:Galactic Pinball

File:VB Galactic Pinball.png

Galactic Pinball is set in the Milky Way galaxy, and tells the story of the discovery of a new, strange world.{{cite book |publisher=Nintendo |page=14 |title=Galactic Pinball manual |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?r002bu |access-date=2015-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920183526/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/games/?r002bu |archive-date=September 20, 2017}} At the title screen, players can choose from four pinball tables: Cosmic, Colony, UFO, and Alien. Players can choose to look at the top scores. The Cosmic table features a cameo from Metroid where players control protagonist Samus Aran's ship. Players are given five pucks, which players must keep going by using the flippers to hit it upward. The goal is to accumulate points and avoid allowing the puck to drop to the bottom of the table. The game begins with players shooting a puck into the table by holding the A button to launch it with a plunger. The longer the button is held, the harder the puck is launched. Players can also push a button to shake the in-game table, though if it is used too often, the flippers will be disabled and the puck will fall. There are various bonuses that players can experience during play. Some tables allow players to activate a "Bonus Roulette wheel", and some will allow them to get bonus points by collecting letters that spell the table's name. Bonus points will be awarded when a puck drops out of play, which varies depending on how long a puck was in play. Each table features a bonus puck to find. Players can collect stars, and upon collecting enough of them, they will be able to choose to go to a Bonus Stage or collect bonus points instead.

The development of Galactic Pinball was managed by Gunpei Yokoi, who created the Virtual Boy.{{cite web |title=IGN Retro: Virtual Boy's Best Games |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/15/ign-retro-virtual-boys-best-games?page=2 |work=IGN |page=2 |date=2008-01-14 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715081050/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/15/ign-retro-virtual-boys-best-games?page=2 |archive-date=July 15, 2018}} It was directed by Kenji Yamamoto, who composed the sound alongside Masaru Tajima. It was shown during the Virtual Boy's debut alongside Teleroboxer.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004027005 |magazine=Nintendo Power |title=Winter C.E.S. Special Report |date=1995-01-06 |issue=70 |page=29 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021518/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004027005 |archive-date=January 4, 2019}} It has been called at varying points as Space Pinball, Virtual Pinball, and Pinball VB.{{cite journal |journal=Total! |title=Virtual Boy Unveiled |date=January 1995 |issue=37 |page=8 |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003016001 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021556/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003016001 |archive-date=January 4, 2019}}{{cite journal |journal=Total! |title=Virtual Boy Makes Gamers See Red |date=March 1995 |issue=39 |page=8 |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003018001 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611030409/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003018001 |archive-date=2015-06-11 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s011138002 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |title=1995 CES Winter Consumer Electronics Show |year=1995 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021540/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003018001 |archive-date=January 4, 2019}} It was one of the launch games for the Virtual Boy, and was released on July 21, 1995 in Japan and on August 14, 1995 in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/06/galactic_pinball_retro |title=Galactic Pinball Review (VB) |work=Nintendo Life |last=Frear |first=Dave |date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202143924/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/06/galactic_pinball_retro |archive-date=December 2, 2017}} Like all Virtual Boy games, Galactic Pinball uses a red-and-black color scheme and parallax visuals to simulate three-dimensional depth.{{cite web |title=Backwards Compatible: The Virtual Boy |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2585841.htm |work=Good Game |date=2009-06-01 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712045522/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2585841.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2015}}

