pinball title screen
VS. Pinball English instruction card
Media
Pinball
 Title theme | File info |
| Bonus points jingle | File info |
VS. Pinball
| Start | File info |
| BGM 1 | File info |
| Bonus Stage | File info |
| Ball Saved ~ BGM 2 | File info |
| Game Over | File info |
| Unknown jingle | File info |
Trivia
- Pinball is the first released video game that Satoru Iwata programmed for Nintendo; his first Famicom 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.[12]
- Pinball is a playable NES game in Doubutsu no Mori for Nintendo 64 and its GameCube port, Animal Crossing.
External links
- Websites
- Japanese Wii Virtual Console website
- Japanese Wii U Virtual Console website
- North American Wii Virtual Console website
- North American Wii U Virtual Console website
- European website
References
- ^ Date info of Pinball (FDS) from TMK, retrieved 11/25/2012
- ^ Date info of Pinball (e-Reader) from TMK, retrieved 11/25/2012
- ^ http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/software/vc/fbnj/
- ^ https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/gMPhXsN2Ko1VQUoTKbr68CkvBKesOiif
- ^ http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/Pinball-820146.html
- ^ Nintendo (May 26, 2022). NES & Super NES - May 2022 Game Updates - Nintendo Switch Online. YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (May 27, 2022). ファミリーコンピュータ & スーパーファミコン Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル [2022年5月27日]. YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ @NintendoEurope (May 27, 2022). "These classic #SuperNES and #NES games are now available for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! ☑️ Congo's Caper ☑️ Pinball ☑️ Rival Turf!" Twitter. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ micomBASIC Magazine, June 1985 issue
- ^ Pinball at In the Attic. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/arcade-archives-pinball-switch/
- ^ Satoru Iwata – 1999 Developer Interview originally featured in Used Games magazine, translated by shmuplations.com
| Pinball / VS. Pinball | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Mario • Lady |
| Pinball Parts | Flipper • Lane • Slot window • Slot target • Up-post • Target • Lane light • Hole kicker • Bumper • Striker • Card • Card lane • Hole • Egg • Chick • Stopper • Side lane • Bingo lamp • Floor |
| Scenes | Scene A • Scene B • Bonus Stage |
