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Metroid Prime Pinball

EMAIL PRINT ds

8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 51 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 11 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Fuse Games

Genre(s): Pinball

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 24, 2005

Summary

Samus Aran's entry into the bumper-and-flipper world is a sleek, sci-fi classic gaming adventure that has her careening into gigantic boss monsters and bouncing through a variety of exciting pinball tables. Play tables across two screens at the same time using the touch screen to nudge the pinball table. Battle deadly enemies and experience a number of special modes such as Clone Machine Multiball and the Wall-Jump Challenge while you blast and bomb your high score into a state of pure pinball pandemonium. [Nintendo]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Nintendo Power

A fully realized and well-tuned hybrid of pinball play and Metroid Prime atmosphere, and it sets the bar high for other pinball-action games to come. [Dec 2005, p.109]

Cincinnati Enquirer

Incredibly entertaining portable pinball game with additional rumble pack cart.

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Nintendojo

Metroid Prime Pinball may be the surprise sleeper of the fall, and although the "Prime" moniker may be out of place, it certainly embodies the fun and sense of addiction that other Metroid titles have shown.

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Deeko

The graphic stylings are incredible, the tables are well thought out and integrated, the musical score is brilliant and the theme works in ways you would never imagine.

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Play Magazine

If it's Metroid it's in here, and looking absolutely amazing... [Nov p.99]

BonusStage

Video game pinball doesn’t get any better than what Nintendo and Fuse Games have put together in Metroid Prime Pinball.

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eToychest

The game’s pinball mechanics, save for the somewhat inept table-tilting feature, are expertly implemented, and the numerous flavors of Metroid have been liberally sprinkled throughout the experience the ensure fans of the franchise will come away both smiling and humming a familiar tune.

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N-Insanity

There's very little wrong with it (although that lack of a save feature is irritating) and a lot to love. If you like pinball games, this is the one to grab.

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DailyGame

The marriage of pinball and Metroid is a match made in heaven. This is a perfect game to play for 20 minutes at a time.

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GameZone

If you are a fan of Pinball games or of the Metroid Prime franchise, then this is a game for you.

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PALGN

This could be the game that convinces you to take the "Mario Kart" cartridge out of your DS. Metroid fans will love it. Pinball fans will love it.

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Gaming Nexus

The more logical subject matter and double the screen room resulted in a solid game, filled with Metroid homage and tight pinball mechanics.

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1UP

This game feels first and foremost like a pinball game, and a pretty damn good one at that. The Metroid motif's all well and good, but it's really only the icing on the cake.

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NintendoWorldReport

With top-notch graphics and sound that believably invoke the Metroid series, not to mention some really cool pinball innovations that incorporate many trademark features of the series, this game really does feel like a seamless, if unlikely, merging between classic arcade pinball and the creepy-cool Metroid Prime series.

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GameBrink

I would have liked it if there were customizable controls, but it isn't a big deal. For a real innovative pinball experience I would have hoped Nintendo had included a gyroscopic feedback add-on, so I could actually shake the DS to tilt the table. But it's apparent that my dreams may never come true.

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Da Gameboyz

In what could have been a disaster, Fuse Games has taken the Metroid name and applied it to a really great looking and great playing pinball game.

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Pelit (Finland)

Looks and sounds like Metroid, but is also an excellent pinball game. [Jan 2006]

GameSpot

The idea that the game of pinball may be used to simulate virtually any other challenging struggle is a good one (since pinball is cool), and Metroid Prime Pinball pulls it off very well--both by being a fun and great-looking pinball experience, and by being a faithful spin-off of one of the best Nintendo games of the past decade.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

The dual screens provide a perfect medium for the genre, and the inclusion of the rumble pack, which is compatible with the likes of Mario & Luigi at the moment and should feature in future releases, is a neat and thoughtful inclusion.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Consider our fingers well and truly crossed, and let's hope that Metroid Prime Hunters is even better.

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NTSC-uk

Fuse Games has managed to mould an inspiring example of how to beautifully blend an already existing genre with an established and cherished franchise.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

One of the better pinball games of late. [July 2007, p.88]

VideoGamer

It is addictive, intense and packed with detail.

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NGamer UK

Video pinball is great when it's done well, and Metroid Prime Pinball is at the upper end of the scale. Nice tables and a very Metroid-y feel.

Thunderbolt

It could have been disastrous, but Metroid Prime Pinball is a fantastic example of a series spin-off executed extremely well.

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IGN

Fuse Games' design looks, sounds, and plays great, and encompasses that pick-up-and-play element that works great in the handheld environment.

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Modojo

With music lifted straight from the Metroid Prime games, Pinball is an absolute joy to listen to.

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GameSpy

At the end of some extensive play time with MPP, I'd have to say that this is one of the more unique gaming sessions you can have on the Nintendo DS.

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GamerFeed

A great pinball game doesn't need 25 different tables and a plethora of unlockable crap. All it needs to do is play well, and no argument can be made that Metroid Prime Pinball's gameplay is lacking.

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Yahoo! Games

The boards look very similar. A few more would've been great, too. All things considered, Metroid Prime Pinball is a fun little game that is great for players 7 to 107.

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Cheat Code Central

You don't have to be a diehard Metroid fan to dig the onscreen action either, but being one will certainly help you recognize all of the little flourishes that only true Samus sympathizers will appreciate.

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Game Informer

I definitely would have had more fun with Metroid Prime Pinball if I'd had access to a little more content right from the start. [Nov 2005, p.176]

DarkStation

Don't dismiss this is yet another generic pinball game as Nintendo masterfully integrates the Metroid universe into a wonderfully addictive party game.

