Dream Pinball 3D

Zen Pinball 3D is a well made game that continues the eShop's streak of great content at great prices.

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Dream Pinball 3D is a 3D pinball game that transforms your PC or console into a virtual pinball machine with 6 unique themes, such as Knight Tournament and Underwater World. The game features balls made of different materials, each with unique ballistic properties, and various camera positions for a more immersive experience. The multiball feature with up to 3 balls adds an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

22%

Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews

music8 positive mentions

graphics10 negative mentions

The game features a variety of well-designed pinball tables, each with unique themes and soundtracks, providing a nostalgic experience for pinball fans.
Despite its age, the graphics are decent for a game released in 2008, and the gameplay can be enjoyable if you adjust the settings properly.
The game offers a good amount of content for its low price, making it a fun option for casual pinball players looking for a budget-friendly experience.

The registration process is cumbersome and requires excessive personal information, which many players find intrusive and unnecessary for a pinball game.
The game suffers from poor resolution support and outdated graphics options, making it difficult to play on modern systems without issues.
Gameplay is marred by buggy physics, awkward camera angles, and a lack of controller support, leading to a frustrating experience for many users.

graphics
29 mentions
14 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
34 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear outdated, especially for titles released in the late 2000s and early 2010s. While some appreciate the charm and immersion of the visuals, others criticize them as poor or mediocre, lacking modern resolution options and detailed artwork. Overall, players suggest that those expecting high-end graphics may be disappointed, but the visuals can be acceptable given the game's age and price.
- “For a game released in 2008, the graphics look pretty good.”
- “You feel like you're in a mixture of Finding Nemo meets visiting an aquarium, but you're one of the fishes in the sea and it's all about racking up those points as charming visuals, a relaxed voiceover, and cute in-game sounds immerse you practically underwater.”
- “This is a classic pinball game that gives a retro feeling with modern graphics.”
- “Graphics is a little bit old.”
- “Poor graphics.”
- “The graphics were mediocre to poor.”
music
24 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising standout tracks like "Amber Moon" for their quality and thematic relevance, while others criticize the overall soundtrack as generic and unappealing. Many players appreciate the unique blend of styles, such as a mix of James Bond and techno jazz, but others find the music forgettable or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the quality of the music varies significantly across different tables, leading to a polarized reception.
- “My favorite is Amber Moon, also known as Two Worlds (that's what it's called in the CD and demo versions - it promoted the game of the same title). It features excellent music by Harold Faltermeyer.”
- “I especially like the Amber Moon table; it has a great, outstanding soundtrack.”
- “The music is like a mix of James Bond meets a bit of techno jazz, and while at first it may seem like a bad choice, it really fits the vibe.”
- “As a result they are unpolished, sometimes buggy, the themes are boring and generic, and the music/sound effects are basic and unexciting.”
- “While table sounds are okay, if a bit teensy in their clickiness and identical from table to table, the music featured on the tables ranges from forgettable to completely absent.”
- “The physics are weird, the music is mediocre at best, the sound is equally mediocre, the way menus are set up is confusing, and it doesn't support HD resolutions.”
gameplay
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
44 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered solid but suffers from several shortcomings, including a lack of modern high-resolution support and controller compatibility, which detracts from the experience for some players. Many reviewers noted the gameplay feels dull and slow, with issues like poor physics and a frustrating slide back mechanic contributing to an overall lack of engagement. While the remappable keyboard controls are a plus, the game fails to deliver the mechanical excitement found in newer pinball titles.
- “The basic gameplay is still solid.”
- “Gameplay is solid.”
- “Now for the gameplay.”
- “If there is one glaring gameplay shortcoming, it's the lack of controller support, since I very much prefer to use a joypad when playing pinball games. However, the controls the game uses by default are remappable on the keyboard and are quite similar to those featured in many other PC pinball titles.”
- “Unfortunately, the slide back mechanic is ruthless, and the ball will roll down a ramp at high speeds if they really don't want you up there.”
- “The resolution options are dated, and the gameplay is pretty lacking. I'm glad it was cheaper than a dollar, but I doubt I'll ever even launch it a second time.”
stability
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing during gameplay. Many find it unpolished and frustrating, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Overall, the stability of the game is a major drawback.
- “Extremely buggy.”
- “Have to register to play all the stages and had a few glitches on the only stage I could play... I wouldn't play this game for more than the time I did play it.”
- “Tables do not load, game just freezes.”
story
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the story aspect of the game is less about intricate narratives and more focused on thematic elements, art design, and visual appeal. While there are missions and modes present, they are secondary to the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience, which lacks the depth found in other pinball games like Pinball FX2. The gameplay itself adheres to traditional pinball mechanics, offering expected features like combos and multiball, but does not innovate significantly in terms of storytelling.
- “The appeal of the game is more focused on the themes, art, designs, music, and visual flair rather than just a bunch of missions or tons of different modes.”
- “While there are modes and missions available, the game's attractiveness lies in its thematic elements and overall design.”
- “The physics and theming of this game create a unique experience that stands out from other pinball games.”
- “The physics aren't really comparable to Pinball Arcade, and the theming and missions aren't even in the same league as Pinball FX2, two outstanding pinball games that can be downloaded on Steam for free with a single free table each.”
- “What I mean by that is the appeal to them was more focused on the themes of the games, the art, designs/play-fields of the tables, music, and visual flair rather than a bunch of missions or tons of different modes.”
- “Don't get me wrong, there are modes and missions to do, and they are decently designed for the most part, but as I mentioned, the reasons mentioned beforehand are what makes these games attractive.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is reminiscent of classic pinball experiences, enhanced by emergency sirens and focused dialogue that create an engaging and immersive environment.
- “You can feel the atmosphere of good old pinball machines.”
- “The emergency sirens and assertive, focused vibes from the dialogue of the table create a captivating atmosphere.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users note that optimization requires manual adjustments, such as turning off auto performance and setting the pixel shader to 1.1 for better gameplay. While there are multiple pinball games available, they often feel similar in performance despite differing themes.
- “First off, there are several pinball games, but they seem so much like the same game with altered themes, yet the performance is so similar.”
- “Don't forget to set auto performance off and pixel shader 1.1.”
- “First off, there are several pinball games, but they seem so much like the same game with altered themes, and the performance is so similar.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game to be exceptionally entertaining, often leading to uncontrollable laughter.
- “I can't stop laughing.”
- “The jokes are so clever and unexpected, they always catch me off guard.”
- “The humor is perfectly timed, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”