Iron Draggon
01-17-2005, 12:53 AM
I recently aquired two pinball games that I've been wanting for many years. Super Pinball 2: The Amazing Odyssey & Battle Pinball. The former game is of course the sequel to Super Pinball: Behind The Mask and the latter game is an original compilation of pinball games based on popular Bandai characters. I highly recommend both of these games, as they are both excellent pinballs.
Super Pinball 2
If you loved the first game, you absolutely must track down this sequel to it! I have no idea why Nintendo never brought this one over to the states for us, but they didn't, so unfortunately the only way you'll ever play it besides downloading the ROM is to import it. And it's an extremely difficult title to locate. I don't know if this is because it's rare or not, but I suspect that it's at least very uncommon. However, don't be discouraged by this, because it isn't very expensive if you're lucky enough to find it. The problem is, most people don't even know that it exists, including most importers who deal in SFC games. So apparently it had a very limited release with very little fanfare. Anyhow, do whatever it takes to get it, and all your efforts will be rewarded. I was fortunate enough to find a brand new copy of it for only $30 US plus shipping, so new copies are still out there, if you can find a good importer who specializes in tracking down rarities, or if you can find a good service to navigate Yahoo Japan auctions for you. Just keep in mind that all new SFC imports were never sold factory sealed, so a lack of a cellophane wrapper doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't new, nor does it guarantee that it is. So there's a bit of risk involved there, but you'll be able to tell by looking at the cartridge. And most import sellers won't try to deceive you on purpose. So chances are that if you buy it new, it will indeed be new, and you'll have nothing to worry about. So with all that said, let's move on to the tables!
Space Sister
This is a Sci-Fi themed table, done in the typical cliched style of Sci-Fi pinballs with big breasted vixens doing their best Barbarella impersonations. But don't let that disappoint you. It's a very fun and fast paced table with two sets of flippers and several ramps. Yes, ramps! In Super Pinball 2, there are many classic pinball elements, including ramps, spinners, and stoppers, which were all absent from the original Super Pinball. This table features two ramps on either side with a spinner at their entrance, and a slightly offset ramp in the center, with two flippers on either side of it. The center ramp in particular is a big part of the reason why this table is so fast paced, and it will also prove to be responsible for your loss of the ball more than any other reason. But with a little practice, you'll learn how to prevent it from costing you a ball, most of the time. At the upper level of this ramp, where the ball is launched to, are two large round bumpers, a couple of ball catchers, and the two flippers to either side of the center ramp. All the ramps lead to this upper level, so there are also exits from this area that will send the ball speeding down one of these ramps to the lower level very quickly, making for a much more fast paced table than any of those seen in the original Super Pinball.
The lower level consists of a row of 3 drop targets to the left, a ball catcher to the left and in the center, and a 4th target in the center. The right side of the table just has side bumpers. And of course, the center of the playfield is dominated by a scantily glad girl in a provocative pose, with lots of cleavage and shoulder and leg exposed. But you won't have very much time to ogle her. There are also spaceships firing lasers towards the large round bumpers, and a swirling galaxy or possibly a black hole to create the Sci-Fi atmosphere. The rest is all the same elements that you remember from the original game, and it plays exactly the same, with the exception of the skill shots. The skill shots in this game are much more difficult to hit. Instead of having a pattern of lights that you must aim for the center of, in the center of the screen, you now have a pattern of lights somewhere on the table to aim for. Hit the right spot when the light is lit, and make the shot, otherwise you'll miss it.
The Spy Eyes
This table has a 1930's gangster theme. It doesn't have any spinners, but it does have two ramps to either side, with rails that follow multiple paths to drop the ball near the left or right flipper. It only has one set of flippers, but it has a stopper in the center of them, which is permanently fixed, so you don't have to worry about whether or not it's lit. It also features 3 large round bumpers, two on the left and one on the right, 3 drop targets in the center between the entrances to the two ramps, and 3 additional targets near the large round bumpers. It also has two ball catchers on either side. There's a couple of buildings to create the atmosphere of a city, with neon signs and silhouettes in windows Those silhouettes are the drop targets of course, and there's a pattern of lights beneat them that light up as you play to create one of the bonuses, which also helps to add an aura of the city.
