Nostalgia Game Review

During the late 90's-early 00's, Pokemon was a huge hit. Every kid had the Pokemon cards, the games, the stuffed animals. Pokemania had flooded America and the world. The popularity of Pokemon spawned a plethora of spin-off games, some of which were successful. One of these games was Pokemon Pinball for the Game Boy.

The game had two game boards (Red and Blue), each with two mini-stages. Both had the same final stage as each other (battle with Mewtwo). Both also had the same mechanics, with two counters on the side going up to three before a new locale is determined. However, the differences in the boards are apparent as well.

The Red board is much harder to get to Catch 'Em All and Evolution mode, but is easier to get multipliers in. The Blue board is more difficult to get multipliers, but can activate Catch 'Em All and Evolution mode easier. The minigames are different as well, with the Red board's games being one-and-done, while the Blue boards are based on reaching a certain threshold.

Overall, the game can be entertaining. You can catch pokemon and evolve them. However, this isn't a game for non-pinball connoisseurs. The action can get real hectic real fast, with the ball flying at high speeds (thank goodness for the saver). This will make it hard for the player to get an idea of what's going on. Another problem is that getting experience for Evolution mode can be a pain. When the ball's flying at high speeds, it can be hard to corral the ball in and get the shot you want, especially when you're on a time limit.

This game is good for pinball junkies and Pokefans alike. The Gotta Catch 'Em All aspect of the game and the classic pinball feel make for a nice game. However, if you don't play much pinball, it's best to not give this one a go unless you feel confident that you can better yourself at the game.