DaBargainHunta

If anyone has played both Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (is it even out yet?) and Sonic Pinball Party for GBA, please let us know which one is better.

I'm leaning toward the Pokemon game, but only because Sonic is so flippin' impossible to find (it's apparently only sold at Target - what the hell?). I prefer Sonic to Pokemon, but I'd rather invest money in the better pinball game - characters be damned. (Plus, Circuit City apparently has a deal on Pokemon starting next week - $24, I believe.)

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

PixyJunket

The first Pokemon Pinball was quite good considering. The original Sonic pinball on genesis was quite boring. However, i'm not sure how much this will translate into the new versions.

DaBargainHunta

I actually liked Sonic Spinball on Genesis (well, I like the GBA version of it that's available on THQ's Sega Smash Pack along with Golden Axe and Ecco The Dolphin). The new Sonic Pinball Party doesn't seem to be anything like that though. As far as I can tell, it's a much more traditional version of pinball (with some video game bells-and-whistles, of course).

drmoze

Sonic Pinbball Party bears *no* relation to Sonic Spinball (Genesis). SPP is a pinball sim; SS was more of a 'sonic-rolled-up-with-flippers' game that isn't a whole lot like pinball.

SPP has decent physics, and a decent layout for 2.5 boards. (The Samba board is very small and basic.) The goal is very repetitive and gets boring quickly--reach and defeat the same boss on each board. New "levels" merely change the graphics on the board. There's also an even more lame and boring casino mode that is very unbalanced and repetitive. I didn't even try the silly unrelated other options (the garden, etc.).

Based on the better concept in PP of collecting creatures, requiring advances to new locations, and a pokedex to fill, I think PPR&S will have more longevity and replay appeal. (Even though PP didn't have a large number of modes/targets.) I liked SPP for about 2 days, until I realized how repetitive and pointless it was. I'm hoping PPR&S will be better!

tanman

I really don't understand why they don't include more boards and more variety in video game pinball.

PixyJunket

Pinball Quest on the original NES is the best video pinball game ever (ignoring Alien Crush and Devil's Crush of coruse).

Outlaw

I thought I was the only one who played that game .

Pokemon Pinball Silver & Gold was damn addicting. Best, actually the only, pinball game I ever got addicted to. There's a lot to do in it, and mini-games too. I almost got to the last level on it and caught about 3/4 of the pokemon. If PP Ruby and Sapphire is anything like this one it should be awesome. I haven't played Sonic though.

drmoze

PokePinball R&S is *very* much like the first (GBC) game, which is a good thing. There are more lanes andramps to shoot at, but the basic rules and goals are pretty much intact. So much so that you can play PPR&S and understand the rules without even looking at the manual if you played the first one.

Animations are a bit better, of course, and it is definitely harder to hit the targets (ramps, lanes, bumpers) because they are narrower. The game scrolls smoothly bottom to top, and graphics are simple and sharp.

The best thing is that there's more 'collecting' to do here, which makes PPR&B more addictive as you try to fill up the pokedex. Ball physics are consistent and feel 'right.'

Overall, I think this has more replay value and 'one more time' factor than sonic pinball party. If you liked the first pokepinball game, you'll like this one even more.

Revoltor

Did HAL develop this one?

Galanthas

Pokemon Pinball:Ruby & Sapphire review at Gamespot 7.3
http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/p...l2/review.html

Sonic Pinball Party review at Gamespot 8.1

http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/p...l2/review.html

I was really looking forward to buying Sonic Pinball Party until Sega decided to only have Target sell the game in the U.S. I refuse to help fund stupidity.

azeledge

Well I've enjoy Sonic Pinball Party a lot. It's always in my GBA when I want a quick fix of gaming.

People are correct in saying that Sonic Pinball Party is not at all as the same as the Sonic Spinball for the Genesis.

Pinball Party is more traditional Pinball with videogame inspired boards. If you like Sega characters, it's jam packed with Sega stuff! (music characters from Sonic,Nights,Samba de Amigo, Chu Chu Rocket) It has several modes. Practice, Storyline, Casino, Chao Raising (like Sonic Adventure's) and Party mode to link up with your friends to play games on 1 cart. What you collect in the Sonic table is used in your Chao Raising and Casino modes.

Sorry I don't have the new pokemon Pinball yet but I did have the old one with rumble. I found that fun too.

Sonic Pinball Party is exclusive to Target but it shouldn't be too hard to find.

I'm sure you'll be happy with which ever one you get!

As far as my opinion goes. I'm very happy with Sonic Pinball Party!

Enjoy your Purchase!!!!


btw Pinball of the Dead is also a very good GBA pinball game! You can find that at most places for $15.00!

Goldberg74

Just picked up PPS&R... pretty fun game, my son loves to play it and so does my wife. I cleared 85M my second game, which is something I haven't come close too since.

Haven't played it on the GBA yet, but we have on the GBPlayer... I'd recommend it if that's what you are looking for.

As for SPP... no clue dude.

drmoze

In terms of general fun and replay value (important in pinball games!) I'd rate PotD and PPR&S above SPP. PotD play is more pinball features and is more towards a pin sim (with video features of course). PPR&S has more replay value because of the collecting aspect. Control on both is very good--accuracy does work and is necesssary. SPP is not a bad game, decent control but a few angles are just a touch off (very subtle), and the replay value is not as high IMO. It's just a matter of activate and defeat the boss; repeat. The other stuff in SPP is just a waste of time, IMO. Casino games are lame (nothing but repeating extreme left and right shots with unbalanced scoring).

Goldberg74

After two days, my wife has bumped the Top Score to over 275,000,000, whomping my 85,000,000 record.