Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Zen Studios

Originally published in July 2009, reprinted for additional content.

Few things in my life actually bring back childhood memories. Lemons, “The Goonies” and pinball. The lemons is a long story. “The Goonies” is obvious. But pinball? Yes, it was nothing short of magical to go to the arcade with my father and beat that shiny marble ball around inside those exotic tables of gaming goodness. So when I was given the chance to play Zen Pinball on the Playstation 3, I knew I’d be rehashing those fond memories.

It’s obvious from the game menu that Zen Pinball is all about classic pinball. As with most pinball tables, the layouts’ characteristics and story are presented through its challenges and themes. The four initial tables provided in Zen Pinball are no different. From the ancient temple of El Dorado to the V12 combustion engine, each table provides its own panache and unique layout, with its own challenges and goals. On El Dorado, to activate multiball you must hit specific bumpers to access a stone idol.

This game is clearly an homage to the classic arcade pinball machines. Even though nothing can replace the feel of real pinball, the developers have fine-tuned Zen Pinball to be as close to the real thing as possible. Basic gameplay elements such as using bumpers to keep the ball in play are present, and for advanced players the tilt technique used for trapping and death saves is available, but they’re tricky to use. Online multiplayer allows you to show the world how much of a pinball wizard you are.

Zen Pinball is a beautiful game. As the metallic balls fly across the pinball table, sparks and colors erupt to give the game life. You can turn the effects off, but even without them each table is unique and attractive in its own right. My favorite aspect of Zen Pinball is the multiplayer component. The host sets the score benchmark and penalties, then you and other opponents battle to reach the target score first. Even if multiplayer doesn’t appeal to you, leaderboards are provided for high score counts. Zen Pinball truly captures the essence of the pinball community.

Even though Zen Pinball is obviously a labor of love, it

does have some faults that hold it back from greatness. The game is a visual treat, but each table has its own corny voice-over audio tracks that made me cringe every time I heard them. Thankfully, you can crank your personal music playlist to drown out the dialogue. Though the mechanics of the game are sound and functional, ball physics are suspect. For the most part, the physics are adequate, but sometimes the balls seem to move too fast. As a result, I couldn’t react quickly enough when I unlocked the secret segment of a table. Also, the ball finds the gutter more often than it should. Maybe a slow-motion transitioning segment could have fixed this. Even though you start out with four pinball machines, I only preferred three; V12 was the weakest of the tables. It’s convoluted and not as fleshed out as the other machines. Lastly, as of this writing no tournaments or downloadable content have been announced, so support for this game has yet to be determined.

Zen Pinball is a game I look forward to playing from time to time. It captures the essence of classic pinball. If the developers support this game with tournaments and DLC, Zen Pinball will have a life of its own. If you are a pinball fan, download this game, but if you are merely curious, give the demo a try.

Our Score:
Our Recommendation:

Update:

Not too long after I reviewed Zen Pinball, the first downloadable material was made available. The first table is a tribute machine for Street Fighter II. This is now one of my favorite tables of the game. It is clearly a labor of love from the art design and pinball layout. The destructible car even made the cut; when you hit the scoring pads, the car falls apart piece by piece. Every pad creates a sound effect from the Street Fighter franchise. There is also a beautiful centerpiece montage featuring Street Fighter II characters. I am very impressed with Zen’s first downloadable material. It also helps that tournaments are up and running. This game seems to definitely be taking on a life of it’s own.

Update: April 2010

As with the previous downloadable content Zen Studios has proven they can capture the essence of various themes. This attention to detail is no different with the new tables Ninja Gaiden II Sigma and Earth Defense. Lets first talk about Sigma, this table is crafted as if the ball is an extension of Ryu. The layout of the table makes you feel like the ball is literally flying and somersaulting, all while attacking the Fiends. To add to the atmosphere the table has all the appropriate sound effects from Ninja Gaiden from sword slashing to unique sound effects. Lastly, the table amazingly displays the character of what makes Ninja Gaiden so appealing. Did I mention that there are Falcon Talon bumpers?

The next table comes in the form of a classic 1950’s invasion. In Earth’s Defense, you control your metallic ball to defend Earth from the invasion of an alien force. Hovering over the table is a giant robot. When your ball fires out of a tank things get interesting. The layout is a little convoluted, but this creates the feeling of confusion you would expect in any invasion. When certain bumpers are hit, the robot retaliates by shooting lasers. A display of panicked people in the center only draws you further into the theme of this beautiful pinball table. Zen Studios has proven that they take downloadable content seriously. These tables actually outmatch the original tables in terms of appeal and technical gameplay. If this amount of support continues I will definitely want to change my rating. That is saying a lot!

Update: May 2010

No sooner, do I finish reviewing Zen Studios previous tables, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and Earth Defense, and they release a new table! Excalibur is majestic and enchanting as it regales the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Everything you would expect in a King Arthur tale resonates here, from the grand music to the table display. Your ball will be catapulted in various situations, and after a specific sequence of events your ball will have to joust in a timed event. Attention to detail like this breathes new life into the simple pinball game. I must state, however, that of all the downloadable content this is probably the weakest in terms of appeal and layout. Its strengths lie in the fact it implements unique gameplay sequences that are appropriate to the theme. Anyone looking to fall under Merlin’s spell should download this table!

Update: August 2010

Zen Studios has bestowed on us another table to flap our flippers with! And I must say that this time they have out done themselves. The selected this theme is Mars, and the unique nature of this table is within its futuristic presentation. Illuminated ramps, flying spaceships, and my personal favorite is the arachnid robot that assists your ball. This is by far the most accessible table to date! I found myself accessing power-ups and specials on the table more often than the other downloadable tables. As a result, I was pushed more often to try to attain a higher score and play again. Keep it up Zen Studios. I can’t wait to play the next table!

Update: November 2010 (review by Jason Iatomasi)

Zen Studios continues to show their love of pinball with their newest DLC, Paranormal. Their latest table sports a paranormal theme (hence the title) and features demons, creatures and a plethora of paddles. I found this table to be very challenging, especially during shots in which the ball transitions to the second stage of the table. There are 10 paddles spread out through both stages, as well as four plungers you can also control. Skill shots take you through the Bermuda Triangle, past the Loch Ness Monster, and around a winged demon. The voice-overs can get pretty annoying after a while, but the table is solid and a must-have for any horror or pinball fans.

Update: April 2011 (review by Jason Iatomasi)

In the past, Zen Pinball has given us tables about ghouls, knights, Ninjas, and even the red planet. Their latest entry is the Sorcerer’s Lair table, which adds magic and fantasy to their repertoire. The table contains all the usual ramps and bonuses, as well as a secret room where you turn gears to guide the ball to safety. One bonus activates a bunch of spirits that you must dispel by slamming your pinball into them. There’s even an evil sorcerer at the top of the table who takes the ball if you get it close to him. This is a good table, but definitely one of Zen’s tamer entries. If Fable-esque fantasy is your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out Sorcerer’s Lair.