NinjamicWZ
Banned
I always liked Sonic Spinball from the time I rented it. I never understood when I got online and it was considered absolute garbage by so many people.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Sonic Spinball - Pinball Mayhem!
- Thread starter RK128
- Start date
The controls and physics for Sonic is likely why so many are split with the game. Like I said before, you could make it better by setting the speed to 'fast' but that still doesn't fully solve the control problems the game has, so if you can't get used to it.....then you might be in for a bad time
.I enjoyed the game too and find it to be a lot of fun! But it has issues and I can understand that preventing people from fully enjoying the game.
Happy you loved your time with it and thank you for posting in this thread
!Rapscallion
Member
Don't really like the game to be honest. As others have mentioned, the physics just felt completely off and Sonic feels much heavier and sluggish than he usually his. I didn't know about the second speed, which I suppose would fix some of the game's issues. It's a strange choice that they make the default the sluggish one.
I'm also just not a huge pinball fan. Sonic Pinball Party, which was pretty well acclaimed for being a great pinball game, couldn't even win me over. Pokemon Pinball is about the only pinball game I've ever enjoyed.
I'm also just not a huge pinball fan. Sonic Pinball Party, which was pretty well acclaimed for being a great pinball game, couldn't even win me over. Pokemon Pinball is about the only pinball game I've ever enjoyed.
Loved this game when I was a kid, but it was waaaaay harder than any other Sonic game of the era. I beat it a few times when I a young but I haven't been able to get past the 4th level since I was like 16 whenever I've picked it up.
Also it always drove me nuts that on the boxart for the Genesis version it is clearly the typical Genesis style for Robotnik, but the Game Gear version has near identical artwork, but featuring the American AoStH styled Robotnik. Why not just use the same boxart for both games? Just a minor thing that annoyed me as a child.
Also it always drove me nuts that on the boxart for the Genesis version it is clearly the typical Genesis style for Robotnik, but the Game Gear version has near identical artwork, but featuring the American AoStH styled Robotnik. Why not just use the same boxart for both games? Just a minor thing that annoyed me as a child.
It is a strange design choice I must say
. Pinball is really based on the 'feel' and the design of the tables. If one is 'off', then the whole game suffers. But if both 'click' with you, the entire game is a blast to play.
Likely to link it to the AoStH cartoon or something.....but still, the game is more rooted within it being a hybrid between Sega Sonic and Satam Sonic.....so if anything, they should of has Satam Robotnik as the Game Gear cover if they wanted to do that kind of thing.
Bog
Junior Ace
And it gave us the best worst music of the era.
https://youtu.be/vh2WTCQZkdg
See how long you can last. My best is around 18 minutes.
https://youtu.be/vh2WTCQZkdg
See how long you can last. My best is around 18 minutes.
balladofwindfishes
Member
You all know you ran through Chemical zone with this playing at least once.
Admit it.
It's such a crappy version of the song too, not sure what happened with the midi conversion there, the other songs that they did that to didn't sound so botched.
Admit it.
It's such a crappy version of the song too, not sure what happened with the midi conversion there, the other songs that they did that to didn't sound so botched.
You got me XD! It doesn't sound that bad though.
goldenpp72
Member
I enjoy the game myself. I beat it as a kid and the last boss gave me nightmares lol. I revisit it sometimes but have not beaten it for a couple decades. Kinda crazy.
This game. This freaking game! One of the only two Genesis games I owned as a kid (the Sonic 1 being the other) and man... I could never beat it! I always got to the last stage, but I could never do it >_<
Also Normal and Fast control modes... dang, I think I remember those, but I don't think I ever selected Fast as a kid. Realizing now maybe I should have.
Also Normal and Fast control modes... dang, I think I remember those, but I don't think I ever selected Fast as a kid. Realizing now maybe I should have.
Yeah those screechy noises are the worst. And it's such a common sound design pitfall on the system, especially for western devs. Also that dry sounding brass with the harsh gaps inbetween the notes, which felt like it was in nearly every damn western soundtrack.
It's a common pitfall because the easiest, most straightfoward method of getting noisy sound effects with the sound chip is to more or less just max out all the parameters on the synthesizer. And the prevalence of those instantly "gratifying" methods is largely responsible for giving the sound chip such an unfair reputation. Compare them to the sound effects in Revenge of Shinobi for example, where everything including naturally harsh stuff like explosions sound so damn smooth and pleasing. Koshiro did a lot of thinking outside the box when programming those and thus it's one of the finest examples of all time for 16-bit sound design, even for such an early gen title.
BlazeHedgehog
Member
balladofwindfishes
Member
When I think of the song, it's actually this version that plays in my head.
I never played the game back in the days. All the screenshots I saw was of the sewers level and it just put me off. I played it five minutes ago and I'm glad to see there are more than one level. I reached the second table and then I died with a score of 16 399 000. I've set the speed at fast immediately and didn't feel it was sluggish, I should try again with the normal speed I suppose.
