The Simpsons Pinball Party is a fickle creature.
Posted by: josh
We, Willow and Josh, like us some pinball. Our first shared pinball experience is this "Simpsons Pinball Party" at the Side St Saloon in Portland, Oregon. We have been through highs and lows on this machine. We ushered in Josh's 29th year at this place, ignoring friends and colleagues in favor of pinball.
Some people would let the birthday boy win -- not Willow, who ran up a monstrous score on her first ball. Millions of points were on the board before Josh even pulled the plunger. But Josh found his rhythm, and posted his highest score to date on Simpsons Pinball -- a fitting end to a triumphant year.
Josh brings a risky style to the table. Aiming for high-scoring targets, he also takes chances with the ball that Willow would never consider. She tends to keep the ball in play at all costs, even if it means not going for the big jackpot. The points Josh racks up in 2 minutes (if he's lucky) Willow methodically gathers over 10. We are evenly matched players with wildly different techniques.
Though we are competitors, we are also connossieurs. A pinball game is a balancing act. It must be fun, but fair. Both challenging and rewarding. It can reward the player with elaborate animations or flashing lights, but it shouldn't sacrifice the flow of the game. Games with so many features that you can't even see your ball half the time seem like side shows instead of the main event.
The Simpsons Pinball Party strikes us as an average game. Though cruel at times with its unforgiving "saved ball" policy, the charm of Springfield does tend to draw us back. All our favorite characters make appearances in the game, from Apu and Moe's place, to Nelson's taunting laugh when you lose a ball. But after a few games played to the tune of the Simpsons' theme song, we find ourselves unsatisfied. Where is our bonus ball? When do we hit the jackpot for targeting multiple consecutive ramps?
We are not pre-teens with quarters to burn. We are sophisticated consumers, seeking nuanced gameplay. We want a game that tells a story. Where do we find this game?
