Zen Pinball 2 (Review)
Few titles have negotiated the current generation of gaming as adeptly as Zen Studio’s series of pinball games. Since debuting on the Xbox 360 under the moniker of Pinball FX all the way back in April 2007, the frighteningly realistic pinball simulator has gone from strength to strength; diversifying across numerous platforms and making a series of well-conceived partnerships with the likes of Marvel and, more recently, PopCap Games. Today, Pinball FX and Zen Pinball can be found on nearly every gaming-capable device available, with each version offering a satisfying and polished pinballing experience. The latest instalment , Zen Pinball 2, marks the series first appearance on Sony’s PlayStation Vita, and it arrives with the same sure-footedness we’ve come to expect.
Before the game came on last night, my best friend and I were playing pinball on the PS3 (Zen Pinball 2 - I prefer the first version, because the tables each had their own feel; in 2, they all feel like the same table, with different crap on it. Also, the original tables that ZP shipped with are all much, much faster now. And El Dorado doesn’t play at all the way it used to. Boohiss. El Dorado was my favorite table.) The original plan was to stream us playing, because we get seriously into it. Didn’t, because the software was being weird and chuggy and I don’t know where the problem was, and wasn’t really in the right headspace to try to figure it out.
But it got me thinking.. I kinda wish I still had my Atari 2600 - I’d be TOTALLY willing to stream Atari Pinball. *grin*
(I had a modded controller - my best-friend-in-high-school’s older brother hacked one so it would have rapid fire, which meant it was possible to nudge the ball without ever tilting the board. And yes, I misused my power terribly.)
I spent way too many nights staying up, trying to beat my own high scores.
Marvel’s The Avengers Assemble on iOS, Mac and Android
xlcgamingnetwork.comZen Pinball 2 Now Available for the Mac App Store.
Just in time for next week’s huge Blu-ray / DVD release, today Zen Studios released Marvel’s The Avengers pinball table as in-app DLC for Zen Pinball on the Apple App®Store, and Zen Pinball THD on Google Play for $1.99. The table was also released for Zen Pinball 2 on the Mac App Store for $2.99.
Video Game Releases for September 4, 2012
by: Alisa Luke
This week in video games: the Sims goes supernatural, the expansion pack for Trine 2 takes the game to a new level and a free upgrade for Zen Pinball.
The Sims 3: Supernatural
Developer: The Sims Studio
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Platform(s): Windows, Mac
Genre: Simulation
The Sims 3 delves into the world of the supernatural by allowing you to create vampires, werewolves, witches and fairies. The new character creation system also comes with new abilities, traits, and skills such as delayed aging and magic channeling. There are also supernatural items and an elixir that allows you to create your very own zombies.
Trine 2: Goblin Menace
Developer: Frozenbyte
Publisher: Atlus
Release Date: September 6, 2012
Platform(s): Windows, MAC
Genre: Action
This expansion features six new, unique levels, several new skills which will also be available in the original game, several new puzzles based on light, water, low gravity and magnetic elements and a new story.
Zen Pinball 2
Developer: Zen Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: September 6, 2012
Platform(s): PS3, Vista
Genre: Pinball
Zen Pinball 2 allows free upgrade for existing Zen Pinball and Marvel Pinball Players. There are a bunch of new features including 26 different pinball tables and a mystery table, new trophies, new scoring system, new rule sheets, and a new social sharing feature.
Originally published on pokupo
Zen Pinball 2 on Nintendo’s eShop gives you a choice of dozens of pinball tables (preview)
The title features characters who rise the from 3D table tops and become scoring opportunities if you can hit them with the ball.
Zen Pinball 2: Holy hell!
I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been on a pinball kick lately. Now until a few days ago the only pinball game I ever played was Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey on the PS1 so, naturally, when I had the urge to play some pinball I booted it up but soon found myself yearning for something different. After a little research I found that Zen Pinball 2 was free for the PS3, but there was a catch: it didn’t come with any tables. However, there are demos available for each table so I figured I’d give it a shot.
After playing through the Marvel Pinball Original, Civil War, Star Wars, Avengers Chronicles, and Super Street Fighter II Tribute demos I still didn’t find myself satisfied. The tables were gorgeous, but it was a little off putting getting cut off because I ran out of time or I hit the score limit for the demo. Since I didn’t have a lot of money in my PSN wallet I decided to purchase the Street Fighter table this morning because it was the cheapest and it has to be the best $2.50 I’ve spent in my life!
After I purchased it I played for a little over an hour ending with a high score of 18 million and some change. I thought I was tough shit when I shut down my PS3 even though I saw that the guy at the top of the leader board had an insane score. Well I just went back and after having a couple of rough rounds I ended with what I think was a 30 minute session. I knew it was going to be my last round, but my goal was to at least reach 20 million. Wanna know what I got? Do you? 91,334,977 points! How that’s possible after only playing maybe a total of ten games today is beyond me, but all I know is that I think I have found a new love. The game is so addicting and once you get into it and you know that you’re acquiring a huge score it’s almost euphoric.
I don’t even remember the last time I was that intense with a game I was playing. It wasn’t even the angry intense either, I was just in the zone. The best part was that I was just having a good time. I wasn’t raging out, I didn’t want to put my fist through the wall, it was just pure fun. Definitely see myself spending a lot of time with this game.
Side note: I wish you could purchase all the tables separately. I wasn’t a fan of some of the tables in the bundles so it would feel like a waste if I bought them. :/
