Pinball Spire
- October 2, 2024
- Apparition Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Pinball Spire" is a pinballvania game, combining classic pinball mechanics with platforming, puzzles, and exploration. As a brave pinball named Pip, you'll explore the titular spire, conquering a strange pinball maze filled with secrets, enemies, and interactive contraptions. With mana-powered pinball abilities, overcome challenges and uncover the mystery at the spire's peak. Official game description count: 221 characters.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- A refreshing and cozy pinball game with smooth graphics and a charming atmosphere, reminiscent of classic flash games.
- The game features unique gameplay mechanics, combining pinball with adventure elements, and offers a satisfying challenge without being overly punishing.
- The art style and soundtrack are highly praised, contributing to an enjoyable and immersive experience.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 4 hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
- Some mechanics, such as the lack of a nudge function and the linear progression, detract from the overall pinball experience and exploration.
- Certain levels can be frustrating due to tricky shots and the potential for the ball to get stuck, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of classic pinball mechanics and unique adventure elements, offering a fun and straightforward experience that is reminiscent of early 2000s flash games. While the mechanics are generally well-implemented and enjoyable, some players noted a lack of depth in traditional pinball features and a desire for more complex gameplay elements. Overall, the game is praised for its charming presentation and solid mechanics, but its short playtime and limited complexity may leave some players wanting more.
“It reminds me of flash games from the 2000s; it has a cool, unique gameplay idea, keeps things simple and straightforward, and doesn't outstay its welcome.”
“A delightful little pinball adventure with some fun mechanics to give the game its own personality.”
“The combination of traditional pinball mechanics with a unique platformer/fantasy twist makes it truly stand out.”
“While it uses the mechanics of pinball fairly well, it's a little bit lacking in actual pinball nerdery - sure, that's not what the game is about, and it uses its mechanics well, but I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of conventional pinball mechanics like table tilting or more complex wizard mode mechanics.”
“Considering the price tag on this one, I find myself overall unsatisfied at the end of the day with barely under 3 hours of gameplay to do pretty much everything in this game.”
“But as it is right now - about 3 hours of play for $15, with some serious mechanical and performance issues - I can't recommend it.”
- music39 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's variety, from chill tunes to more upbeat tracks, and highlighted its seamless integration with the gameplay and visuals. While some mentioned occasional repetitiveness, the general consensus is that the music is a standout feature that adds significant enjoyment to the game.
“For such a simple game, the soundtrack is an absolute banger!”
“I was very surprised at just how much I enjoyed the music of this game, and I'm most certainly going to go looking for it on YouTube.”
“The music feels like the perfect match for a game you can just sit down with and enjoy, and reinforces the chill atmosphere of the game.”
“The music is fine, but when you hear the same track over and over while you're stuck in a room for ten minutes, it gets a little old.”
“I'm not sure if the music is the most fitting for this title, yet I also enjoyed it well enough.”
“The music design in the game just adds some chill background sound to flip to without getting in the way or sounding repetitive.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art and smooth animations, creating a charming and cozy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the minimalist aesthetic combined with complex gameplay mechanics, noting that the visuals are both professional and consistent, contributing to a nostalgic feel. While some minor scaling issues were mentioned, the overall presentation, including the art style and lighting, is considered impressive for an indie title.
“A refreshing, cozy pinball game with smooth graphics and a touch of 2D lighting to add to the atmosphere.”
“The pixel graphics and lighting are really good, the 8-track soundtrack from Starling Tan is solid (and shouldn’t be turned down) and the actual pinball mechanics at play on the tables were fun to play around with.”
“Graphics are really, really nice, gorgeous, simple, clear pixel art!”
“A couple of the smaller rooms have also been annoying to play through because the graphics don't scale well, but I'm sure it's great on something like the Steam Deck instead of a big normal monitor.”
“Tl;dr: pleasing presentation (both sound and visuals), however gameplay can get frustrating a little quickly and don't go in expecting a true metroidvania either.”
“Pinball Spire has crisper graphics, being made in the modern era.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many expressing a lack of desire to replay after completing achievements. While some areas, like the planetary system room, are visually appealing, they still suffer from gameplay mechanics that feel luck-based and overly drawn out, particularly during boss fights. The game captures the essence of pinball but often falls short due to its repetitive and tedious objectives.
“After grinding out the pinball wizard achievement, I have no desire to touch this game again.”
“They've done the work to implement a passable, cartoonish representation of pinball, but then made the objectives both opaque and tedious.”
“The final boss itself also feels tedious; the concept is amazing and I'd love to see more pinball boss fights, but the sheer number of barriers - both literal and figurative - to dealing damage turned the battle into a marathon, taking me well over 20 minutes.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable performance issues, particularly in a few screens and later tables, which detracts from the overall experience. While it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, it is resource-intensive and has mechanical flaws that hinder enjoyment. Despite these challenges, players find the gameplay enjoyable, hoping for future patches to address the optimization concerns.
“Despite being for the Sega Genesis (an ancient platform by today's standards), Sonic Spinball played smoother and had more consistent performance.”
“Other than this small performance issue, the game is loads of fun and I have been having a blast exploring through the spire.”
“Hopefully the developer is able to put out a patch that will clean up this performance issue.”
“I enjoyed the gameplay there was (enough to beat it despite the performance issues), but that is still quite short.”
“Finally, while it plays very well on Steam Deck, it is a complete resource hog and has some performance issues in the later tables.”
“But as it is right now - about 3 hours of play for $15, with some serious mechanical and performance issues - I can't recommend it.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; some players feel the game lacks replay value without an arcade mode, while others believe it has the potential for infinite replayability typical of good pinball games. However, there are also players who do not prioritize replayability, preferring a more focused and imaginative experience over endless grinding.
“I have a feeling this could be infinitely replayable, like all good pinball should be.”
“This game offers a unique experience every time, making it highly replayable and enjoyable.”
“Without an arcade mode, this game lacks replayability, and I hope the devs will add one someday!”
“There is no replayability, at least for me.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, featuring some metroidvania elements, but lacks depth and engaging characters, leaving players wanting more narrative substance.
“It has a bit of a story to it and some Metroidvania elements.”
“There is absolutely no story here.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a refreshing and cozy vibe, enhanced by smooth graphics and 2D lighting. The music complements this chill environment, making it an enjoyable experience for players, while the cleverly designed levels further contribute to the overall ambiance.
“A refreshing, cozy pinball game with smooth graphics and a touch of 2D lighting to add to the atmosphere.”
“The music feels like the perfect match for a game you can just sit down with and enjoy, and reinforces the chill atmosphere of the game.”
“The levels are very atmospheric and clever.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its affordability, which players find amusing compared to the costs of traditional arcade games and digital pinball titles. However, some users express disappointment that the game lacks the quirky, humorous elements they were hoping for in a pinball platformer.
“You'll find the price hilariously affordable after having spent untold quarters in arcades and purchasing numerous digital pinball games in search of the evolution of the format.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the need for players to engage actively with the environment, suggesting that deeper connections and interactions are required to evoke feelings, rather than passive actions.
