Pokémon Pinball

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Pokémon Pinball
Pokémon Pinball
Developer(s) Jupiter
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Release date(s) April 14, 1999 (JP)
June 28, 1999 (US)
October 6, 2000 (EU)
Genre(s) Pinball
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone (E)
Platform(s) Game Boy Color
Media Cartridge

Pokémon Pinball (ポケモンピンボール Pokemon Pinbōru?) is a pinball game based on Pokémon Red and Blue. In it, the ball is a Poké Ball, and most of the objects on the table are Pokémon-related.

Contents

[edit] Objectives

Like any pinball game, the main objective is to get points, using the different modes of advances to score them at a higher rate. Pokémon Pinball has a secondary objective, which is unlock all 150 Pokémon, which fills your Pokédex. The Pokédex is saved between individual games, so it can be built up over time.

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Tables

There are two tables in the game, red and blue. Each table has its own details and gameplay elements.

Each table has different "locations" that you play, which determine which Pokémon are available for capture. A subset of available locations are displayed slot-machine style in the beginning of a game, and pressing A will select your starting location and launch the first ball into play. After that, each table has its own mechanism for advancing to the next location, including the locations not available at the start of the game.

"Catch Mode," when activated, starts a 2 minute window of opportunity where you can attempt to capture a Pokémon. Once you activate "catch mode," you must hit the pop bumpers 6 times. Each hit unlocks 1/6 of an image of the Pokémon currently up for capture. Once the image is complete, the Pokémon appears on the table, where it must be hit 4 times with the ball to capture it.

"Evolution Mode," when activated, starts a 2 minute window of opportunity where you select a captured Pokémon (from the current game in progress only) and attempt to evolve it into another form. This is the only way to add the evolved form to your Pokédex. Once you select a Pokémon, you must hit targets on the playfield. There are 5 targets total, but only 3 of them have items in them you need to evolve a Pokémon. The other two create a time-wasting sequence before you can hit targets again. If you hit a target with an item, the item appears on the playfield and must be collected with the ball. Once you've collected 3 items, the hole in the center of the board opens up. Sinking the ball in the hole successfully evolves the Pokémon.

[edit] Bonus Rounds

When activated, a bonus round takes you to another table ("stage") where you can rack up points. There are five different bonus rounds.

  • Meowth stage (BLUE Table): Hit Meowth with the ball as he runs across the screen. Each hit results in a charm falling onto the screen. Charms can be chained and will score 1x 2x 4x 8x 16x 32x and 64x. Hitting Meowth again or losing the ball will reset the chain score. Collecting 20 charms before time runs out completes the bonus round.
  • Seel stage (BLUE Table): Hit Seels as they poke their heads out from the background. Hitting 20 clears the stage. Chaining works similar as above, and resets when you miss a Seel or lose the ball.
  • Diglet stage (RED Table): Hit 20 Diglets then hit the Dugtrio 3 times. There is no chaining in this stage.
  • Gengar stage (RED Table): Hit 10 Gastly, then 10 Haunters, and the Gengar is revealed. Hit the Gengar 5 times to complete the bonus round.
  • Mewtwo stage (BOTH tables): This stage is available after completing the other two stages in the same game. Hit Mewtwo many times quickly until he falls off his chair. Mewtwo is surrounded by a force field which recharges when he isn't hit for a period of time.

[edit] Pokémon Locations

[edit] Red Table

  • Pallet Town: Charmander, Rattata, Nidoran (M), and Poliwag
  • Viridan Forest: Weedle, Pidgey, and Pikachu
  • Pewter City: Spearow, Jigglypuff, Ekans, and Magikarp
  • Cerulean City: Oddish, Mankey, Jynx, and Abra
  • Vermilion City: Seaside Shellder, Krabby, Ekans, and Farfetch'D
  • Rock Mountain: Voltorbe, Diglett, and MrMime
  • Lavender Town: Gastly, Magnemite, Cubone, Electabuzz, and Zapdos
  • Cycling Road: Spearow, Doduo, Lickitung, and Snorlax
  • Safari Zone: Paras, Rhyhorn, and Chansey
  • Seafoam Islands: Horsea, Staryu, Seel, and Articuno
  • Cinnabar Island: Ponyta, Growlithe, Omanyte, and Kabuto
  • Indigo Plateau: Machop, Onix, and Ditto
  • Viridan City: Squirtle, Nidoran (M), and Bulbasaur

[edit] Blue Table

  • Viridian Forest: Caterpie, Rattata, and Pikachu
  • Mt Moon: Zubat, Paras, and Clefairy
  • Cerulean City: Bellsprout, Meowth, Jynx, and Abra
  • Vermilion City: Streets Shellder, Krabby, Farfetch'D, and Sandshrew
  • Rock Mountain: Diglet, Voltorbe, and MrMime
  • Celadon City: Mankey, Meowth, Eevee, and Porygon
  • Fuchsia City: Magikarp, Goldeen, Kangashan, and Exeggcute
  • Safari Zone: Doduo, Nidoran (F), and Chansey
  • Saffron City: Ekans, Sandshrew, Hitmonchan, and Hitmonlee
  • Cinnabar Island: Ponyta, Koffing, Aerodactyl, and Magmar
  • Indigo Plateau: Geodude, Ditto, Onix, Moltres, and Mewtwo

[edit] Mew

This is the 151st Pokémon. Complete all 3 bonus rounds for the table you're playing, twice each. After this, enter "Catch Mode." There is then approximately a 1 in 10 chance that it's Mew. Uncover his picture, and then it requires 20 hits (rather than the standard 4) to catch Mew.

[edit] Trivia

Pokémon Pinball cartridge with integrated rumble feature
Pokémon Pinball cartridge with integrated rumble feature
  • The cartridge for Pokémon Pinball is one of the few Game Boy Color cartridges with a built-in rumble feature.
  • The music that plays in Blue Version is a song later used in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal.
  • The music in "catch 'em mode" is the Japanese Pokémon theme song.

[edit] Sequel

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire is the third-generation sequel to Pokémon Pinball. The main difference is the available Pokémon. Instead of capturing the first-generation Pokémon, players capture the Pokémon available in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. As a bonus, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile and Aerodactyl are also available. Jirachi can be captured under special circumstances, though Deoxys is unavailable.

This game also makes improvements on the original title. Most notably, the game scrolls rather than having two static screens. It also includes new features such as captures from hatched eggs.

[edit] External links