By this point, you've probably heard Game Informer editors wax
poetic about Zen Studios' digital offerings. Its faithful digital recreations
of pinball have earned the developer several fans in the office, and I'm one of
them. That said, the 3DS was the last platform I wanted to play a pinball game
on – but it didn't take long for Zen Pinball 3D to change my mind.
My biggest concern with Zen Pinball's transition to the 3DS
was the smaller screen size. I often have a hard time seeing table features in
Pinball FX 2 on my TV, so I wasn't looking forward to cozying up to a 3.5-inch
screen. While some visual detail has been lost in the downsizing, the changes
are purely superficial, and I didn't have any problem tracking the ball. The 3D
effect is surprisingly helpful for figuring out the layouts of the feature-packed
tables, though I preferred turning the effect off during actual play. The ball always
seemed tiny regardless of the view, but it didn't affect my timing or overall
enjoyment.
Zen Pinball 3D also features improved table guides, which
explain each table's various modes and mechanics. Whereas previous versions
only featured ambiguous images, instructions are now accompanied by a real-time
view of the corresponding place on the table, with arrows pointing to specific
features. The table guides only offer basic information, but overall it's a
step in the right direction.
While the software has made a solid transition to the 3DS,
the handheld itself takes some getting used to. The shoulder buttons are
responsive, but cramped by their proximity to the top screen flap, and unless
you have the hands of a child, the buttons don't naturally fall underneath your
fingertips. The only comfortable position I could find was to hold the system up
with my thumbs and index fingers like I was snapping a picture with a camera,
at which point things went smoothly. You might get some funny looks from your
friends, but if you're having trouble getting a solid handle on the unit, I
suggest giving it a try.
The dual screens also complicate things slightly. Zen
Studios moved the LED and scoring updates to the bottom screen, leaving the top
screen all to the table. The extra information doesn't block the view of the
table anymore, but losing your focus and draining a ball is easy when switching
screens to read directions on the LED.
Zen Pinball/Pinball FX fans may be disappointed by the table
selection. All four tables are a couple of years old by this point; El Dorado
and Shaman were original Zen Pinball tables from 2009, and Excalibur and Earth
Defense were DLC releases from 2010. They're all still a lot of fun (I enjoy
them more than the pack-in tables for the original Pinball FX), but pale in
comparison to what the company has been releasing on a regular basis for
Pinball FX 2 over the past two years.
I didn't think pinball would work on such a small screen,
but I was proven wrong by Zen Pinball 3D. The biggest drawback is the age of
the tables, but the core mechanics provide fun and addictive pinball on the go.
Read More… www.GameInformer.com
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