Consoleation Review: Zen Pinball (3DS)

Zen Studios has come a long way from its initial Pinball FX offering for Xbox LIVE Arcade back in 2007. Pinball FX2 (XBLA), Zen Pinball (PS3/PSN), and Marvel Pinball (XBLA/PSN) have gradually shown improvement in terms of ball physics, table design, and general appeal. Zen Studios continues to support Pinball FX2 and Marvel Pinball with new tables regularly, and Zen Pinball is slated to receive a makeover a bit later this year. I’ve easily spent dozens of hours playing these games, and that time has been enjoyable.

Now 3DS owners can take the pinball experience on the go with Zen Pinball, which is available now via the eShop for $6.99. Four tables await players; two are formerly Zen Pinball exclusives for the PlayStation 3 and the other two may be familiar to some as add-on tables for Pinball FX. The overall package is enhanced with some 3D graphics effects and active online leaderboards. The transition from console to portable isn’t quite perfect, but Zen Pinball maintains its identity as a solid pinball simulation that will keep both new and experienced pinball fans flipping for hours.

Four tables await you in Zen Pinball for the 3DS.

The four tables are all markedly different experiences. The Shaman table has a tribal theme with unique challenges like a ramp-accessible upper playfield with flippers and drop targets, as well as a cascading ball drop called the Volcano. The El Dorado table has a bit of an Indiana Jones or Uncharted feel to it, sporting an expanding totem pole shot and a “U-Turn” ramp in the lower playfield. The Earth Defense table is a sci-fi table with plenty of ramps and orbits to traverse as players attempt to thwart an alien invasion. Finally, the Excalibur table is a nod to medieval times and requires accurate flipper shots to take uncover all of the challenges that it offers. The Earth Defense and Excalibur tables are better overall experiences than Shaman and El Dorado, but none of the tables are bad and all of the tables are worth playing at least a little bit.

The control scheme is easy to learn. The analog disc (or the A Button) launches the ball into play. Flippers are controlled either via the L and R triggers at the top of the 3DS or via the directional pad (for the left flipper) and the B Button (for the right flipper). Several different camera views can be accessed via the X Button. It’s a little surprising that the 3DS accelerometer wasn’t used for nudging the table, but the analog disc handles the task just fine. Table nudging isn’t as vital in virtual pinball games as it is when playing a real table, but it can come in handy when a ball is heading towards an outlane. The controls are responsive, which is important in a pinball game as accurate shots are needed for the best success and highest table scores.

The Excalibur table boasts interesting table design and a formidable challenge.

The biggest difference in the Zen Pinball experience for the 3DS versus its console-based relatives is the frame rate. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions run at a smooth 60 frames per second, but the 3DS version runs at half that speed. It’s similar to Pinball Hall of Fame for the 3DS; console players will have to adjust to the frame rate difference as it does change the overall experience. The difference forces players to alter shot timing to ensure accuracy. It’s not an impossible or problematic adjustment, but some trial and error will be necessary to find the right flipper window for certain ramp shots that were second-nature on consoles after lots of practice. Aside from the frame rate difference, the visuals are identical to the console versions with the exception of the addition of some 3D effects. The 3D isn’t overdone and it doesn’t make a ton of difference, but it does make the graphics pop just a little bit more than normal. The music and sound effects are also pulled right from the console versions, for better or for worse.

Zen Pinball boasts online leaderboard support, which is something that Pinball Hall of Fame sorely lacked. There are several different leaderboards, tracking all-time high scores, weekly high scores, Pro Scores, and Team Scores. The first two boards are self-explanatory, but are still key to replay value. The odds are that there’s going to be someone who has posted a better score than you have, so having a mark to shoot for aside from your own personal best is something that promotes regular play. The Pro Score is the sum of your scores on all tables; for example, if you’ve amassed 70 million points combined, your Pro Score would be 70. The Team Score is the sum of the Pro Scores of all of the people on your Friends List. This promotes building Friends Lists and exchanging Friend Codes with other players. (Speaking of which, I’ll plug my Friend Code, which is 1719-3185-8983.) Each table also has a few “achievements” that can be unlocked by accomplishing certain table feats.

Zen Pinball for the 3DS delivers a fun pinball experience with lots of replay value and the promise of new tables via downloadable content later this year. Fans of Zen Studios’ console pinball experiences will feel right at home after adjusting to the lower frame rate, while newer pinball wizards-to-be will have no problem picking up the controls and learning the ins and outs of each table. This game sets the bar for portable pinball, and I happily recommend this game for your 3DS downloadable library.

Grade: B+

Consoleation Status Report: Free Agency

There have been a few changes going on outside of Consoleation, and I know that activity has been slow here. I wanted to write a few words about what’s been going on.

For starters, I regret to report that the League of One project is on indefinite hold, and likely won’t be resuming. I won’t get into specifics, but changes at Kmart necessitated the decision to halt the project. This unfortunately means that any links to my work there are now dead. It’s unfortunate to see work disappear. I am grateful to Josh Deane with Kmart for the opportunities afforded to me as part of the project, from the privilege of covering E3 last June to getting a chance to share my work with thousands of other readers. Josh had a great vision and it’s unfortunate that the project wasn’t able to mature and grow as we all thought it would. Being a part of KmartGamer last year was one of my career highlights, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.

