Pokémon Pinball

I wasn't sure how one would combine Pokémon and a pinball game, but they've done it. You can catch Pokémon, evolve Pokémon, and go to various locations to do it... There's even a Red and Blue game, with different pinball layouts, some different locations and different Pokémon to be found.

The pinball aspect of the game works well, the ball bounces around and does the things one would expect from a pinball game. The graphics are fun. This game depends on good pinball playing, as there are shots that need to be made at certain times to capture and evolve the Pokémon, and advance to new zones. At the same time, even novices can usually capture at least one Pokémon during a game, and with practice they should get better. But if you don't like pinball, this is not a Pokémon game for you.

Gotta catch them all?

If you plan on catching all the Pokémon, know this is no small challenge. You can only evolve the Pokémon that you have caught during that particular 3-ball pinball game - and some of them need to be evolved twice! We've had cries of frustration when a game ends and a hard-to-catch Pokémon was not fully evolved... one has to start over again next game, if you can catch it again. Going to the 'next place' to catch different Pokémon is also not simple, and the locations are set up so that there are 6 first level spots that you can start in, and you need to visit 3 of them to get to the level two spots. We often never get to the level two locations, nevermind to Indigo Plateau. Unlike the other Pokémon games, you can't trade Pokémon with another player to round out your Pokédex.

The bottom line

I like Pokémon, and I like playing pinball games. The graphics are nicely done, and the Pokémon are cute. The little animated reactions when they are getting caught are amusing and the pinball game itself is fun. Pikachu is definitely your friend and he'll kick the balls back out of the side lanes when he's charged up. And we all get excited when someone does manage to add a new Pokémon to the Pokédex. The hardest part has been keeping cool when I miss evolving Nidoking again.