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Battle Pinball is a Super Famicom only exclusive pinball game featuring several connected tables. Released in early 1995, It is part of Banpresto’s "Compati Hero Series," which unites characters from Japan's favorite super heroes and anime. Like other games in the series, the hero characters are redesigned in a super-deformed style to keep their proportions consistent.

This is basically an average pinball game but graphically loaded with fun characters from Bandai's popular anime and super hero series. So far this Japan only gem of a title gave a fun expression for me.

Japan only box cover art (Image source)

The Story

The game has 4 dynamic pinball tables, each based on a different Japanese fictional hero. Kamen Rider's table is set in a desolate wasteland, Ultraman battles alien monsters in a city, Knight Gundam fights in outer space, and Fighter Roar has a deep underwater stage. Each table has 3 sections with different paddles, and the goal is to score as many points as possible.

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The game uses cute, cartoon-style versions of the popular Bandai anime characters. The colorful pinball tables are full of animations, and hitting targets can unlock fun bonuses, traps, or even some characters that help save your ball.

The music is cheerful and energetic, fitting the game's fun style. Some of the tables even have remixed music from their original anime series, like Gundam. The sound effects, like beeps and buzzes, feel like classic pinball sounds but are not distracting or annoying.

https://youtu.be/MSI0NUCClFo?si=k0C1uar13wscTWvJ Gameplay video sample of Battle Pinball on the Super Famicom. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

Battle Pinball uses standard pinball controls with the usual left and right flippers, a tilt function, and a launcher. However, the controls cannot be customized on a regular SNES or Super Famicom (unless you are using an emulator to play it).

There are four themed pinball tables based on Gundam, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and a lesser-known Bandai anime character. The game has a steep learning curve, as the ball follows a set physics system. Mastering tilt controls is the key to success rather than just relying on damn luck. Hardcore pinball fans will appreciate the challenge it brings, but the casual players can still enjoy it.

Each pinball table also features a unique boss at the top, which you can defeat for extra points, making it even more rewarding to players who aim for high scores.

With four different boards to play on and plenty of on-screen bonuses to discover, the game stays always fun and engaging. This makes replayability a strong point, keeping casual and hardcore players coming back for more.

My Verdict

Battle Pinball is a pretty great game, especially if you are a fan of any of the anime cartoon characters represented in it.

Play it on the beloved Super Famicom or play it on a great emulator.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!

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