![]() We’re excited to announce our latest entry to the storied Star Wars™ Pinball franchise, Star Wars™ Pinball: Rogue One™ is now available on PC and console and will come to mobile platforms on February 2nd. If the craft of each table matches the presentation in the platform, this should be a regular staple of any pinball-enjoying Switch owner.Star Wars™ Pinball: Rogue One™ – Now Available The future of this game will depend on how much Zen Studios supports it with new tables, but with 30 out there to start (with one free forever and two free for the first week), the diversity is there on day one. Pinball FX3 is an incredible platform for pinball tables, and while a lot of the focus is still on high score chasing, the variety of modes and options makes this deeper than the typical pinball game. (Editor’s Note: We will have some sort of round-up/review of the individual packs in the future.) I still had fun and eventually learned some of the tricks of the amusement park rides baked into this board. Adventure Land Pinball is fun as well, but the vibrant colors are too busy and it makes it very hard to spot specific elements of the board. I can see why Sorcerer’s Lair is the introductory table, because it does a good job of showing off some of the cool things Zen can do with pinball tables while looking more like a physical board. Sorcerer’s Lair has the clearest objectives that I’ve seen in a Zen table, but boy oh boy these kids shouting for their ghost buddy Whisper gets old fast. Telling the story of Hercules, this table is easy to comprehend, with a variety of challenges emerging as you battle snakes, Cerberus, and more. Of the three tables available for free right now, Son of Zeus is my favorite. Fortunately, touch screen controls are in here to make that less annoying, and are probably the best way to play the vertical mode. I just wish it didn’t feel like I was doing something illicit in the context of the game, as the controls in menus are as if you’re using two Joy-Con. HD rumble also adds a lot to this play style, making it feel more like an actual pinball table. The relative lack of clarity for the vertical mode makes me unsure if I can switch the buttons somehow, but as it stands, it works fine holding the system up vertically and pressing the left and right face buttons to flick the flippers. It’s easily toggled by the press of a button, but it’s not really clear that you can take off a Joy-Con and give your system a better feel for this mode. ![]() The Switch version’s big addition is a vertical mode in handheld. Having this kind of variety, and also rewarding players for exploring that variety, makes for a pinball experience that’s more than just slamming flippers and gunning for a singular high score. I actually find 5-Minute and Survival to be great introductions to tables, as 5-Minute just gives you five minutes with the board no matter what, while Survival requires you hit an incremental point threshold every minute to survive. Thanks to cross-system play with other platforms, the online experience is already well-populated with many tough contenders.Įach board also has three challenges: Single-Ball, 5-Minute, and Survival. Online multiplayer, either in the more head-to-head Matchup mode or broader Tournaments, is also present. Local hotseat multiplayer is an option here, too, which just offers a cleaner way to play with friends. ![]() ![]() Regular high scores can still be achieved, but it’s nice to have the option of progress through play in another way as well. As you play the board, upgrades are unlocked that boost your score on that table through percentage bonuses to multiball, bumper hits, and more. In addition to regular pinball play, various other options are available for every board. High scores for each and every mode are easily available, and as you play, the game tells you when you’re close to or pass a friend’s high score. Your profile accrues experience by playing pinball, leading to added customization and bragging rights. What makes Pinball FX3 so appealing is how everything is connected and varied. It’s a good spread, even if some of the licenses sound weird thanks to a bunch of questionable soundalikes. The other 27 tables out on day one range from original non-licensed works from Zen as well as licensed properties ranging from Back to the Future and E.T. At launch, Pinball FX3 features 30 tables, one of which is free (Sorcerer’s Lair) and two that are free from December 12 to 19 (Adventure Land Pinball and Son of Zeus). ![]()
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