MetalSmash Pinball

There’s something odd about digital pinball games, and it lies in the convergence of one of modern civilisation’s newest entertainment devices (that's your phone!) with one of it's oldest (pinball as we know it is 75 years old). From our point of view, part of the attraction of pinball lies in its gaudy retro chic, the excessive chrome, the flashing coloured lights and incessant noise of bells and sirens. Crucially, even more of it's appeal lies in the physical connection between the table and the player, that fingertip/paddle sensation and subtle (or downright vicious) nudge of the table to avoid losing your ball.

While video game versions of pinball can capture the nostalgia and the bright lights, it’s this touchy-feely aspect of the game that’s lacking in all modern versions and MetalSmash Pinball is no exception. There’s that strange sensation of detachment between your press of the key and the paddle moving, and it never quite disappears. So maybe it's a good thing then that MetalSmash relies on you using the paddles far less than any other pinball game we've played.

There’s simply so much furniture on the table for your ball to ricochet off, it rarely comes close to arriving at the bottom of the screen. The reason being, you’re playing pinball inside a series of giant robots which, as is so often the case with giant robots, you must destroy. Each robot is essentialyl made up of a series of different tables which you need to complete before moving on, starting with the legs before progessing through the torso and arms to the final battle in the head. Here the game transforms into a Space Invader style battle with what is, presumably, the robot’s brain. If you're struggling to visualise this or think it sounds a little bit geeky, don't panic. The ball feels solid, the graphics are pleasantly android-esque and the whole premise actually adds an entertaining spin on an old concept, making up for the fact that here, as with many other simulations, the actual pinball part can feel a little flat.

Hence, whilst it can never replace the wizardry of a real table, MetalSmash is nevertheless one of the most enjoyable examples of the mobile pinball genre.