The center of the playfield is dominated by the Spy, and unfortunately for the ladies and us gay guys, he's wearing a suit and he isn't exactly in a very provocative pose. But he has that Marlon Brando look about him, or perhaps a very young James Bond appearance, so he has that classic dashing and debonair flair of an international playboy, and we can just imagine that his suit hides a wonderfully rippled gym toned body with a very large gun in his holster, if you know what I mean! This table is also very fast paced, but not quite as fast paced as Space Sister. Perhaps the Spy is attempting to seduce her, rather than be seduced by her. Anyhow, all the rails make it alot of fun. So ride the rails, bump the bumpers, and enjoy playing with the Spy's balls!
Show Time
The theme of this table is a circus theme, which happens to be one of my favorite themes for pinball tables, ranking right up there with tables that have amusement park themes. So for me, this one is the most fun to play, even though otherwise it's the least exciting and the most similar to all the tables in the original game. But that doesn't mean that it's boring. It just doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the other two tables do. I'm guessing that this table was probably the first table created for the game. It only has one ramp on the right side, and one spinner on the right side as well, but it does have alot of other features that make it an interesting table. It has two large round bumpers slightly off center on the left, as well as a row of lanes that above them with a classic pattern of moving lights to test your skill. So this table will have you doing alot of nudging, and of course you'll be penalized with a TILT if you overdo it. It also features a row of 3 drop targets in the center, and a very mysterious circus tent on the right, with two entrances that will eject the ball from various locations. There's also a 4th target in the center of these two entrances, and two ball catchers on the left side of the table. The center of the playfield is dominated by a large grinning clown face, and the theme is completed with a couple of trapeze artists, another large grinning clown face, and the mysterious circus tent, which is probably where the Spy is shagging the Space Sister as you play.
This table is also very reminiscent of the Jolly Joker table from the original game, both in theme and layout. It's quite different, and yet it still feels as though it belongs in the original game. So perhaps this is the "lost" table that was left over and left out of the original game, which inspired this sequel. It certainly gives me that impression, because the clown looks as though he's probably the brother of the Jolly Joker. This makes it a very cool table to play for me also, especially after playing through all the tables in the original game, and following those up with all the tables in this game. I like to start out with the Jolly Joker table in Super Pinball 1, progress through Blackbeard & Iron Men, and the Wizard, and then play Super Pinball 2 and progress through Space Sister, the Spy Eyes, and finally finish up with the Show Time table. This makes me want to go right back to the Jolly Joker table and start all over again. I could play these two games for hours on end, and if you love the Super Pinball series as much as I do, I'm sure that you could too. So of course it's absolutely heartbreaking that Nintendo never released this sequel here in the states, and the vast majority of Super Pinball fans will never get to play this awesome sequel. But no use crying over spilt milk, so let's discuss all the other general differences that I haven't mentioned in this review yet!
Unfortunately, this game is only for 1 or 2 players, and not for 1 to 4 players like the original game is. But, at least it does have a 2 player mode, so you'll still be able to challenge a friend, and if you have 2 more friends who want to play, they can play next and you all can compare your scores. It also has something else that the original game didn't have, a choice of two different configuration schemes for your control pad. You can now play with all the buttons set the opposite of how they're set in the original game. L & R shoulder buttons for the flippers, and Dpad & A button for the left and right nudge. If only there were a way to use this control scheme in the original game as well! It certainly would make it feel alot more like playing real pinball! However, I usually just use the default control scheme, which is the same as the one used in the original game. It makes it less confusing when I go back to the original game. So in a way, I'm not sure why this was even included.
