A set of petaque machines from another galaxy. This is how we summarize Star Wars Pinball for Nintendo Switch, an essential title by Zen Studios.
The evolution of Zen Studios since its first and timid — but careful — Pinball FX for Xbox 360 has been gigantic, with titles like Bethesda Pinball that includes petaque machines from its most important franchises or one based on Marvel superheroes. The Hungarian developer has managed to outdo herself with increasingly worked and spectacular titles. Gone are tables like Buccaneer or Speed Machine with hardly any possibilities, now, almost by habit, they are all spectacular and with attractive themes.
The video game that concerns us today is none other than Star Wars Pinball of the same company, a collection of nineteen boards that make us relive the saga from Episode IV to The Last Jedi, going through the spin-off or Star Wars Rebels tapes and The Clone Wars Already only with the whopping number of tables contained in the cartridge – also in digital format – one might think it is long. And so it is, but you still do not have a slight idea of all the hours that this fantastic game will give you.
A pinball from another galaxy
The petaco machines were invented at the end of the 18th century and until today they have been modernized until they reach the current ones, full of LCD screens, high quality music, LED lights, anti-trap systems and a lot of intricate labyrinths in its interior. As much as they have improved for more than three hundred years, the premise remains the same, getting the highest score possible. Currently it is quite difficult to find this type of flippers machines in places where once they were habitual as recreational halls, bars or pubs but it is a game that has never gone out of style, although we have not touched one in years. That is why we should be grateful that they have developers who want to keep alive the passion that many profess towards this type of leisure so old.
The work that Zen Studios has done with this compilation is simply superb, it does not lack detail in any aspect. The only negative aspect – quite a bit – that we could get is that there is no option for simultaneous online play, just compete against other players using the table of markers of each table or tournament proposed by the developer. You could have used the formula they put into practice with their first video game; set a score and grant the victory to the one who first gets it. However that does not mean that the bites among other players do not exist because you will often see impossible scores that you will want to overcome … if you can.
Not only do we have a fairly high number of thematic possibilities, but there are different ways of dealing with it. The first thing we are asked is to choose a side to support with our games; The bright or dark side. This election will make all our score obtained in any game mode be added to one of these factions thus creating an intergalactic pique to see which side the winner. This decision is not perpetual, so we can betray our side at any time, something that in our judgment does more harm than good.
Once we have chosen the faction we want to defend, even more possibilities open up. Career Mode, One Player, League Game, Galactic Tournaments, Canteen Gramola, Fast Hyperspace Jump and Profile. Career mode is a novelty in this collection of tables based on the franchise that had never been seen before. Through five operations players face different challenges where they get holocron or powers and talents of the force and then use in other game modes. Challenges with a limited number of balls, reach the maximum score before losing our attempts, get the score set in a time frame or other varied challenges. The prizes, already mentioned above, allow the player to obtain bonus points multipliers, slow down the action or get audio tracks or funds for our profile.
In the single player mode we can select the board we want and play alone with the talents and powers of the force or in the classic mode, without them. It is also possible to play with up to three more friends – thus being a total of four players – on the same console by passing only the Joycon or the “tablet” to the player who is currently touching him. Here there is also an option called Table Mastery that is neither more nor less than an achievement for reaching the required score. The achievements unlock more images for the profile as well as iconic music from the saga.
Liga Game proposes four tables per season to make points for it, at the end of it, ascend or not the league according to our accumulated weekly performance. The competition is quite aggressive and we anticipate that we have seen players with more than 250 hours behind them. In Galactic Tournaments we can compete in tournaments organized by players or by ourselves configuring a multitude of options. From the duration of the same, privatize it or open it to the general public, game attempts or to be able to use or not the powers of the force. Of course, in the tournament we can select the table we prefer. Unfortunately you can only choose one so far.
In Gramola de Cantina we can listen to a selection of the legendary songs composed by John Williams for the saga if it is the case that we have unlocked one while with Quick Hyperspace Jump we will quickly access a table pre-configured randomly by the AI of the game. In profile we get a lot of information about everything we have achieved in the game, see the score of our friends, the masters of each table, achievements obtained – for example, complete the history of a table – or change the background of our screen as we move forward in Story mode.
As you can see, the playable proposal is quite broad and to all this we must add that each of the nineteen tables included in this pack have a plot to complete, achievements, mini games in large quantities, secrets and independent leaderboards. If to this, in addition, we add the way for four players the fun is more than assured and for many hours. Not forgetting that the company has promised new tables and content in future updates.
Space technology
One of the fears we faced after trying other petaque titles on Nintendo Switch was whether the Star Wars Pinball performance was going to be as expected by the newsroom. It not only works spectacularly in the technical but also in the sound. The speed of the image is not altered in any circumstance, neither in dock mode nor between our hands, nor have we witnessed errors that could alter our game. The loads between screens are fast and the interface is quite intuitive, with a button to help the user in each of the menus. The physics of the ball bouncing against elements of the screen is fantastic although it abuses too much of the magnet effect on all the boards. The music is at a very good quality and about the excellence of its soundtrack we can tell you little or nothing, John Williams is a genius. The various sound effects are also up to par, as well as the voices we hear at each table.
But Star Wars Pinball still has an ace in its sleeve; the excellent use of Nintendo Switch hardware. The Zen Studios video game not only makes use of the HD vibration – although not very well resolved – but it is possible to enjoy the title only using the touch screen. The entire interface is designed for this, even the most hidden menu or option reacts to keystrokes. So much so that even the image can be flipped to play vertically — in two positions — using each side of the screen as flasks with the help of our fingers. You can even decouple the Joycon and play with the console core; its wide screen In fact this is the way in which we recommend you enjoy Star Wars Pinball, with the image in vertical and eliminating the controls of the equation with the first view selected.
CONCLUSION
If you are looking for a good pinball title and you are also a follower of the Jedi saga, look no further, Star Wars Pinball is your game. And although its theme may not like you, so far the Zen Studios video game is perhaps the best to date, both at tables available from minute one and in content. Of course, you have to know that the views available are not very comfortable and that the HD vibration is not very far implemented but otherwise it is a must in every rule.
THE BEST
- A large number of tables. They will increase in number in future updates.
- Full use of Switch functions.
- Multitude of playable options and game modes.
- Possibility to play vertically.
WORST
- HD vibration poorly implemented.
- Most views are uncomfortable.
Very good
Remarkable game that we will enjoy and remember. A good purchase, highly recommended for lovers of the genre. It is well taken care of at all levels.
