Know what I find kind of sad? Pinball is slowly disappearing. I know a lot of gamers complain that arcades are going away, but while I still commonly see arcades near movie theaters or see those ticket style arcades, seeing one that actually has a pinball machine in it is becoming rare. However, some may argue that it’s influence on video games will keep that memory alive, and I can’t think of video game character that was more influenced by Pinball then Sonic the Hedgehog: if bouncing back and forth off springs rolled up in a ball doesn’t give you that impression, then look at any of the casino levels with flippers on them. But, how would a full Pinball video game based on Sonic work out? Well, in 1993, Sonic fans got to experience it firsthand. Here’s Sonic Spinball, available on the Sonic Mega Collection (as I’ll be playing it), but originally available on the Sega Genesis.
The story in this game… doesn’t even try. Quite frankly though, it doesn’t really need to: this is a pinball game, which was never meant to have any plot. The story goes something along the lines of Robotnik building a new machine that Sonic must destroy from the inside, but who really cares.
This does lead me to an interesting point though: this game has levels. It has boss battles. It has a full story, which means it includes a beginning, middle and an end. Think about that; those of you who have played pinball in the past should know that there shouldn’t be an “end” to pinball short of losing all your balls and running out of quarters. Yeah, this is a pinball game you can actually finish. In most other contexts, that’s like someone saying they’ve finished the internet. To paraphrase Screw Attack’s video game vault, being able to finish a pinball game, which you shouldn’t be able to do, is awesome.
As expected, the game plays similar to Pinball, but with some twists. By that I mean that most of your time will be spent sending Sonic up wards with the use of flippers, bumpers and other normal pinball devices. However, as previously stated, you play as Sonic and you’re on a mission. That means that, while on your regular course of bumping around for points, you must find a number of emeralds by hitting certain triggers and accessing areas, which will then let you in to the boss room. After you beat the boss, you get to play a mini-game, then it’s onto the next level, lather, rinse and repeat.
Not only is there the constant change of location and goal that makes this a little different from regular Pinball though; you also get to control Sonic. Back in the days where Pinball was popular, there was an act called “bumping” or “tilting”, where you would hit the pinball table and make the ball go in a desired direction (this was called cheating by some, which is why tilt sensors were installed in so the flippers would deactivate if it was done too vigorously). This game, however, seems to encourage bumping: a simple press of the D-pad and you can sway Sonic’s direction. Sure it’s not as influential as his platforming games, but it can mean the difference between beating the level, and a game over.
There are a few other platforming elements that help make this Pinball game more unique, but they come up less frequently and I think you get the basic picture.
So that’s pretty much Sonic Spinball; a unique take on a classic game. I didn’t talk about the graphics cause I don’t have much to say; yes their good, but the overall look of the game is rather “meh” (it’s modeled more after the Sonic SatAM show, which I found looked too serious). The music is close to the same story: sure it’s good, REALLY good in fact, it’s just not memorable at all and, despite liking it as I play, I forget it the instant the game is shut off. But all and all It’s about the game play, and here’s where I have to point out one fact: this game is not for everyone. I know you can say that for most games, but this one especially. This is not a Sonic game, so don’t think that you’ll like it just because you’re a Sonic fan. Also, with the goals, different locations and other additions, this is far from a normal pinball game, so pinball fans looking for something fun and mindless with also be alienated. I hate saying that because I really do like the game, and think more people should give it a shot, but looking at it logically, I have to question it. I give Sonic Spinball originally for the Sega Genesis 7 Levels out of 10.
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