Now for the differences in the sound effects. The sarcastic laugh every time you lose the ball that was in the original game is still present in this game, but thankfully the very annoying "Get ready!" voice every time you receive another ball is no longer present in this game. So you don't have to make fun of the retarded sound of that voice every time you launch a ball in this game. Instead, you'll eventually become annoyed by the less annoying voice of the clown in the Show Time table yelling "Ladies and gentlemen!" every time you launch a ball. But at least he doesn't sound retarded, so he's not really very annoying, at least not yet. But then I haven't played this game dozens of times like I've played the original game dozens of times yet either.
The music is quite different from the music in the original game also, but it's just as atmospheric, and once again the music of each table compliments the themes of the tables very nicely, just as it did in the original game. So you won't have to turn the sound off, even if the music won't blow you away.
Overall, this game has more than enough replay value to keep you coming back for more for many years to come, and you'll want to keep it right next to your copy of the original game, because it will be getting just as much use as the original, and you'll be very hard pressed to play one without playing the other one too! So if you're still playing the original game after all these years like I am, and you're craving more of the same great gameplay with some refreshing new twists, then this game is the answer to all your prayers. It may be very hard to find, but it's well worth all the searching for it, and that fact alone may be one of the biggest reasons why it's so hard to find! I certainly would never be willing to part with my copy, and I seriously doubt that you will either, if you're a fan of the original game. So start looking for it, and good luck in all your searches! And remember, in the meantime, you can always download the ROM to tide you over until you can find a copy of it! Now let's move on to the next SFC import pinball game on your wishlist!
Battle Pinball
Otakus, take note, you simply must own this game! It stars Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Gundam, and Fighter Roa (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong!) It's my understanding that Battle Pinball is part of the Great Battle series, so if that's the case, then this list of characters should be accurate. I've been told that all Great Battle games star these 4 characters, and since nobody seems to know who the mysterious 4th character in this game is, it seems pretty safe to assume that he is indeed Fighter Roa. From what I've been told, Fighter Roa is a Banpresto character who doesn't appear in any animes or manga. Which would explain why nobody seems to know who he is, or what he looks like. And this game was made by Banpresto in the same era as all the other games in the Great Battle series, so I'm almost certain that is who he is. Anyhow, the guy who I'm assuming is Fighter Roa is a blue-haired guy wearing a red suit of armor, and his headpiece has a unicorn-like horn. So if you can confirm or refute who he is, please let me know, and I'll edit this review accordingly. But for now, let's just assume that he is Fighter Roa.
The game is divided into 4 different tables, each of which is based on the world of one of the 4 main characters. Each table has 3 playfields stacked on top of each other, plus a 4th playfield above those, where the boss awaits. The ball is usually launched into the 2nd playfield, so it can go either up or down from there. Only one of the tables deviates from this formula. I'll get to that in the description of that character's table. Anyhow, the idea is to work your way up to the boss of each table, and defeat him. Once you've defeated one of the bosses, that table is cleared, and you'll receive extra balls to play on the next table. You can play the tables in any order that you like, but if you fail to defeat the boss of a table after you've defeated the bosses of one or more of the other tables, all your progress in your quest to deat all the bosses of all the tables is lost, and you must start over. For this reason, the difficulty of this game is very unforgiving, and I still have yet to discover what the reward is for defeating all the bosses of all the tables. I don't know if it unlocks another table, or if it unlocks anything at all, but it's pretty safe to assume that at the very least you'll be treated to an ending sequence. When you first start a new game, you'll be treated to an intro sequence that tells the story of what's going on, but of course it's all in Japanese, so I can't tell you what the story is beyond what I've already told you. So your mission is simple, defeat all 4 bosses, and see what happens next if you can do it. But this will not be a simple mission to accomplish. Now let's take a look at the 4 tables that make up the battlefields of your mission!
