The Munsters Pinball

Unless there's a Munsters film about to be released that has somehow slipped under our finely tuned movie radar, this seems like an odd time to release a game based on characters that were created 40-odd years ago.

While those of a 'certain age' can happily recall the second-best horrific family (the number one spot must surely go to The Addams Family and we'll see you in the playground afterwards if you disagree), today's kids must be wondering not just who they are, but also why a pinball game featuring them has suddenly rolled in.

As far as we're concerned pinball games are fantastic, whether they're in your local flock-papered café or on your mobile phone. And they're even better when they're well designed, full of bonus features and contain bats and haunted houses.

Thankfully, The Munsters Pinball is a great example of the genre, and stands up well against other mobile pinball games (MetalSmash Pinball and GTi Pinball are the first two that spring to mind).

Graphically, The Munsters Pinball shines. From the cartoon title screen to the amount of detail put into the table itself and the bonus mini-games, it's faultless – and despite the small screen (and subsequently minute ball), it's never difficult to spot exactly where you are and where you need to go.

The table is roughly two screens high (on a 750i) and it scrolls both smoothly and quickly as the ball travels up and down it. With four flippers (two sets of two) and a tilt function offered, initially it will seem like any other pinball table. Get further into a game and the depth soon becomes apparent though, as the various switches, buttons and lights all link to bonus features (which are handily flagged up by the game's in-built tutorial).

For instance, smack the ball three times up the ramp on the right and you open up Bumper Mode; three times up its equivalent on the left and Herman's Garage becomes accessible; while knocking out all four buttons at the bottom of the table gains you access to Grandpa's Room.

Needless to say, these are the kind of features that both make the game considerably more interesting and also ensure you'll continue playing it long after you've racked up your first million-point score.

Although there is just the single table to play on, there are two further bonus stages – the previously mentioned Grandpa's Room and Herman's Garage. Each has its own challenge (kill bats in Herman's Garage and smash test tubes in Grandpa's Room) which, once completed, enables access to these stages direct from the title screen.

It's a way of guaranteeing a little more direct variety, but that's not something The Munsters Pinball need be too concerned about. As it stands, this is an extremely well balanced and playable pinball game, with plenty of bonus features and worryingly addictive gameplay. Okay, an additional table or two would have made it perfect but that's not a large enough concern to stop you checking it out – even if you've not got a clue who The Munsters are.