Page 53 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2
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you coming back for more! wrong with these games? For Moving on, I spy ‘Super Pin-
8.5 out of 10. starters, the ball “jiggles” as it ball: Behind the Mask’ for the
Overall, Pinball Fantasies by moves around the playfield and the SNES. Now this is a pretty decent
st
21 Century is a pretty camera tries to stay pintable sim. Guess what? You
decent pinball sim, offer- with it, making it im- can see the playfield in its entirety
ing plenty of challenge possible for you not to on your screen without any scroll-
and enough variety to throw up while play- ing! Super Pinball for the SNES
capture an avid pinball ing! Seriously, the features 3 different games: ‘Jolly
player’s attention for ball movement is that Joker,’ ‘Blackbeard and Iron-
more than a few min- annoying. The next men,’ and ‘Wizard.’ These 3
utes. It does have excel- thing that has you games all share one thing in com-
lent game play and great scratching your head mon: they all have the same geek
ball physics, but not be- wondering how this (but dressed differently) on the
ing able to see more of game got through the backglass and playfields! Sorry, I
the screen at once really play-testing depart- just think that’s kind of funny. Any-
hurts the overall pack- ment is the graphic way, onto the game play. All 3
age. None of these layout and choice of boards have different themes but
games are multi-ball, by colors used. The play- all pretty much share the same
the way. While I do not fields are designed so number of targets and goals to
require this in any pinball horribly that you reach,
game, it seems as if can hardly tell the making
modern games all have difference be- them pretty
that feature, and it would tween the repetitive in
have given these games “artwork” and the nature.
a little more variety. Speed Devils actual game Fortunately
I give Pinball Fantasies (bumpers, targets, posts, etc). the game
an 8 out of 10. In Ruiner, you have targets, play is ex-
which happen to be airplanes, cellent and
Since I am thinking about the buzzing around the upper half that’s what
Atari Jaguar, I should also mention of the main board. This is not any game
that there is another pinball game only a silly concept but also should be
for it called ‘Ruiner Pinball.’ Being creates slow-down in the about.
the hardcore pinball fan game. Add over- There is
that I am, this game sized flippers to not all that
barely deserves a full re- all of these de- much to do
view as it is that bad. sign flaws and but make
Atari had a couple of you have one some ramp
good ideas here, but terrible package. shots, hit
somehow they all fell Up to 4 players can Ruiner Pinball some drop
short. In Ruiner, you get play, but you will be targets, and get the ball to go into a
2 different games in one hard pressed to find 3 couple of bonus saucers. There is
package: ‘Ruiner’ and more people who a multi-ball mode and a skill shot at
‘Tower.’ Pretty descrip- want to be tortured the beginning of each ball, which is
tive titles, huh? Ruiner is with you. a way to get some quick points.
based on a 50’s budget I give Ruiner Pinball About the only thing I can think of
nuclear war movie, and a whopping 4 out of that could have been improved
Tower magically zaps 10 and Tower a 3.5. upon was the choice of colors and
you straight to hell with- The only reason they variety in game play. Come to
out passing go. In fact, got as high a score think of it, the background music is
after selecting the Tower as that is because of a little cheesy also but does not
board, a screen pops up the music and ruin the games by any stretch of
that reads, “Get Ready. speech. You can tell the imagination. Really though, this
Welcome to hell, Please Stones ’n Bones that they spent more game is well worth the $10 it costs
hold. . .” time on those aspects than the ac- at your local Toys ‘R Us. Get it
Basically, Tower is divided up tual game itself. Ruiner Pinball for quick before they’re all gone for-
into three screens with three sets the Jag is better left to your kids ever! Even though the boards are
of flippers, for the makes of a really who don’t know any better. But different, they vary slightly, so over-
long and boring playfield. Ruiner wait! Would you really want your all, I give Super Pinball a score
has a whole other playfield to the kids playing the Tower board with of 8 out of 10.
right of the main, making this an that big-boobed Devil thing in the
“ultra-wide” and totally unrealistic middle of the playfield? I wouldn’t. Dragon’s Fury for the Sega
pinball sim. So, what's really Genesis. . .now that’s what I’m
Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 53