Ultraman
This table has an urban jungle theme, so it's mostly buildings and highways and parking lots. It also has a soccer field in the middle of the second level playfield. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Ultraman series. Certain combo shots will call out Ultraman to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without his help. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Kamen Rider
This table has a rural jungle theme, so it's mostly countryside without any roads, but it does have alot of train tracks. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Kamen Rider series. Certain combo shots will call out Kamen Rider to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without his help. So, same idea, but different series. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Gundam
This table has an outer space theme, so it's mostly deep space with alot of stars and asteroids. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Gundam series. Certain combo shots will call out a Gundam to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without the help of a Gundam. So once again, same basic idea, but different series. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Fighter Roa
This table has an under water theme, so it's mostly deep sea with alot of aquatic plants and corals. It's populated by all sorts of (robotic?) enemies from the ocean. Certain combo shots will call out Fighter Roa to assist you. This table is shrouded in mystery, but it has some very cool special effects. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Now, with all the tables very vaguely described, to prevent any spoiling of the many surprises that await you in this game, I must say that this is one of the most highly animated video pinball games I've ever played, and I have dozens of them in my collection! I've played just about every video pinball there is, both domestic and import, for just about every system there is in the 16BIT through the 64BIT eras, as well as all the PC pinballs from the days when 21st Century defined the genre, through the current standards set by the Pro Pinball series. And this game blows everything in the 16BIT era away, in my humble personal opinion. I've become extremely addicted to it already, and I'm determined to keep playing it until I finally succeed in defeating all 4 bosses, and finding out what happens next. It's almost like a pinball RPG in a way, and the boss fights give it very much of a shmup feel. So it doesn't really matter if you like pinball or not, you will absolutely love this game! It has something for everyone, especially otakus who happen to be fans of any or all of the game's main characters. So you really can't go wrong with this game, if you can find it, which shouldn't be too difficult. I got my copy brand new for the same $30 plus shipping that I had to pay for Super Pinball 2. So new copies are still out there, and a good importer or auction bidding service should be able to locate a copy for you fairly easily.
I'd like to add that the underwater effects of the mysterious Fighter Roa's table are absolutely amazing for the 16BIT era. You really get the feeling that the whole table is underwater, watching all the ripples and waves as you play it from above the surface, and it actually makes playing this table a bit difficult, because the effect is just a bit distracting, but not too much. Also, this is the one table that I mentioned earlier which deviates from the formula of the other 3 tables. The balls are launched into the lowest level of the 3 playing fields on this one, making it more difficult to reach the boss.
And with that said, let me tell you, the bosses in this game are no pushovers either. Some of them are meaner than others, and some of them are easier than others, but all of them take alot of hits and go through various stages and patterns before they're defeated. They also have various attacks that will make it even more difficult for you to defeat them. Without going into too much detail about them all, I will just mention that they can temporarily disable your flippers, leaving you powerless to control the ball against them. So you may find yourself watching helplessly as the ball falls out of the boss area, and back into the regular playfields. Which means that you'll have to reach him again, and start all over in your efforts to defeat him. This makes for even more of a challenge, and further adds to the already high difficulty.
So whether or not you love video pinball games, but especially if you do, you simply must play this game. It has all the elements of a classic, and it will take you many hours to defeat it, if you can. It plays far more like a shmup than it plays like a pinball, and it puts Sonic Spinball to shame. I wish that I had a way to take some screenshots of it for you, but mere words and images cannot do it justice. You have to see it in action, and the less you know about it ahead of time, the better. I'd love to go into much greater detail about all the animations and all the little details in all the tables, but trust me, it really is best that you be surprised. Just imagine super deformed versions of some of the oldest and most beloved Bandai characters of all time in a pinball game, and ask yourself, can you really live without it in your collection? I think not. Not if you call yourself a true otaku, not if you own a SNES and a HoneyBee converter, and not if you can get your hands on a copy of this game! If you don't believe me, download the ROM and see for yourself. No, it isn't state of the art anymore, but if you're a classic gamer who prefers the 16BIT era over all the others, and you're looking for a new SFC game to import, this is it! I cannot emphasize it enough, this game is a gem among gems in the SFC/SNES import scene, and you owe it to yourself to add it to your collection! Now if you'll excuse me, I have some bosses awaiting defeat!
