Sonic Spinball

"Pinball... with an 'S' in front of it."

/////////SONIC SPINBALL/////////

INTRODUCTION:
Sonic Spinball is pinball with a slice of Sonic attitude on the side.

Although the pinball aspect of Sonic Spinball usually turns one gamer or two away from this game, some think Sonic Spinball is a nice change from the usual format of Sonic games.

Collecting ''Chaos Emeralds'' and defeating a Robotnik boss keep this game consistent with its predecessors, as well as attract die-hard Sonic fans to yet another Sonic title.

Who says pinball is boring?

GAMEPLAY: (9/10)
''Pinball'' is the obvious word that comes to mind when Sonic Spinball is mentioned. Despite the pinball stereotypes, Sonic Spinball is rather unique considering ''those other pinball games''... and it's not just because of the blue ball.

One to four players can play Sonic Spinball at a time, and you may choose either Normal or Fast gameplay.

The object of the game is to collect the required amount of ''Chaos Emeralds'' in pinball-like levels. If you manage to collect all the needed emeralds, the ''boss-room'' becomes open, where you attempt to defeat a boss (who often resembles Robotnik himself.) Another obvious Sonic-addition is his famous ''rings.'' Collect them to rack up the points.

Of course, there are pinball aspects to Sonic Spinball, such as several targets/buttons that you may hit in order to receive points. Earn 20,000,000 points, and you'll gain an extra ''ball.''

Four levels (all complete with bonus stages) are just enough to keep you playing for hours, despite the lack of various levels. Each level is designed so that ''flippers'' are positioned at the bottom of each seperate room, allowing you to knock Sonic around the level. Miss, and you're in for a slimey/firey/gear-churning/volcanic death. On rare occasions you're able to walk around and jump as Sonic, but most of the time you'll see him curled up in a spiky blue ball.

The ''status strip'' at the top of the screen is very useful during gameplay. It either shows you how many emeralds you need to snag in order to open up the boss-room, gives you an urgent order that must be followed in order to avoid your impending doom, or just merely displays your score and status.

The ''Toxic Caves'' is the first of four levels you'll encounter. Here you'll explore the super polluted caverns of the Veg-O-Fortress, where Dr. Robotnik dumps industrial waste. A wrong move here could mean being smothered in green slime, or -- worse yet -- chomped by a Rexxon! Collect the three emeralds required for access to ''Scorpius,'' (the boss,) by bashing into barrels of waste, Cluckbirds, Magma Worms... and surviving.

''Lava Powerhouse'' is the name of the second level. Floating Ferrons block the only escape routes through Dr. Robotnik's lava-powered generators. Use the steam jets like flippers, get help from the Cluckbirds to get to higher places, and make sure not to get fried in the lava below to succeed here. Three is again the magic number of emeralds to get before you'll face the ''half-baked'' bosses in the Robo-Boiler Room.

By the time you get through ''The Machine,'' you'll be happy you're alive. This is where the helpless animals are imprisoned and robotized. Short out the wires with massive explosions, and risk being shredded in the grinding gears as you ascend to the main processing room. After collecting five Chaos Emeralds, you must figure out the Veg-O-Machine's secret to free the hostages.

''Showdown'' is an appropriate title for the last level; here you'll be in a one-on-one face-off between Dr. Robotnik and yourself! You'll face a treacherous climb through the space hangar on your path to Robotnik's escaping rocket ship. Once in, be careful not to get thrown out!

AUDIO/GRAPHICS: (9/10)
Of course you would expect a 2D graphical layout for a Genesis game (3D wasn't accomplished until Sonic's 3D Blast). The graphics are excellent and underrated; who says all Genesis games have crappy graphics? Each level has its own unique/distinct style about it, which is more than I can say about some games (*cough*barney'shideandseek*cough*). Sonic looks like his true blue self, and so does the egg-headed Robotnik, keeping Sonic Spinball in synch with the previous Sonic games.

There is always the option to turn the music off, but you'll find that there is no need to. The music adds character to the levels... they fit in quite nicely. Sound effects in this game are vaguely similar to sounds a pinball machine has, so you could consider them valid. Nothing extremely wrong nor noteworthy of the music in Sonic Spinball.

FUN FACTOR: (10/10)
If this game was not fun, it would not bear the Sonic name. Of course, the name attracted me to the game in the first place... but anyway...

I would be lying if I told you that because Sonic Spinball is a pinball game, it is boring. It's the exact opposite. Many aspects of the game are non-pinball-like at all.

Very surprised I would be if you didn't spend several hours on Sonic Spinball. Just try it. You'll like it. ^_^

CHALLENGE: (9/10)
Sonic Spinball is NOT a game you'd be able to beat in 10 minutes, in fact it'll probably take several tries before you even get to the last level.

Whether you choose Normal or Fast mode determines the challenge level. Fast is playable, while Normal is a bit slow. I find that the only challenge in Normal play is to keep your eyes open.

Of course the lack of levels also contributes to the ''easy'' quality of Sonic Spinball. The first three are a breeze, while the face-off with Robotnik in ''Showdown'' will make you feel ''challenged-out'' by the time you manage to defeat him. So, the last boss balances out the challenge equation pretty well.

CONCLUSION:
Sonic Spinball is another worthwhile title to add to your growing Sonic collection, despite the pinball.

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PROS:
~ It's a multiplayer game.
~ Original music.
~ It's fun and addicting.
~ Hey, it's a Sonic game!

CONS:
~ Lack of levels.
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~ and that's the opinion of a female gamer!
by Steph

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/15/00, Updated 08/15/00