''Pinball Quest'' is a

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pinball Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

developed by

Tose () (also called Tose Software) is a Japanese video game development company based in Kyoto. It is mostly known for developing Nintendo's Game & Watch ports and remakes#Game & Watch Gallery series, ''Game & Watch Gallery'' series, various ''Drago ...

and published by Jaleco. Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, ''Pinball Quest'' was unusual at the time of its release for its "unique" mash-up of pinball and role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, and it is considered the "first ever RPG pinball game."

Game play

The game includes four modes: a story-driven "RPG mode" as well as "Circus," "Viva! Golf," and "Pop! Pop!" Circus (a

slot machine A slot machine (American English), fruit machine (British English) or poker machine (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known pejoratively a ...

-themed game) and Viva! Golf (a

whack-a-mole Whac-A-Mole is an arcade game, originally known as or in Japan. A typical Whac-A-Mole machine consists of a waist-level cabinet with a play area and display screen, and a large, soft, black mallet. Five holes in the play area top are filled wit ...

-style game) are additional single-player modes. Pop! Pop! is a sports-themed multiplayer mode that can be played by up to 4 players.

RPG mode

In RPG mode, the player controls the silver pinball and progresses through a six-level castle to rescue Princess Bali from Beezelbub, the "Dark Lord of the Machine". As in traditional pinball, flippers are used to keep the ball in the

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and accomplish objectives, such as hitting targets or defeating an enemy. The role-playing mechanics are very limited. There is just a minimal character development, consisting in developing a single statistic, but no immersive world simulation, no freedom of exploration, and no active dialogue. During game play, the player earns gold which can be spent at the Black Market, a store run by imps. At the Black Market, players can purchase upgraded flippers and stoppers. Below are the six "RPG mode" stages and the notable characters or features in each stage. # Tomb (the Captain's Spirit, skeletons) # Gate (Ziffroo the witch, demon dogs) # Goblins (goblin kids, goblin guards) # River (" toitles," "Wheel O' Luck," dark knights) # Harpy (harpy, demon guards) # Throne room (Beezelbub)

Reception

Retrospective reviews of ''Pinball Quest'' focus on the novelty of its RPG elements. The game has been called a "curious mix of genres", with some reviewers describing it in more extreme terms, stating it is "among the most bizarre genre hybrids in the history of video games" and a "baffling experiment."

Gallery

References

External links

''Pinball Quest''
at MobyGames
''Pinball Quest''
at GameFAQs 1989 video games Jaleco games Multiplayer and single-player video games Nintendo Entertainment System games Nintendo Entertainment System-only games Pinball video games Role-playing video games Tose (company) games Video games developed in Japan Video games set in castles {{pinball-videogame-stub