Super Pinball 2
If you loved the first game, you absolutely must track down this sequel to it! I have no idea why Nintendo never brought this one over to the states for us, but they didn't, so unfortunately the only way you'll ever play it besides downloading the ROM is to import it. And it's an extremely difficult title to locate. I don't know if this is because it's rare or not, but I suspect that it's at least very uncommon. However, don't be discouraged by this, because it isn't very expensive if you're lucky enough to find it. The problem is, most people don't even know that it exists, including most importers who deal in SFC games. So apparently it had a very limited release with very little fanfare. Anyhow, do whatever it takes to get it, and all your efforts will be rewarded. I was fortunate enough to find a brand new copy of it for only $30 US plus shipping, so new copies are still out there, if you can find a good importer who specializes in tracking down rarities, or if you can find a good service to navigate Yahoo Japan auctions for you. Just keep in mind that all new SFC imports were never sold factory sealed, so a lack of a cellophane wrapper doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't new, nor does it guarantee that it is. So there's a bit of risk involved there, but you'll be able to tell by looking at the cartridge. And most import sellers won't try to deceive you on purpose. So chances are that if you buy it new, it will indeed be new, and you'll have nothing to worry about. So with all that said, let's move on to the tables!
Space Sister
This is a Sci-Fi themed table, done in the typical cliched style of Sci-Fi pinballs with big breasted vixens doing their best Barbarella impersonations. But don't let that disappoint you. It's a very fun and fast paced table with two sets of flippers and several ramps. Yes, ramps! In Super Pinball 2, there are many classic pinball elements, including ramps, spinners, and stoppers, which were all absent from the original Super Pinball. This table features two ramps on either side with a spinner at their entrance, and a slightly offset ramp in the center, with two flippers on either side of it. The center ramp in particular is a big part of the reason why this table is so fast paced, and it will also prove to be responsible for your loss of the ball more than any other reason. But with a little practice, you'll learn how to prevent it from costing you a ball, most of the time. At the upper level of this ramp, where the ball is launched to, are two large round bumpers, a couple of ball catchers, and the two flippers to either side of the center ramp. All the ramps lead to this upper level, so there are also exits from this area that will send the ball speeding down one of these ramps to the lower level very quickly, making for a much more fast paced table than any of those seen in the original Super Pinball.
The lower level consists of a row of 3 drop targets to the left, a ball catcher to the left and in the center, and a 4th target in the center. The right side of the table just has side bumpers. And of course, the center of the playfield is dominated by a scantily glad girl in a provocative pose, with lots of cleavage and shoulder and leg exposed. But you won't have very much time to ogle her. There are also spaceships firing lasers towards the large round bumpers, and a swirling galaxy or possibly a black hole to create the Sci-Fi atmosphere. The rest is all the same elements that you remember from the original game, and it plays exactly the same, with the exception of the skill shots. The skill shots in this game are much more difficult to hit. Instead of having a pattern of lights that you must aim for the center of, in the center of the screen, you now have a pattern of lights somewhere on the table to aim for. Hit the right spot when the light is lit, and make the shot, otherwise you'll miss it.
The Spy Eyes
This table has a 1930's gangster theme. It doesn't have any spinners, but it does have two ramps to either side, with rails that follow multiple paths to drop the ball near the left or right flipper. It only has one set of flippers, but it has a stopper in the center of them, which is permanently fixed, so you don't have to worry about whether or not it's lit. It also features 3 large round bumpers, two on the left and one on the right, 3 drop targets in the center between the entrances to the two ramps, and 3 additional targets near the large round bumpers. It also has two ball catchers on either side. There's a couple of buildings to create the atmosphere of a city, with neon signs and silhouettes in windows Those silhouettes are the drop targets of course, and there's a pattern of lights beneat them that light up as you play to create one of the bonuses, which also helps to add an aura of the city.