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3DAvenue

High quality gaming, perfect for traveling and the rumble pack for future games - you really can't go wrong with this one if you're a fan of bouncing balls.

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G4 TV

The simple controls and short bursts of gameplay make it perfect for handheld consumption, and a wireless multiplayer mode that allows up to eight other flipper-flappers to play with just one game card pushes its value rather high.

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Nintendophiles

If pinball play isn't your cup of tea, you may get bored or even frustrated before you get accomplished enough to unlock new tables. The bottom line is that if you are a fan of Metroid and even causally like to play pinball, you will become quickly addicted to aiding Samus in her quest to kick alien ass.

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Detroit Free Press

I enjoyed the way you shake the table -- by rubbing the touch screen -- usually to prevent the ball from dropping into the gutter.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

My main knock against the game is that it can be hard to see the little rolled up Samus, uh, ball at times, particularly during boss fights when the big fellas and their minions are pelting you with rocks or rockets or blast waves or just negative thoughts, and extra particularly when the ball gets hung up in the dead zone between the upper and lower screens.

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My Gamer

In the end, you must head the advice which our dear bounty hunter has taken to heart, literally: BE THE BALL.

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Games Master UK

Aimed more at Metroid fans than pinball aficionados, and it shows. Flashy but insipid. [Aug 2006, p.65]

Boomtown

It’s nice that no feeble attempt was made to force the stylus into the pinball format, but it would have been better to see some more multiplayer options and maybe just a couple more tables. Really, that’s the only thing wrong with this otherwise fantastic title.

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Pocket Gamer UK

A polished and entertaining experience, Metroid Prime Pinball is only let down by its lack of proper pinball tables.

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GamerNode

Metroid Prime Pinball fills the void for a portable pinball machine. If you are looking for a pinball game that is fun and challenging, MPP would be a good addition to your DS game library.

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Sydney Morning Herald

These pinball tables are well-designed, the ball action realistic with familiar Metroid elements smartly integrated.

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N-Europe

This game should amuse you for a while, but don’t expect any big things from it. It hasn’t got the high quality standard of the regular Metroid titles, but you knew that already.

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GamePro

There's a very limited selection of game modes. Players can select Single Mission, Multi-Mission, or Multi-Player, however all the game modes feature the same Metroid Pinball tabletop worlds and goals--there's just a lack of variety.

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Game Revolution

Next time, hopefully Fuse will go easier on the mini-games. We'd rather have a character-based game that's great at pinball rather than a fence-riding jack of all trades that is master of none.

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Gaming Age

The graphics are nice, the music is great, and it’s fun to play. The Metroid tie-in actually works quite well in this case to create a richer environment. If you’re looking for something more than pinball, however, you’d best look elsewhere.

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VGPub

So while this game might take you only a few days to beat, its presentation and feel make for a fun pinball game not like any other. If you’re looking for something that takes pinball to a new level of greatness, look somewhere else.

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Gamestyle

Success or failure in Metroid Prime Pinball is down to little more than what day of the week it is; what modicum of skill that actually makes a difference is frequently undone by chance. With such a randomly uncontrollable element to the proceedings, you'll find yourself thinking this is either a really good addictive game, or the most infuriating thing since those Michael Winner commercials.

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Eurogamer

While fun can be had here, it's from the mini-games and the experience rather than solid table designs - and that's a cardinal sin in pinball.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Blue Falcon gave it a9:
I would venture to say this is the best pinball video game ever created. If I was a fan of metroid prime, I'd probably give it a 10. Basically what makes it great is variety and polish.

Captain FX gave it a9:
As games go it's not the most indepth (although there are a good number of tabels), but what is great about this game is that you can pick it up and play it at anytime, whether you have 5 mins or an hour to spare. It's perfectly addictive and when you get some DS friends round it is insanely competitive. This is a great game and you know that you'll still be playing it long after some of the more complex games are still sat on your shelf. Added to that the bundled rumble pack (which does actually sound a bit like a pinball machine) and you have a great, addictive gaming experience. I used to have a PSP but the games were trying to be mini versions of the PS2 and failing. This is what a handheld should be about - good quality addictive gameplay designed for handheld devices.

Jonathan G. gave it an8:
Though I suck at pinball games this was still a great game and the best pinball game that I have ever played.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
May sound cheesy, but it's actually very entertaining! Recommened for any gamer who just wants to sit down for 15 minutes and relieve some stress.

UseR gave it a9:
This is an excellent game! Great game, great graphics, give it a try and judge for urself, u won't be disappointed!!

Jo B. gave it a9:
This is a great game to pick up and play anywhere, and if you have mates with a DS, they can play it with you without needing their own copy of the game, which is a fantastic way of finding out if you want to buy your own copy.

Darren Z. gave it a9:
A thoroughly entertaining and solidly designed game. The ball physics are amazingly realistic, and the sharp and colorful graphics never lag resulting in a fast-paced and fluid gaming experience. My one niggling criticism is that having to use the touch screen to "bump" the table is awkward and hard to do quickly which leads to me rarely using this feature. An alternative method, such as using the control pad, would have been welcome. Also, some gamers may be disappointed with the relatively small number of tables. There are two "regular" tables, and several "special" tables. The regular tables are well designed and feature lots of ramps and unlockable goodies and mini-games, while the simplier special tables are featured in the multi-mission boss battles, where you have to defeat a boss creature by knocking the ball into him. Still, the tables are exceptionally well designed, so it's really a quality over quantity judgment call. Finally, the rumble pack lends a surprisingly authentic "pinball table" feeling to the game. Bottom line: The positives of this game far outweigh the admittedly minor negatives. This is an excellent game and well worth the purchase.

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Metroid Prime Pinball

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