Galactic Pinball has received a mixed reception. Before its release, GamePro speculated that it might be "one of the best pinball games around."{{cite magazine |magazine=GamePro |title=Virtual Boy Games |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s006056002 |date=September 1995 |page=17 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193511/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s006056002 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} On release, Weekly Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 24 out of 40,{{cite magazine |title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ギャラクティックピンボール |magazine=Weekly Famicom Tsūshin |issue=347 |page=29 |date=1995-08-11}} while GamePro reviewer Slo Mo praised the diversity of tables, responsive controls, and innovative 3D stage design.{{cite magazine |title=ProReview Virtual Boy |magazine=GamePro |issue=85 |author=Slo Mo |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s006057001 |date=October 1995 |page=100 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921053332/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s006057001 |archive-date=September 21, 2017}} Writer Jeremy Parish called it a quality pinball game for its time and felt that it would have been a better pack-in title than Mario's Tennis.{{cite web |url=https://retronauts.com/article/1068/the-weird-true-story-of-super-metroids-virtual-boy-follow-up |title=The weird, true story of Super Metroid's Virtual Boy follow-up |work=Retronauts |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |date=2 January 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518064248/https://retronauts.com/article/1068/the-weird-true-story-of-super-metroids-virtual-boy-follow-up |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |url-status=live }} An editor for IGN called it one of the best Virtual Boy games for its pinball gameplay and visual design. Retro Gamer{{'}}s Nick Thorpe felt that it was less popular than other Virtual Boy games, but deserved to be played.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/why_i_love/magic-sword-2/ |title=Virtual Boy |work=Retro Gamer |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911233753/http://www.retrogamer.net/why_i_love/magic-sword-2/ |archive-date=September 11, 2015}} Outlets including Videogames and Retro Gamer praised it for its authenticity as a pinball game. Specific praises include its physics and sound design.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/beavis-and-butt-head/ |title=Galactic Pinball |work=Retro Gamer |last=Tait |first=Elliot |date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913101734/http://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/beavis-and-butt-head/ |archive-date=September 13, 2015}}{{cite news |work=Videogames |title=It's a Virtual Boy! |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s040151004 |date=September 1995 |page=54 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611033051/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s040151004 |archive-date=2015-06-11 |url-status=live }} A retrospective feature by Australian video game talk show Good Game praised its authenticity, but felt that it lacked ambition. VentureBeat writer Jeff Grubb was more negative on Galactic Pinball, calling it a bad Virtual Boy game due to being low effort as a pinball game.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/09/virtual-boy-games-are-finally-less-painful-to-play/ |title=Virtual Boy VR emulator takes the pain out of playing those old games |work=VentureBeat |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=July 9, 2018 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211221301/https://venturebeat.com/2018/07/09/virtual-boy-games-are-finally-less-painful-to-play/ |archive-date=February 11, 2019}} Galactic Pinball was reviewed by two GameFan editors, both of whom were not enthused with it. The first reviewer found it forgettable for people not interested in pinball games, while the other suggested avoiding it.{{cite news |title=Virtual Boy Viewpoints |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s027165001 |work=GameFan |issue=11 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306023645/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s027165001 |archive-date=March 6, 2018}} Allgame disliked Galactic Pinball, feeling that the slow pace and unrealistic physics hurt it as a pinball experience.{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8106&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114211657/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=8106&tab=review |title=Galactic Pinball |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan}}

Outlets such as Electronic Entertainment and Nintendo Power praised the 3D design, the latter voting it the fourth best Virtual Boy game of 1995 due in part to the limited use of 3D.{{cite magazine |magazine=Nintendo Power |title=Virtual Boy: The Best of 1995 |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004035001 |date=January 1996 |issue=80 |page=5 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709053123/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004035001 |archive-date=July 9, 2017}}{{cite news |work=Electronic Entertainment |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s026124001 |title=Virtual Boy |last=Kent |first=Steve |date=November 1995 |page=144 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108063359/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s026124001 |archive-date=January 8, 2018}} A reviewer for Nintendo Power however criticized the limited 3D as well as a lack of a battery save for high scores.{{cite magazine |title=Galactic Pinball |magazine=Nintendo Power |url=http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004030022 |date=August 1995 |issue=75 |page=104 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192822/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004030022 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} PC Magazine{{'}}s Benj Edwards included it among his list of seven "forgotten Nintendo Virtual Boy classics." He cites Yokoi's interest in the Virtual Boy's black space as a way to convey "infinite space behind the playfield," and speculates that this was the origin of Galactic Pinball.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/feature/366223/7-forgotten-nintendo-virtual-boy-classics/6 |title=7 Forgotten Nintendo Virtual Boy Classics |work=PC Mag |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210094255/https://www.pcmag.com/feature/366223/7-forgotten-nintendo-virtual-boy-classics/6 |archive-date=February 10, 2019}} A writer for Electronic Gaming Monthly found the level design excellent but that the flippers were too slow to respond.{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Galactic Pinball |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=75 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=October 1995 |page=38}} Kill Screen writer Jon Irwin similarly criticized its physics, stating that slowdown occurred whenever the puck approached the flippers. He felt that the action and physics were better in the Space Pinball demo than the final release.{{cite web |url=https://killscreen.com/versions/seeing-red/ |title=Seeing Red |work=Kill Screen |last=Irwin |first=Jon |date=3 May 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503145034/https://killscreen.com/versions/seeing-red/ |archive-date=May 3, 2019}} Next Generation was critical of Galactic Pinball due to poor lasting value.{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=9|publisher=Imagine Media|date=September 1995|page=93}} Tim Stevens for Engadget criticized the sound effects, in particular the lack of sound for the puck. He speculated that it was due to the digital voice work taking up too much room on the cartridge.{{cite web |title=Nintendo Virtual Boy review |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/nintendo-virtual-boy-review/ |work=Engadget |last=Stevens |first=Tim |date=2011-03-21 |access-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409085741/https://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/nintendo-virtual-boy-review/ |archive-date=April 9, 2019}}

• List of Virtual Boy games

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Virtual Boy}}

{{Metroid series}}

{{Intelligent Systems}}

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Category:1995 video games

Category:Intelligent Systems games

Category:Pinball video games

Category:Virtual Boy games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games produced by Gunpei Yokoi

Category:Video games scored by Kenji Yamamoto (composer, born 1964)

Category:Nintendo games