The center of the playfield is dominated by the Spy, and unfortunately for the ladies and us gay guys, he's wearing a suit and he isn't exactly in a very provocative pose. But he has that Marlon Brando look about him, or perhaps a very young James Bond appearance, so he has that classic dashing and debonair flair of an international playboy, and we can just imagine that his suit hides a wonderfully rippled gym toned body with a very large gun in his holster, if you know what I mean! This table is also very fast paced, but not quite as fast paced as Space Sister. Perhaps the Spy is attempting to seduce her, rather than be seduced by her. Anyhow, all the rails make it alot of fun. So ride the rails, bump the bumpers, and enjoy playing with the Spy's balls!
Show Time
The theme of this table is a circus theme, which happens to be one of my favorite themes for pinball tables, ranking right up there with tables that have amusement park themes. So for me, this one is the most fun to play, even though otherwise it's the least exciting and the most similar to all the tables in the original game. But that doesn't mean that it's boring. It just doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the other two tables do. I'm guessing that this table was probably the first table created for the game. It only has one ramp on the right side, and one spinner on the right side as well, but it does have alot of other features that make it an interesting table. It has two large round bumpers slightly off center on the left, as well as a row of lanes that above them with a classic pattern of moving lights to test your skill. So this table will have you doing alot of nudging, and of course you'll be penalized with a TILT if you overdo it. It also features a row of 3 drop targets in the center, and a very mysterious circus tent on the right, with two entrances that will eject the ball from various locations. There's also a 4th target in the center of these two entrances, and two ball catchers on the left side of the table. The center of the playfield is dominated by a large grinning clown face, and the theme is completed with a couple of trapeze artists, another large grinning clown face, and the mysterious circus tent, which is probably where the Spy is shagging the Space Sister as you play.
This table is also very reminiscent of the Jolly Joker table from the original game, both in theme and layout. It's quite different, and yet it still feels as though it belongs in the original game. So perhaps this is the "lost" table that was left over and left out of the original game, which inspired this sequel. It certainly gives me that impression, because the clown looks as though he's probably the brother of the Jolly Joker. This makes it a very cool table to play for me also, especially after playing through all the tables in the original game, and following those up with all the tables in this game. I like to start out with the Jolly Joker table in Super Pinball 1, progress through Blackbeard & Iron Men, and the Wizard, and then play Super Pinball 2 and progress through Space Sister, the Spy Eyes, and finally finish up with the Show Time table. This makes me want to go right back to the Jolly Joker table and start all over again. I could play these two games for hours on end, and if you love the Super Pinball series as much as I do, I'm sure that you could too. So of course it's absolutely heartbreaking that Nintendo never released this sequel here in the states, and the vast majority of Super Pinball fans will never get to play this awesome sequel. But no use crying over spilt milk, so let's discuss all the other general differences that I haven't mentioned in this review yet!
Unfortunately, this game is only for 1 or 2 players, and not for 1 to 4 players like the original game is. But, at least it does have a 2 player mode, so you'll still be able to challenge a friend, and if you have 2 more friends who want to play, they can play next and you all can compare your scores. It also has something else that the original game didn't have, a choice of two different configuration schemes for your control pad. You can now play with all the buttons set the opposite of how they're set in the original game. L & R shoulder buttons for the flippers, and Dpad & A button for the left and right nudge. If only there were a way to use this control scheme in the original game as well! It certainly would make it feel alot more like playing real pinball! However, I usually just use the default control scheme, which is the same as the one used in the original game. It makes it less confusing when I go back to the original game. So in a way, I'm not sure why this was even included.
Now for the differences in the sound effects. The sarcastic laugh every time you lose the ball that was in the original game is still present in this game, but thankfully the very annoying "Get ready!" voice every time you receive another ball is no longer present in this game. So you don't have to make fun of the retarded sound of that voice every time you launch a ball in this game. Instead, you'll eventually become annoyed by the less annoying voice of the clown in the Show Time table yelling "Ladies and gentlemen!" every time you launch a ball. But at least he doesn't sound retarded, so he's not really very annoying, at least not yet. But then I haven't played this game dozens of times like I've played the original game dozens of times yet either.
