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2005/Capcom/PS2 Review by Polas - 8/5/05 |
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2005/Capcom/PS2 Review by Polas - 8/5/05 |
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If you're a really Retro Reader, you may recall from way back in 2001 a fun theme month called "Pinball Month", in which I reviewed several pinball games over the course of 30 days, from purist experiences like Super Pinball to full blown adventures such as Sonic Spinball. Now, four years later, the idea of me doing even one review in 30 days is laughable, let alone 4-5. Certainly there are pinball games out there yet to be covered, and to be honest, there are actually like-minded pinball freaks out there who to this day request more pinball or talk to me about those old reviews. Today's update is for you, with love. It's not retro, which is why it's in the Contempo Corner, but when Sony and Capcom join forces to bring us a brand new pinball gift, a game that happily takes from so many games covered on this site and turns it into a next-gen thing of beauty, it's my duty to share it with all of you. When they only charge $19.99 for it? It's your duty to buy it as soon as you finish reading.
Once you get past the nonsensical opening "monkey fishing" sequence (with several outcomes!), you can access the main menu. I'll get to some of the other options, but first I'd like to focus on the main game. I'll be using an explosive mixture of screens I took myself and nicer screens stolen from those who have better technology than I do, so brace yourself.
Flipnic is much more than simply pinball. Yes, I know, Ultimate Pinball. But more than that even. I suppose it would be best to start at the beginning, and take you through the first area, explaining all the nutty crap you'll encounter along the way. The game is divided into 5 distinct areas: Biology, Metallurgy, Optics, Geometry, and Evolution. The progression is a bit odd; The odd row of numbers up top are all available to start, however you can only fully play "1" (Biology A). You can play 3, 5 and 10, each of which are part of one of the 4 non-boss levels, but with a 5 minute time limit, sort of like a demo. Once you reach them by going through the numbers, the time limit goes away and you can play it proper. The mostly even-numbered middle row are boss levels (Evolution) that come after every standard level.
Once you select Biology, you can start the level, adjust the difficulty, or check the level status. It can be a bit confusing until you familiarize yourself with the different modes, setups and pretty colors. The way you progress through the game is by completing missions, missions which you can find on the status screen, or the pause menu during the game. Each level has a few red ones and many yellow ones; the red ones are required to beat the level, and the yellow ones will keep you coming back for more. Since many of you would be pretty boned in many cases if you tried to figure out what to do yourself, you can select each mission for a short description and a picture of what you're generally supposed to be doing.
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Told you. Each stage has multiple areas, with multiple ways of getting to each, with multiple things to do. Sort of like the aforementioned Sonic Spinball, or a non-sucky version of Mario Pinball Land. For instance, you're first launched into Bumper Village, and as you cascade down the wall of bumpers, you can also hit left on the d-pad, which normally controls the left flipper(s), to make certain bumpers move in and out of the background. Some bumpers have arrows lighted near them, and hitting all of these completes one of the optional yellow missions, and deals out some nice pointage, as those missions tend to do. From there you fall into the main area, which contains the waterfall slots.
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...but then you wouldn't be able to play the SLOTS. You either get one chance or 30-60 seconds worth of chances depending on how you trigger them, and all of the possible outcomes are optional missions. But damned if you won't waste time trying to get them all. You simply plow the ball into each bumper to stop the corresponding symbol beneath, and trigger the bumpers right below those with the left d-pad again to keep the ball going (and also allow access while you're shooting from below, adding to the challenge). Then you hope for 1-2 "WILD" symbols so you can mix, match and play Hungry Monkey a lot quicker.
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Three flamingoes give you a pachinko-like, or if you're a Bob Barker fan, Plinko-like minigame in which you try to launch the ball with just enough power to get all the little stars so that flamingoes will fly down and take their place. A trifecta of bumpers let you play Color Puzzle, in which you have a set time limit to launch unlimited balls into a 3x3 grid of bumpers. Striking each one changes its color, and lining up rows of colors grab you points. Then of course there's UFO Quiz Show (?), in which you play an extended minigame ripped straight out of Wario Ware in which you click a counter to count the number of UFOs that zoom past the screen. And that's not even going into Hungry Monkey.
Other good stuff also exists, like 3 $ symbols shooting out coins, which are essential for the Jackpot Round. Coins are everywhere and collecting them can be chained into combos for big points. You can even beat up alligators and get them to spit coins out.
