Friday 17 November 2017

Zen Pinball : Worlds Within Worlds


Beyond 'Zen Pinball 2' (from Zen Studios)... what is there? Is there life? Only because you can load up and tap out so quickly from this essential game for anyone's worthy smartphone or tablet. But it's still distracting, addictive and pretty endless... I just keep tapping back.

This is because Zen's collection of pinball tables provide a fast, second home for former 'big game' addicts like me, with its range of tables that celebrate everything from scientific figures to top movies and big games likes Skyrim. And there's nothing like seeing a new table open up and fill the corners of a top tablet screen with flashing lanes, retro detail and nostalgic colours. [Star Wars fans currently have at least 13 tables to choose from.]

You see, this could be where former gamers come to die - or else wrestle free, somehow, from their former cravings. [In fact, will there be another post after this one here at Notes from Super Worlds? You'd have to sign up to the blog find out!] Indeed, for those poor folk who have simply run out of time for immersive, virtual worlds, well... there is Zen Pinball and the like, where we can safely re-live, and unlock, former glories and top scenes from cult movies.

But it's also for people who may discover these great movies, and enjoy playing a range of very different tables, all united by the same, reliable, instant form of game-play. They can range from the tricky to the pointless and bland to the varied, well-paced and inventive. Forget the level-based interruptions of Angry Birds. Welcome to the truly immersive, flipper-based art of Pinball.


My recommended tables from Zen Studios:

- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back / Return of the Jedi
- Aliens
- Back to the Future


What are your favourite tables? What tables don't exist yet? Ghostbusters (original)? Indiana Jones? If you've found this humble entry of mine, then please leave me a comment underneath. Because as mentioned, I just keep coming back. I find - as a kid from the 80s - that the rise, or return, of pinball via devices and consoles pays the highest form of tribute to the glorious past of well-loved movie and game-worlds. They are worlds within worlds. And the future looks bright... PS4 versions from Zen have split-screen, as well as Tournaments filled with time-based and high-score challenges to compete in. Let's hope the revolution continues expanding which, in turn, begs the question: what makes the ultimate table? I think it must simply be about the balancing of everything correctly, from the array of challenges, intriguing layout and effects to the multi-ball modes and overall tribute the table manages to pay to its theme and setting. And I have a good feeling about it. I feel that if Zen Studios keeps shaping its tables right, they might return to some of their creations and introduce even more improvements and surprises, new modes or enhancements, and maybe even better cut-scenes, mini-games etc.

Check out the 'Jaws' table:




Or the 'Back to the Future' table:





Tips to Play Longer at Pinball:

- It's all in the flipper. Timing is everything.

- Learn to keep an eye on the Info (dot-screen) at the top, and also an eye on the pathways where you need to aim the ball (usually highlighted).

- Try and balance the ball on one flipper in order to take a pause and aim better.

- Read the Table Guides.

- Some of the tables will ask you to 'Select a Scene' from a movie. Use a flipper to select a scene.

- You can also 'nudge' the table to prevent the ball from falling down: by swiping up your screen (or left or right). Be careful, however, as too many times will cause a Tilt lock.

- Keep camera on overhead or top-down view, so you can see everything. (i do)

- Keep calm and carry on, your accuracy will improve!



Note: You can buy the multi-pack Zen versions (eg. Aliens Pinball), but it's more recommended to use the Zen Pinball 2 app and buy them individually - from within this app. That way, it's much easier to import them across other devices as you 'collect' more tables over time.

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See also my guide at Bananatic Games Portal, on the Bananapedia section:
Zen Pinball 2 : Join the Revolution!

See also: Wikipedia Information