Genesis - Sonic Spinball Review

A spin-off from the Sonic series. This spinning "spinball" "spin-off" is a pinball game in essence with Sonic as a pinball in a huge environment.

Gazmeplay: 9/10

I give gameplay nine because this is more than a pinball game. There's plenty to do, from riding carts to riding rocks. Sonic still retains his speed, just in a different way now. Not only that but, you can still control him while he's in the air. I especially liked the "speed up" areas and object busting areas.

Perhaps the only let down is the lack of a "loop" bonus where you get points for making sonic "loop" or circle around the area.

You also have bonus games between levels. More like levels in themselves where Sonic himself plays pinball only various pinball machines. Sometimes you have to free your friends while other times you have break all of Robotnik's teeth. Not only that but the friends in the pinball game are the same ones as in the "Sonic the Hedgehog" cartoon show!

Graphics: 5/5

Excellent graphics and animation for each area like any Sonic game.

Sound and Music: 5/5

The pumping music and sound track is a plus to this already excellent game. Maybe it doesn't suit everyone but if you liked the music from the Sonic series, this is no different.

Game design: 4/5

The game itself is fairly complex. Each level requires you to do different things and has different objects which you as Sonic can move or in someway affect. For example, in one stage you get trapped in an chamber with lightning sealing your exit. You start bouncing around at a really cool high speed until it shuts down. In other one you get to "air surf" flying in a huge column. The ultimate goal however is to reach

There are only two problems. One is the lack of a loop score (as I've described in the gameplay section) and mini-games within the pinball game itself rather than in the levels themselves. The second is the lack of levels. There simply aren't enough to make you feel like you've accomplished something.

Longevity 2.5/5

This game is fairly easy to finish. So it will last, perhaps a month or two.

For: Cool graphics, originial way of making a pinball, good music, mini-games.

Against: Too few levels, no "loop" score, no mini-games in levels.