As a result of the discontinuation of the League of One project, I’m now a “free agent” on the writing circuit. I’m hoping to network with several sites to see if I can earn a writing position and stay active in the gaming press community. For now, I’m dedicating some time to a new independent writing venture, called Armchair Analysis. This site deals solely with the business and sales data side of my writing, including NPD analysis and interpretations of industry news. I’m keeping the content there strictly professional with the hopes of possibly getting the work syndicated or picked up by a larger website to gain a writing spot somewhere. I would like to resume writing reviews as well, although unemployment makes that a bit of a challenge as far as buying current games to play through. I have my fingers crossed that I can earn a spot somewhere soon. In the meantime, I invite those of you who enjoyed my industry-related posts here to visit Armchair Analysis and follow my writing there.

As far as Consoleation goes, this blog will remain active. I’m shooting for updating it once a week with assorted content, including reviews of older games and reports of additions to my collection. Thanks to a decent expected tax return– since I made so little last year– I’m hoping to apply some of that towards older games and systems. A Dreamcast was just graciously donated to me recently, and I’m looking to get an AV cable to test it and see if it works. The main target on my wish list is an NES, but other platforms including SNES, Genesis (w/SEGA CD), Nintendo 64, and the original Xbox are all on my radar. As the collection grows, I’ll be talking about it here. In about a week’s time, the laptop that I’ve been using for my writing will be mine to keep, so writing will be more consistent.

Finally, it looks like I’ll be heading to Weirs Beach, NH in a few short months to take part in the 14th Annual International Classic Video Game Tournament at FunSpot. It’s been 10 years since I last took part in the event, and I’m excited to participate and get together with some of the very best arcade game players in the world. In 2002, I set the a Twin Galaxies-recognized record on the Mania Challenge coin-op. It’s a record that stands today. I’m not sure what I may shoot for when I’m there, but to be in an actual arcade setting again is going to be pretty awesome.

Thanks to all of you who have been checking in with Consoleation and being so understanding as there’s been a lot of transition. The blog will be celebrating its fourth year in 2012, and I’m grateful for all of you who have taken the time to visit it.

A New Year Appears!

Welcome to 2012. For me, this will be a milestone year as I celebrate my 40th birthday in April. Some people view 40 as “over the hill” or an entry to middle age, but it’s significant to me in that I’m still as excited about video games as I’ve ever been. It’s not something that I’ve outgrown, or care to outgrow. I’m going to be playing them, talking about them, and making them a big part of my life for many more years to come, provided nothing catastrophic happens.

I am setting some goals and making some changes in my 40th year, though. These are overdue in some respects, and necessary in others.

The first change is that I’m going to focusing a bit more on games and consoles from previous generations in 2012, and possibly beyond. While I’ll still be playing games for current-gen platforms, preparing to turn 40 has really lit a fire under my retrogaming side and I want to pursue buying platforms like the NES, SNES, Genesis, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and the original Xbox over the course of the next couple of years. I’m looking to begin collecting games for those platforms, too, especially my favorites for each. I’ve done a decent job of building my PlayStation 2 collection over the last year, and I’ve found myself wanting to keep collecting and building a catalog of games and systems that have been personal signposts in my life.

The second change will be that Consoleation will be coming along for the retro ride. Expect impressions, reviews, and opinions for games from previous generations here in the year to come. Consoleation has been a great sounding board for my feelings about current industry trends and the direction of the business, but I want this blog to be more unique and less of an airing of grievances. That’s not to say that I won’t have grievances, of course, but there must be a better balance of content. I’d much rather save those for a different writing destination and focus my efforts here on the retro journey and the games. I do have personal blogs elsewhere and may use those for different purposes in 2012.

Speaking of writing, I still do have the goal of latching on somewhere as a reviewer and growing my skills in 2012. I’ll still be contributing industry analysis over at KmartGamer, but would really like to try (yet again) to get back to my roots and do more reviewing. Competition for paying gigs is fierce, and I’m not certain that my writing is good enough, but my main goal has always been to get my content read by as many people as possible rather than worrying about money. I know that working for free is frowned upon, but my priorities are different. I like to do it for experience and visibility. Don’t get me wrong: Money is always great (especially now, since I’m not working at all), but the feeling of knowing that my writing is good or interesting enough to get people to read it has always been the ultimate reward for me. I had some progress in 2011, but considering how difficult a year it was for me with employment and health issues, I think 2012 can be a breakout year if I get the right opportunity to develop and set a routine, especially now that I’m back home and things are more stable than they’re been in some time.

Some secondary goals for 2012 include:

• Visiting FunSpot in Weirs Beach, NH: It’s been nearly 10 years since my last visit, and the American Classic Arcade Museum awaits. I’m not sure it there’s going to be another classic gaming tourney this year, but if so, that’s when I’m hoping to go, now that I’m back in Massachusetts. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s the arcade seen in the King of Kong film. If you visit or live in New England, you should go.
• Going back to school: Yes, I’m looking into going back to school in the fall. I’m considering taking IT courses, but a few have recommended looking into a business degree to pursue a career as a games analyst. Still a bit torn and thinking heavily about both.
• Build a better daily routine: This is something that I’ve been struggling with for some time. I want to take steps to manage my days and time better so that I can fit in writing, social media, and gaming. I seem to have periods of swell for each and it takes away from my consistency. I’m thinking about using a Get It Done application to set small steps as far as time spent for each task, but this is a goal in progress.

I’m looking forward to what 2012 will bring, and I hope that you’ll follow along for the ride.