1989 · Tose Co. · Adventure · Pinball

Pinball Quest

Nintendo exclusive

Don't let the name fool you - Pinball Quest is much more than video pinball. In fact, it's the first-ever multi-screen fantasy in a pinball format! Every move you make tells a story; every shot takes you another step closer in your quest to rescue the captive princess of the castle. Along the way you'll meet ghosts, goblins, witches and demons, in an endless labyrinth of treacherous passages and deadly doorways.

Released: 15 December 1989
Platforms: NES
Genres: Adventure Pinball Role-playing
Developers: Tose Co.
Publishers: Jaleco City Connection
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Fantasy
Country: Japan
Age ratings: CLASS_IND L
Languages: English, Japanese

About

Pinball Quest is a 1989 pinball video game developed by Tose and published by Jaleco. Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Pinball Quest was unusual at the time of its release for its "unique" mash-up of pinball and role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, and it is considered the "first ever RPG pinball game".

Keywords

ghosts
gravity
vampire
pinball
witches
undead
turtle
8-bit
anthropomorphism
cat
shopping
damsel in distress

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game includes four modes: a story-driven "RPG mode" as well as "Circus," "Viva! Golf," and "Pop! Pop!"

Circus (a slot machine-themed game) and Viva! Golf (a whack-a-mole-style game) are additional single-player modes. Pop! Pop! is an Americana-themed multiplayer mode that can be played by up to 4 players.

Reception

Pinball Quest has received mixed reviews over time, and many reviewers focus on the novelty of its RPG elements. The game has been called a "curious mix of genres", with some reviewers describing it in more extreme terms, stating it is "among the most bizarre genre hybrids in the history of video games" and a "baffling experiment".

Contemporary reviews in 1990 credited the game for its clever concept and variety of game modes. A Hardcore Gamer retrospective in 2007 highlighted Pinball Quest as an underrated game of its era. Journalist Jeff Gerstmann stated in 2023 that, despite its interesting premise and his own positive memories of the game, Pinball Quest is a poor simulation of pinball and ultimately unenjoyable: "It just sucks."

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Platform	Released	Regions
NES	15 December 1989	Japan · North America 1 June 1990

Editions and related releases

Included in: 8bit-Collection Jaleco Vol. 02Star Flashback Blast!Polymega Collection Vol. 14: Astyanax
Ported as: Jalecolle Famicom Ver. Pinball Quest