The music is quite different from the music in the original game also, but it's just as atmospheric, and once again the music of each table compliments the themes of the tables very nicely, just as it did in the original game. So you won't have to turn the sound off, even if the music won't blow you away.
Overall, this game has more than enough replay value to keep you coming back for more for many years to come, and you'll want to keep it right next to your copy of the original game, because it will be getting just as much use as the original, and you'll be very hard pressed to play one without playing the other one too! So if you're still playing the original game after all these years like I am, and you're craving more of the same great gameplay with some refreshing new twists, then this game is the answer to all your prayers. It may be very hard to find, but it's well worth all the searching for it, and that fact alone may be one of the biggest reasons why it's so hard to find! I certainly would never be willing to part with my copy, and I seriously doubt that you will either, if you're a fan of the original game. So start looking for it, and good luck in all your searches! And remember, in the meantime, you can always download the ROM to tide you over until you can find a copy of it! Now let's move on to the next SFC import pinball game on your wishlist!
Battle Pinball
Otakus, take note, you simply must own this game! It stars Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Gundam, and Fighter Roa (Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong!) It's my understanding that Battle Pinball is part of the Great Battle series, so if that's the case, then this list of characters should be accurate. I've been told that all Great Battle games star these 4 characters, and since nobody seems to know who the mysterious 4th character in this game is, it seems pretty safe to assume that he is indeed Fighter Roa. From what I've been told, Fighter Roa is a Banpresto character who doesn't appear in any animes or manga. Which would explain why nobody seems to know who he is, or what he looks like. And this game was made by Banpresto in the same era as all the other games in the Great Battle series, so I'm almost certain that is who he is. Anyhow, the guy who I'm assuming is Fighter Roa is a blue-haired guy wearing a red suit of armor, and his headpiece has a unicorn-like horn. So if you can confirm or refute who he is, please let me know, and I'll edit this review accordingly. But for now, let's just assume that he is Fighter Roa.
The game is divided into 4 different tables, each of which is based on the world of one of the 4 main characters. Each table has 3 playfields stacked on top of each other, plus a 4th playfield above those, where the boss awaits. The ball is usually launched into the 2nd playfield, so it can go either up or down from there. Only one of the tables deviates from this formula. I'll get to that in the description of that character's table. Anyhow, the idea is to work your way up to the boss of each table, and defeat him. Once you've defeated one of the bosses, that table is cleared, and you'll receive extra balls to play on the next table. You can play the tables in any order that you like, but if you fail to defeat the boss of a table after you've defeated the bosses of one or more of the other tables, all your progress in your quest to deat all the bosses of all the tables is lost, and you must start over. For this reason, the difficulty of this game is very unforgiving, and I still have yet to discover what the reward is for defeating all the bosses of all the tables. I don't know if it unlocks another table, or if it unlocks anything at all, but it's pretty safe to assume that at the very least you'll be treated to an ending sequence. When you first start a new game, you'll be treated to an intro sequence that tells the story of what's going on, but of course it's all in Japanese, so I can't tell you what the story is beyond what I've already told you. So your mission is simple, defeat all 4 bosses, and see what happens next if you can do it. But this will not be a simple mission to accomplish. Now let's take a look at the 4 tables that make up the battlefields of your mission!