Controls are a bit awkward, I'm not used to control the left flipper with my right hand. A Saturn controller would be ideal with it, with the two bumper buttons to control the flippers and the cross and face buttons to control sonic. Without bumper buttons I would rather have had the face buttons for sonic jump and right flipper, and the directional cross for sonic movements and left flipper.
Otherwise I got a good first impression out of it. I will get the cartridge when I get the chance. PAL release is region locked and "PAL optimised", with black bars on top and bottom of the screen, but music playing at the correct tempo at 50Hz, and the gameplay speed seems unaffected by the switch. PAL gamers with a non-modded console should have the same experience as US gamers bar a slightly vertically challenged screen. The gameplay is difficult to assess on this type of games. However there is no escaping import+switch to play an unaltered version in PAL regions.
Controls are a bit awkward, I'm not used to control the left flipper with my right hand. A Saturn controller would be ideal with it, with the two bumper buttons to control the flippers and the cross and face buttons to control sonic. Without bumper buttons I would rather have had the face buttons for sonic jump and right flipper, and the directional cross for sonic movements and left flipper.
Otherwise I got a good first impression out of it. I will get the cartridge when I get the chance. PAL release is region locked and "PAL optimised", with black bars on top and bottom of the screen, but music playing at the correct tempo at 50Hz, and the gameplay speed seems unaffected by the switch. PAL gamers with a non-modded console should have the same experience as US gamers bar a slightly vertically challenged screen. The gameplay is difficult to assess on this type of games. However there is no escaping import+switch to play an unaltered version in PAL regions.
Dragon1893
Member
Really enjoyed the game, I should replay iy, it has been so, so long.
My main gripe was that for some reason sonic controlled like shit when on the ground, which fortunately didn't happen often. I always wondered why he didn't control like in the other games when walking.
My main gripe was that for some reason sonic controlled like shit when on the ground, which fortunately didn't happen often. I always wondered why he didn't control like in the other games when walking.
Yep. That final boss level is true hell. I don't think I've ever beaten it because of the stupid lava and other things that have you bounce around to hit those spots.
MAtgS
Member
I can't even beat the final boss with save states, that's how messed up it is.
I always liked that it was a pinball game with "real environments", most other pinball video games just have virtual tables but Spinball built the pinball mechanics into proper video game levels & stood out for it. Personally I think Metroid Pinball should've tried for that.
Frankly I'd just be glad if Sega/Sonic Team would aknowlege SatAM/Archie characters a little more. That Sticks from Sonic Boom can get into one of the M&S Olympic titles & not any of them is weird.
I always liked that it was a pinball game with "real environments", most other pinball video games just have virtual tables but Spinball built the pinball mechanics into proper video game levels & stood out for it. Personally I think Metroid Pinball should've tried for that.
Skip ahead to #160, everything in between is the dark ages.
I think an RPG would be the best route. The biggest disappointment with Chronicles IMO is that it kinda setup a SatAM-like scenario for the sequel but will never get to follow through with it. The Freedom Fighters themselves could've even be worked in as characters that had been fighting Eggman in Sonic's absence. Oh well....
Frankly I'd just be glad if Sega/Sonic Team would aknowlege SatAM/Archie characters a little more. That Sticks from Sonic Boom can get into one of the M&S Olympic titles & not any of them is weird.
Sonic Chronicles is a game filled with missed potential and Bioware not having a sequel despite that blant hint was more annoying then interesting. I have strong thoughts on that game, but it was nice seeing the SWAT bots become foes you and the party fight.
Sticks being in Mario & Sonic is surprising but Boom as a TV show and toys has been doing well; pushing it through that game makes sense as it is a spin-off for Sonic (kinda like the Riders series, which also got playable characters/bosses in Mario & Sonic).
Thank you for the advice for the comic, will get around to the newer issues for sure in the future
.Gillian Seed
Banned
I can't find it on my iPhone in the store. Is it called something else?
Try looking it up on Google or typing 'Sonic Spinball' on the iOS store.
Shadow Hog
Member
It's actually a song from the beta of Comix Zone, cut from the final product. I'm not sure what it's doing on a Sonic-related album, other than Howard Drossin working on Spinball and Comix Zone (and maybe a track or two from Sonic 3&K, but attributions for that game are nigh impossible to figure out).
Fun fact: Comix Zone is part of the Sonic Mega Collection Plus release on PS2 and Xbox. And Comix Zone, Streets of Rage Trilogy, The Ozz and Bonzai Bros all were part of the Gems Collection in the JP versions.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
I remember really wanting to play this as a kid, because damn, a Sonic-themed pinball game sounded so AWESOME.
When I eventually got to play it as an adult it was hard as balls (I can't even beat the first level!) and I hated the controls There are some good Sonic spinoffs, like Tails' Adventure, but I'm hesitant to rank this as one of the good spinoffs.
When I eventually got to play it as an adult it was hard as balls (I can't even beat the first level!) and I hated the controls
There are some good Sonic spinoffs, like Tails' Adventure, but I'm hesitant to rank this as one of the good spinoffs.I remember really wanting to play this as a kid, because damn, a Sonic-themed pinball game sounded so AWESOME.
