Review: Marvel Pinball Avengers Chronicles

[no1phil]

Zen Studios have once again taken Pinball to the next level with their latest Marvel pinball pack. The latest offering titled Marvel Pinball Avengers Chronicles, is a pack that consists of 4 tables designed to be a completely new experience that tells a more cohesive story from the actual comic material. All at the same time incorporating the most dramatic elements as gameplay within the table. The new tables also feature deeper character interactions, more dialogue, and the most explosive action I have seen in the Zen Pinball series to date. They also show how you can make perfect use of a license and the game still be enjoyable and damn bloody addictive.


While three of the tables focus on the comic material, the fourth table, The Avengers, focuses on events from the blockbuster movie of the same name. The Avengers table has to be one of the coolest tables I have encountered from the Zen Pinball franchise, and undoubtedly will stand out from the other 3 tables. It has six differently designed balls to choose from, each representing one of the Avengers with players needing to complete specific missions for each ball in order to activate the wizard mode. Matching the specific ball to the mission will make it a lot easier and faster to activate said mission. Easy enough table to get to grips with but requires some skill to master.

The World War Hulk table is a great table for achieving astonishing high scores with very little effort. This table has multiple lanes for racking up scores as well as taking you to the arena ruined by Hulk - a mini playfield - which resembles a basketball court. The table’s main missions are also great, where Hulk will battle against Wolverine, Iron Man, The Thing and Doctor Strange (His first appearance in Marvel Pinball). They are challenging for a novice player but the table is easy enough for novices to get the hang of things in a very short time with high scores under there thumbs.

The Infinity Gauntlet table is another outstanding table in this pack and brings a whole new ball game and defying physics that could not be done on a physical table. The aim of this table is to defeat Thanos in turn preventing him from destroying the universe. The main challenges are all related to the infinity gems, each giving a different game mode. The most memorable is the Reality Gem which will darken the board blade style and turn it upside down! The Soul Gem is the one that will transport Adam Warlock through a portal to Soul World. This mini table doesn’t have flippers instead it magnets at each bottom corner, with targets at both sides and at the top you must hit to escape Soul World successfully. The other gems also give even more insane and challenging, yet fun game modes. There hasn’t been a game mode I have not liked on this table, and The Infinity Gauntlet is certainly the boldest Pinball table that Zen Studios has released in terms of game modes and what you can do.

Finally we come to the Fear Itself table which also brings some interesting features to the Zen Pinball series, not only in game modes but also types of ball. The main feature of this table you will find out quick is that it makes use of magnets a lot. The aim of this table is to defeat the Asgardian god, Serpent, and free the world from the grip of fear. The coolest game mode is Dark Asgard, which resembles something akin to breakout. Although the difference here is to bounce the mallet of the back wall and hit the serpent from behind. Other game modes involve the worthy, with each bringing a unique task to the table. They are easy enough to trigger but completing some of the tasks will require some skill – especially those that use the rock ball. This table while slow to build up a high score is great for beginners and pros as it seems to get the balance just right. It’s also probably the only table that has the most features you would find in a normal table.


The Good Things

• The graphics and amount of detail is just beyond words.
• All 4 tables are great for newbie’s as well as pinball wizards.
• Table physics are spot on and not once did I feel cheated.
• Some great new and fresh ideas have been injected into this pack of 4 tables.
• Its Zen Studios doing what they do best and its god damn addictive.

And The Bad

• Only 1 achievement per table – Although it is worth 50 GS
• Can only get the achievements in single player.
• Seriously I can’t think of anymore!!!

My Verdict...
Graphically all the tables are marvellous (see what I did there!) and the on-table battles are just stunning. As always the tables are full of vibrant colours and the balls on The Avengers table are just too cool. The usual pinball sounds and voice-overs are all superb as well and the tables will just keep you engrossed coming back for more. You might even take to reading the comics after playing these tables as well. The physics of the tables are what you would expect in a Zen Pinball table as well as bringing on to the tables things just not possible with a real pinball table. The mix of real and surreal is just perfect. This really is the best add-on Zen Studios have released to date and is worth the purchase price without hesitation. If you don’t believe me try the Demo but you will get hooked!

Just buy it and experience some the most addictive pinball gameplay to date.