Ultraman
This table has an urban jungle theme, so it's mostly buildings and highways and parking lots. It also has a soccer field in the middle of the second level playfield. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Ultraman series. Certain combo shots will call out Ultraman to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without his help. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Kamen Rider
This table has a rural jungle theme, so it's mostly countryside without any roads, but it does have alot of train tracks. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Kamen Rider series. Certain combo shots will call out Kamen Rider to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without his help. So, same idea, but different series. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Gundam
This table has an outer space theme, so it's mostly deep space with alot of stars and asteroids. It's populated by all sorts of robotic enemies from the Gundam series. Certain combo shots will call out a Gundam to destroy some of these enemies for you, while others will eventually be defeated without the help of a Gundam. So once again, same basic idea, but different series. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Fighter Roa
This table has an under water theme, so it's mostly deep sea with alot of aquatic plants and corals. It's populated by all sorts of (robotic?) enemies from the ocean. Certain combo shots will call out Fighter Roa to assist you. This table is shrouded in mystery, but it has some very cool special effects. Work your way up to the boss and defeat him, and this battle will be over.
Now, with all the tables very vaguely described, to prevent any spoiling of the many surprises that await you in this game, I must say that this is one of the most highly animated video pinball games I've ever played, and I have dozens of them in my collection! I've played just about every video pinball there is, both domestic and import, for just about every system there is in the 16BIT through the 64BIT eras, as well as all the PC pinballs from the days when 21st Century defined the genre, through the current standards set by the Pro Pinball series. And this game blows everything in the 16BIT era away, in my humble personal opinion. I've become extremely addicted to it already, and I'm determined to keep playing it until I finally succeed in defeating all 4 bosses, and finding out what happens next. It's almost like a pinball RPG in a way, and the boss fights give it very much of a shmup feel. So it doesn't really matter if you like pinball or not, you will absolutely love this game! It has something for everyone, especially otakus who happen to be fans of any or all of the game's main characters. So you really can't go wrong with this game, if you can find it, which shouldn't be too difficult. I got my copy brand new for the same $30 plus shipping that I had to pay for Super Pinball 2. So new copies are still out there, and a good importer or auction bidding service should be able to locate a copy for you fairly easily.
I'd like to add that the underwater effects of the mysterious Fighter Roa's table are absolutely amazing for the 16BIT era. You really get the feeling that the whole table is underwater, watching all the ripples and waves as you play it from above the surface, and it actually makes playing this table a bit difficult, because the effect is just a bit distracting, but not too much. Also, this is the one table that I mentioned earlier which deviates from the formula of the other 3 tables. The balls are launched into the lowest level of the 3 playing fields on this one, making it more difficult to reach the boss.
And with that said, let me tell you, the bosses in this game are no pushovers either. Some of them are meaner than others, and some of them are easier than others, but all of them take alot of hits and go through various stages and patterns before they're defeated. They also have various attacks that will make it even more difficult for you to defeat them. Without going into too much detail about them all, I will just mention that they can temporarily disable your flippers, leaving you powerless to control the ball against them. So you may find yourself watching helplessly as the ball falls out of the boss area, and back into the regular playfields. Which means that you'll have to reach him again, and start all over in your efforts to defeat him. This makes for even more of a challenge, and further adds to the already high difficulty.
So whether or not you love video pinball games, but especially if you do, you simply must play this game. It has all the elements of a classic, and it will take you many hours to defeat it, if you can. It plays far more like a shmup than it plays like a pinball, and it puts Sonic Spinball to shame. I wish that I had a way to take some screenshots of it for you, but mere words and images cannot do it justice. You have to see it in action, and the less you know about it ahead of time, the better. I'd love to go into much greater detail about all the animations and all the little details in all the tables, but trust me, it really is best that you be surprised. Just imagine super deformed versions of some of the oldest and most beloved Bandai characters of all time in a pinball game, and ask yourself, can you really live without it in your collection? I think not. Not if you call yourself a true otaku, not if you own a SNES and a HoneyBee converter, and not if you can get your hands on a copy of this game! If you don't believe me, download the ROM and see for yourself. No, it isn't state of the art anymore, but if you're a classic gamer who prefers the 16BIT era over all the others, and you're looking for a new SFC game to import, this is it! I cannot emphasize it enough, this game is a gem among gems in the SFC/SNES import scene, and you owe it to yourself to add it to your collection! Now if you'll excuse me, I have some bosses awaiting defeat!