Once you get all that out of your system, it's time to move on and tackle the main missions. Which means you'll have to flip up through a series of rail pipes to reach a small room with 5 bumpers, whack said bumpers to make butterflies appear without nailing the ominous big bumper that causes a chameleon to eat these butterflies, and whack until all 5 butterflies are present, freezing over the waterfall and most of the level.
From there, it's a simple matter of busting through the now-frozen waterfall, exposing a hidden cave, working your way up through the crisscross of flippers and collecting the required amount of coins, and entering the Zero Gravity chamber and fighting ... you know, I have no idea how the hell to describe it, other than an amorphis abundance of alteration ability. Made up of lots of little spreading colored block things, unlike the a.a.a.a. you'll face in Evolution.
...And of course, you can still take the OTHER rail path into the Circle of Life area, trying for Multi Ball Jackpots, while racing against timers and destroying/avoiding UFOs, except for the helpful blue and yellow kind that give you extra balls and credits. Also, for some reason, using retractable bumpers to beat the crap out of a large tree is strangely cathartic.
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I think you're starting to get the picture. Besides Biology, there are three other areas to get through, each with their own distinct themes and goals.
Metallurgy is a mazelike level filled with compact areas, particularly the series of rooms in which you chase around a giant robotic spider crab miniboss while trying to avoid/destroy the little minions he sends after you. In contrast, there's the large open area in which you transfer the ball between pegs on a giant, multi-tier sky grid that's almost a primitive sort of strategy game. Optics is the slickest looking level, and as per the theme, most of the goals involve reversing colors and hitting the right ones at the right time. There are also some funked-out gravity loop de loop rooms and lots of chances for combos. Perhaps best of all is Geometry, which totally eliminates the flippers altogether, and exchanges them for Breakout paddles, in a giant area that joyfully has you break colored blocks in order to get at items, among other things. Sound familiar? Oh yeah. I won't say too much about the boss, except for two words: air hockey. |
What about the bottom row, you say? That would be 7-8-9, the punchline to an ancient joke, but more importantly the levels you'll face in between Optics but before Geometry. These are the NIGHTTIME MIRROR LEVELS, and as the intimidating caps indicate, you basically have to re-beat the first 3 main levels, except with calming night scenery, and the entire level being reversed. This really becomes a hinderance in Optics, with all its little nooks and crannies. Of course, since Optics is an indoor level, TRANSLUCENT GREEN MIRROR LEVEL will have to suffice.
Finally, there's Evolution, which is a weird boss battle of sorts against a shape-shifting being that lives up to the stage name by turning into larger and more imposing creatures as you progress, including a large, spooky head that can paralyse your flippers with electro grenades. That's right, electro grenades. Luckily, if you collide with purple shooting stars, they turn into extra balls you can use until they go down. Of course, the level zooms in and out while you're trying to concentrate. INTENSE. Or at least it would be if I could locate the shot of the part where he turns into a T-Rex; as it stands, you're stuck with the tuna.
Besides some simple yet effective 2P modes based on the four main themes, which include Basketball, Foosball, and without question, triple paddle pong (Geometry, of course)...
...that's Flipnic in a nutshell. There are some flaws. Some missions are not quite as fun as others, your mileage may vary. Unfortunately, the optional missions are often the ones that are more fun than the required ones, so while you can kill lots of time on one area doing those, you may have some trouble advancing. Then there's Geometry. This stage is amazing in the old school fun it delivers, from the blocky character kickline to the UFO paddle assault. The problem? It's so damn short. It doesn't even get a blue mirror level or anything. Ah well, great while it lasts, much like the game as a whole. Obviously, this game was created in the same vein as Arkanoid - for the hardcore, old-school types, but with bells, whistles, and a slew of wacky stuff spread all over the place to attract ... well, people who enjoy this site but not pinball, I guess. The music is usually appropriate, but can sometimes become grating or dull. Yes, they went all out with the 8-bit midish music for Geometry, which you'll appreciate greatly for the 45 seconds that precede hitting the Mute button. Really though, if you're any kind of pinball fan, purist or adventureous, I can almost assure you that you'll find something to like, especially for $19.99. Replay value goes as far as you enjoy completing all missions or beating your high scores in Freeplay mode. If that's still not enough, do it for the Hungry Monkey.
