1995 · Intelligent Systems · Pinball · Puzzle

Galactic Pinball

Nintendo exclusive

Prepare to enter the vast expanse of the Milky Way. Put your pinball skills to an interstellar test with four incredible space tables.

Released: 21 July 1995
Platforms: Virtual Boy
Genres: Pinball Puzzle
Developers: Intelligent Systems
Publishers: Nintendo
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English

About

Galactic Pinball is a 1995 pinball video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Virtual Boy. The game was released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and on August 14, 1995 in the United States. It is one of five launch games for the Virtual Boy, along with Mario's Tennis, Red Alarm, Teleroboxer, and Panic Bomber (the former three were also the launch games for the console in North America). In the game, which is set in the Milky Way galaxy, players maneuver a puck around one of four pinball tables available in the game.

The Virtual Boy's standard red-and-black color scheme resulted in criticism of this and other games on the platform for causing nausea, headaches, and eye strain. It uses parallax, which allows the game to display three-dimensional effects. It has received a mixed reception; it was praised for its authenticity, while reception to its physics and controls were mixed. It has received criticism for its lack of ambition and originality.

›Story

The vast expanse of the Milky Way Galaxy is unfathomable. It has seen empires rise and fall, wars rage and peace reign. Many of its mysteries have been discovered only to slip back into obscurity. And now, from the very depths of the galaxy comes the news of a very strange world... Welcome to the space world.

Let's go!!

Keywords

minigames
launch titles
stereoscopic 3d
retroachievements
nintendo switch online - expansion pack

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Galactic Pinball is set in the Milky Way galaxy, and tells the story of the discovery of a new, strange world. At the title screen, players can choose from four pinball tables: Cosmic, Colony, UFO, and Alien. Players can choose to look at the top scores. The Cosmic table features a cameo from Metroid where players control protagonist Samus Aran's ship.

Players are given five pucks, which players must keep going by using the flippers to hit it upward. The goal is to accumulate points and avoid allowing the puck to drop to the bottom of the table. The game begins with players shooting a puck into the table by holding the A button to launch it with a plunger. The longer the button is held, the harder the puck is launched.

Development

The development of Galactic Pinball was managed by Gunpei Yokoi, who created the Virtual Boy. It was directed by Kenji Yamamoto, who composed the sound alongside Masaru Tajima. It was shown during the Virtual Boy's debut alongside Teleroboxer. It has been called at varying points as Space Pinball, Virtual Pinball, and Pinball VB.

It was one of the launch games for the Virtual Boy, and was released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and on August 14, 1995 in the United States. Like all Virtual Boy games, Galactic Pinball uses a red-and-black color scheme and parallax visuals to simulate three-dimensional depth.

Reception

Galactic Pinball has received a mixed reception. Before its release, GamePro speculated that it might be "one of the best pinball games around." GamePro reviewer Slo Mo praised the diversity of tables, responsive controls, and innovative 3D stage design. Writer Jeremy Parish called it a quality pinball game for its time and felt that it would have been a better pack-in title than Mario's Tennis.

An editor for IGN called it one of the best Virtual Boy games for its pinball gameplay and visual design. Retro Gamer's Nick Thorpe felt that it was less popular than other Virtual Boy games, but deserved to be played. Outlets including Videogames and Retro Gamer praised it for its authenticity as a pinball game. Specific praises include its physics and sound design.