When I eventually got to play it as an adult it was hard as balls (I can't even beat the first level!) and I hated the controls
Covering that game in the future, so hope you look forward to that thread
.Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Covering that game in the future, so hope you look forward to that thread
I've never finished it, but it's a fine game indeed! Looking forward to the thread.
And unless you're already set on playing it.. Don't play Tails' Sky Patrol :lol:
To late buddy XD! I'm likely just going to play it for a half hour or so to comment on it (plan on making a dual-thread covering both that and Tails Adventure).
That bites
. Hopeful they fix the issues and just don't remove the games off the app store.....and it seems they did that with Spinball X(. Such a shame. Hopeful the put it back up with the issues are all sorted out.
Shadow Hog
Member
I mean, I already know what you're getting at, but you're kind of off with it. Mega Collection Plus does have it (and The Ooze), but so does vanilla Mega Collection... in Japan. No version of Gems Collection has either game; the not-Sonic games it includes are Vectorman and its sequel in all versions, and Bonanza Bros. and the Streets of Rage trilogy exclusively in the Japanese version.
I'm still sore about them cutting those four games from Gems, though. "Oh, we can't risk the package being rated T!" Yeah, well, all four games in question maxed out at E-10+ when they hit VC, and I'm pretty sure that ESRB rating existed by that point, so... flimsy argument.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
It does seem to sound a bit better on the actual hardware.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc2LcEPuD18
Not quite as ear piercing...though definitely still a strange aural choice.
...huh. There's shades of the descending chords in that in Dragon's Lair, one of his pieces for Black Knight.
That is a shame they gutted the game from Gems Collection
. Will edit my post and remove the Gems Collection comment.Shadow Hog
Member
I'm pretty sure that video was in reference to people complaining about the sound quality in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection - which apparently sounded even worse, somehow.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Haha, Sky Patrol could be summed up as mediocre at best, awful at worst
Adventure is something I'd say is actually worth playing to completion, while Sky Patrol isn't something you should spend more than 30 minutes tops on.Haha, Sky Patrol could be summed up as mediocre at best, awful at worst
Will give Tails Adventure a lot of attention like my other threads, so don't worry buddy
! Looking forward to fully playing it for the first time; only played it for a half hour or so when I got the Gems Collection in 2006.
RecRoulette
Member
Will give Tails Adventure a lot of attention like my other threads, so don't worry buddy
Looking forward to fully playing it for the first time; only played it for a half hour or so when I got the Gems Collection in 2006.
Tails' Adventure is my favorite Game Gear game. Such a cool game. The Sonic Boom game sort of looked like it, a shame it wasn't even close.
Rabid-Coot
Member
The two levels I could complete were alright but the machine always kicked my arse. Its a shame the concept was such a one time only thing, with refinements it could have become a nice little genre for the occaisional game.
Going back to this again, I read through some old Drossin interviews, and according to him he cranked out Virtual Sonic in a month... in 1993. It just took three years for the album to finally come out. So its use in Comix Zone actually comes second.
Haven't played it, but it does have a completely different soundtrack that isn't half bad.
Lord British
Member
I loved Spinball and wish it had been properly expanded on, more of a platforming/pinball mixture. I liked the quasi-Metroidvania structure of the tables, achieving goals to make more progress.
Its far more buggy and glitchy compared to the Genesis/Mega Drive version in addition to the controls feeling very heavy.
You could play it yourself through the Gems Collection (GC or PS2) but I'm not really going to cover it in any major detail.
Sonic's Game Gear Ventures are really mixed, with some being good like Sonic 1/2, Triple Trouble and Tails Adventures.....and some really bad ones like Sonic Blast and well, Spinball Game Gear.
Will be covering those games soon enough but just note that Game Gear Sonic games have some mixed mixed quality games and are less consistent compared to the Genesis.
Dr. Zoidberg
Member
I like video pinball games a great deal but this one always felt bad to me. The scrolling and animation were not smooth, and I hated the way it controlled. The sound fx and music were also pretty grating. I remember being disappointed back when it came out as I was excited about playing it.
Sonic 1 for Game Gear has god-like Yuzo Koshiro music, though.
About Spinball, I loved this game back in the day.
One thing I liked the most was precisely the duration of the levels. Unlike other pinball games, this one felt more like a platformer adventure. The final stage and boss are so exciting because you have to climb higher and higher and a small mistake on the boss drops you almost to the beginning of the level.
Good times.
Yep, I played them all except Spinball GG, Drift 1 and Sky Patrol. Fuck, I even bought Labyrinth when I was a kid lol
I was always curious about Spinball GG because it had some differences compared to the Mega Drive version, but never went around try it myself.
I made a mistake with that post (meant that quality wasn't always consistent with Game Gear Sonic's), so edit it to be more correct. Love the MS/GG music for Sonic 1 and 2, so I completely agree with you man xD!