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They must not have tried very hard...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 17 / 21
Date: November 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Before I got this game, I thought that it was going to be like Pokemon Pinball with Mario-styled boards. When I bought it and started playing, I liked it. Then, it got annoying, and I started hating it. It didn't take long.

Gameplay: 1/10
It's hard to even get the ball where I want it to go, so imagine how hard it is to complete the timed missions, like hitting all four dancing Shy Guys before they go into a vase! This thing would have me so angry at it, except...

Music/Sound: 9/10
...the music is cool! Well, okay, it can get a little annoying, especially that accordion music, but if you ask me, this game would've been much better with a sound test.

Story: 1/10
Come on! They've managed to come up with okay storylines for all of the other Mario games, and now, this? Basically, the storyline is: There's a cannon thing at the funfair that squeezes people into a ball and launches them. When Princess Peach gets into the cannon, some Goombas bump it towards Bowser's castle, so Mario goes to save her. Well, it gets a point for semi-originality.

Graphics: 4/10

The graphics just seem too "Sonic 3D Blast"-y for me. Well, except for the ball and the castle. I think the ground is checkered, but it's been so long since I could bring myself to play this tedious and boring game for me to remember. At least the penguins look cute.

Overall: 3.75/10
I hope Nintendo learns how to make a better pinball game. If you want pinball, get Sonic Pinball Party unless you really, really like Mario games.

Mario Past The Bumpers

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 19
Date: November 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It does sometimes surprises me when there is a game that really seems to be exciting, but could use a little more when it it needed. For Nintendo, they truthfully have done it before with Mario, especially for the Game Boy. Nintendo really revised the success of Mario very, very well with the reissuings of classic games like Super Mario 3, the Super Nintendo classic Super Mario World, and the NES legendary original Super Mario Brothers being reissued just this year. Yet with all the success, there is always one Mario game that is good, but just could use a little improvement in its action.

Mario Pinball Land is a fast-paced wacky game where Mario is transformed into a ball, inorder to rescue Princess Toadstool from the vile Bowser, and his henchmen including Petey Piranha from Super Mario Sunshine, the classic villain the Big Boo, and a couple of others. The game features five outraeous stages, 30 boards and exciting games including three mini-games. The graphics really are displayed quite well within the game, and the feel of the pinball also handles quite well within the Mario theme. Yet, with all the upsides, there are a few downsides to the game. The controls can be a bit frustrating at times, especially against the bosses and in some boards of the game. The music itself also stands very well, with the classic themes for each course, especially the Egyptian stage, and deep under the ice in the snow level.

The game is a lot tougher, from a earlier Game Boy classic, Kirby's Pinball Land from 1993. While many people may seem interested in this exciting game, there are some pinball fanatics that just might not feel interested in this game. There are some Mario fans that just might want to skip this one. All in all, I suggest you try this out, and see for yourself.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B-

Control: C+

Fun & Enjoyment: B-

Overall: B-

Very disappointing

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 14
Date: November 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Seeing previews for this game, I thought it would be great. How can you go wrong with the fun action of pinball combined with the world and characters of Mario World?

I' tell you how you can go wrong. By creating a game that has terrible level design and a setup that makes it so easy to die that it is maddening. The physics of pinball do not apply. You can hit the ball (Mario) with the flipper the exact same way in the exact same spot 10 times and you can never predict where the ball is going to go. There is no skill involved in the game. One time playing it you can clear a level in a couple of minutes. The next time, you'll constantly have the ball go through your flippers quickly and GAME OVER. Also it is just very boring; the levels are small and repetitive. It's like its for toddlers, but there's no way they have the patience for it.

My biggest problem with this game was the fact that the SAVE option seldom worked. Many times after saving the game and turning it off, when I tried to play again it would not let me load a game. I would have to start over from scratch. This makes you very angry when you're already playing a game you do not like.
DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. Nintendo should be ashamed.

A Great New Genre For The Mario Series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: October 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Before now we've been seeing Mario platformers and Mario adventure games, but now mario enters the world of pinball. But the interesting part is that it keeps true to the world of adventure. Instead of being bogged down by the boredom of 1 pinball table, you have access to a large amount. Each table is simple, but once you complete tasks such as destroying all the enemies you'll acquire stars. Each table has doors leading to more tables with more stars. All this leads up to a long journey of star collecting pinball fun.

As for the technical details, the graphics are top notch, and the controls are perfect. The ball responds perfectly, leaving you with good control over where it goes. The only downside to the game is that you may end up being frustrated by entering wrong doors before you get the hang on controlling where the ball goes. But overall this is one of the best games that the US has seen for Game Boy Advance.

fun is short-lived

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Mario shows up once again, this time in his own pinball game. I'm sure this one will sell a ton of copies. Truth be told, Mario Pinball Land is like some cheap bubble gum that loses flavor after a couple of minutes.

Sure, the graphics are detailed and colorful, and all the gang of characters is here. The pinball action is simple yet works pretty well. So what is the problem? Very repetitive. The screens vary with different locales (pyramids, caves, deserts, etc) but the action never changes. I found myself getting bored with it early on. This one is for the kids.

Great for young players and Mom Approved!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am not a video-game expert...I'm just a mom. My 6-year-old son was frustrated with a lot of the games we got for his GameBoy. This one he picked out without any knowledge of the game...he likes real pinball. Well, he just loves this game! Not once did I have to help him figure something out (which is wonderful since it's hard for me to figure these things out). THere is nothing violent or objectional with this game. it's just fun.

I can't be critical about the graphics or music or any of that stuff...none of that is important to us at this stage of our lives. It's just a fun game that is very easy for a young child to play. And it's a game that a mom can feel good about her kid playing.

Bad Mario Game???

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: October 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I remember seeing a preview for this game and thinking that this game was going to be like the pokemon pinball games but with better graphics but when i put this game into my gameboy advance i was shocked by how bad it was. The real problem with the game is that the level desigen is very un inspired and its so easy for you to die because of the level lay out. Also its just not that fun of a pinball game. Hopefully Nintendo will learn from there mistakes and actually a good pinball game next time

*PS* If you are looking for a good pinball game check out Kirby's Pinball for the original gameboy. While it might not look better than this game its the best pinball game EVER!!!

I LIKE!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Only comment I have about the game is saving your scores. That sucks when you reach over 1,000,000 points and you die and you can't save your progress. The graphics are really cute.

Mario Pinball

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: October 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I love playing Mario games so bought this one. I find it a very hard game to play and losing interest in it. I have beat one boss is about all. Very easy to lose your Marioball down the drain. Doubt I will finish it.

Mario Pinball Land

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: November 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

First of all, Horace Doyal's review is completely untruthful. He said that he couldn't load his game if he just shut it off, and if you had half a brain, you'd read the instruction manual, which clearly states that you must save the game before you turn it off if you want to load that game again. Also, saying that Nintendo should be ashamed of this game is very ignorant and rude, because when Nintendo came out with the NES and the first game ever(Mario Bros.) it pretty much started the evolution of video games. Plus, it's a PINBALL GAME, so how could you say that the rules of pinball don't apply? Sure, the levels are short, but how fun can you make pinball? I think Nintendo has done a nice job with the game, making pinball as exciting as it's going to get. I think it was brilliant to take a twist from the usual Mario game to turn it into pinball. I'd recommend this game to anyone who likes pinball and likes Mario.

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