Zen Pinball THD (The Avengers) theme of the popular 3D pinball game
by Paul Wilks
Oct 3, 2012 8:13 AM –
Install
Zen Pinball THD is a pinball table simulator that has proved to be massively popular on Android, after enjoying success on the XBOX Live. While many elements of traditional pinball are present, you can buy additional tables with a variety of different themes. One such theme is based on Marvel’s The Avengers and by all accounts is pretty cool…
Price: Free for the game, $1.99 for each of the themes
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros
- Stunning graphics!
- Rich audio clips!
- Addictive gameplay!
- Pass-and-play multi-player mode!
Cons
- It’s just pinball and paying for an incrementally different theme doesn’t seem value for money.
- Doesn’t sound like proper character voices.
- Colours can make it tricky to keep track of a fast-moving ball.
- Oddly tricky to buy a new table and launch it.
Features:
Zen Pinball THD is a completely free and very high quality pinball game for Android Tegra devices. As you would expect the graphics are dazzling and rich with colour, detail and vibrancy- really making the most of that multi-core processor. Unless you’ve literally never heard of pinball, you’ll be aware the gamer has to propel a ball around a table to accumulate points. You have a left and right paddle which can be used to flick the ball back towards the tables scoring areas. Balls can be lost if you’re unable to keep it from falling into the drain but correct use of paddles can prevent this.
These games are perennially popular in arcades and they come in all manner of different themes. The conversion to console and mobile devices is actually quite easy and original gameplay doesn’t really suffer at all. In Zen Pinball THD you simple tap either side of the screen to flick the paddle, and pull back on the spring to launch a new ball.
The game is free and comes with a Sorcerer’s Lair theme. This is pretty neat but you can buy other themes to play, such as Marvel’s The Avengers theme. This presents each ball as a different member of the Avengers, along with sound effects and alternative images. The effects are quite immersive and, although gameplay is essentially exactly the same, it offers subtle and enjoyable differences to other themes. The Avenger’s theme is really nice, but I’m not really convinced it ‘adds’ much to the game in the first place.
The other problem is installing new tables. It should be intuitive- just buy the table and it should appear in colour on the grid of options. However it doesn’t at first. After some messing about it did appear as a valid option for me; I think it’s worth restarting the game and then installing the table into the game. It really should be easier than this.
That issue aside the game plays really well and is lots of fun as you try and accumulate the best score you can. Following the ball on such a colourful table is a little tricky though, but I guess this might add to the challenge.
Watch on Mobile
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (1)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (2)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (3)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (4)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (5)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Gameplay (6)
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Different ball per character
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Theme intro
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Loading
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Single player or multiplayer hotseat
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Feels like you have to download the theme twice
-
-
Zen Pinball THD Avengers Theme – Score
Fun Factor:
If you like pinball, you’ll find this a superb rendition for your Android. I think too if you like casual games this might be one to try out. However, I’m not sure it really grabs you if you fail to fall into either of these categories. Aside from The Avengers sheen, it does feel more than a little repetitive.
Addictive:
Not really, unless you really are a pinball wizard from 1975.
Graphics:
The graphics are immaculately and brilliantly designed. The colours and details leap from your touchscreen and it really is stunning visually.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The big problem I think with the theme is that I’m not convinced it uses proper voices or sound clips from the original movie. I’m absolutely certain the clip when selecting the Black Widow ball is definitely not Scarlett Johansson. Additionally, The Hulk just sounds like someone doing a bad impression of The Hulk. Because of things like this it all just feels a little fake and, considering you’ve just paid money for it, you can’t help but feel a little ripped off. 
Tags:
3D,
3D Games,
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
Android Tablet Apps,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
arcade,
HD Games for Android,
Pinball,
Tegra,
Tegra Zone,
The Avengers,
Zen Pinball THD
Categorised in: Arcade & Action
Submit apps for review,
promote apps, get more installs with better
app videos.