Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island

 PC
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
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  1. Gamers' Temple
    85
    Pinball purists might not get the level of simulation they require and smaller kids may find some of the tables' tasks a little difficult, but otherwise Adventure Pinball is a fun diversion for most players.
  2. Da Gameboyz
    78
    The Unreal engine adds depth and life to the classic arcade platform. Adventure Pinball...pinball...on steroids.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Computer Games Magazine
    70
    Lavish aesthetics notwithstanding, Adventure Pinball also plays a mean game. Only the inevitable onset of repetition dulls its luster.
  5. IGN
    67
    It's one of the few times where I would have liked less levels, with more quality construction.
  6. GameSpot
    66
    While the game at times relies too heavily on its frantic pace, and its graphics aren't very interesting, it does provide a fun new perspective on the traditional pinball game.
  7. Game Over Online
    61
    Even with what must add up to 30 tables and sub-tables and side-tables, you end up with a very I’ve-solved-this-table-so-why-play-it-again mindset. I’ve solved Forgotten Island, and now I’ve forgotten it.
  8. Games Radar
    50
    We'd rather that more effort had been put into making it a really good pinball game rather than a not-quite-effective crossover experiment.
  9. GamePower
    50
    This may be the only pinball game that requires seatbelts.
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Daily Radar
    50
    As a pinball game, the tables are too barren and as an action/platform-like game, the pinball control is out of place.
    All this publication's reviews
  11. Game Revolution
    42
    This game could get a recommendation if the price was right...but it's not. The game is worth about 10 bucks, but it sells for a whopping $30. That's just a brutal rip off, considering what you get - a subpar pinball game. But at least it's a great extinction theory.
  12. Yahoo!
    40
    Unfortunately, we didn't quite get the sensation of frantic frustration and glory we usually do with pinball games.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. LT_Gruber
    Jan 19, 2023
    10
    Great game with a lot of childhood memories.

    Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island is such a simple game, yet it is so satisfying and fun.    Great game with a lot of childhood memories.

    Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island is such a simple game, yet it is so satisfying and fun.

    In its core, it is like every other pinball game, but the endless animations and living objects in the stages make it different and a lot more fun. It also uses multiple segments of a stage that you must complete before moving on to the next one instead of just one map with some stuff in it.

    You can play through a fair number of stages at the beginning and unlock more stages when you complete all the tasks and chores on the map. This has to be done of course by hitting certain things like buttons or switches. You progress from section to section until you beat the stage. Complete all the maps and you beat the game.

    Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island got no story or plot or anything, but in a game like this, that is not needed. It is just good old pinball, with a lot of stuff to do.

    The graphics are gorgeous. They are nice and colorful and the best part of it are the hundreds of living things that interact with your balls (that sounded a little vile). Small caveman pickup the metal ball and place it on a certain rail, a gate opens when you hit a button and your metal friend goes through a secret passage, which is a mini pinball field on its own and in which you can earn even more points.

    There are waterfalls, moving foliage, freaking dinosaurs and a ton of other stuff. This is the main reason I loved this game so much as a kid. It is just so full of life and movement. I felt joy and amusement with every second of this game, no matter how simple it was.

    The music that plays in the background is nice and adapts to the map. A certain jungle map plays all kind of jungle tunes, and an ice level got some sort of Jingle Bells music. The sound effects are great and there is also a narrator that provides commentary when your ball slips through the flippers, when it is launched or when you earned special bonuses.

    The controls are simple, just the left and right flipper but they are responsive and do what they are supposed to do.

    You can earn different power-ups by completing certain tasks, hitting certain switches or completing certain mini games in a level. Your ball can multiply, get a different color that earns double points or goes extra fast at times.

    The levels are really hard. This is mainly because of the many things that you need to hit specifically in order to progress. Many stages feature roadblocks like a constantly moving T-Rex, who will yeet your ball away from the target that you are trying to hit, forcing you to try again.

    You earn enough extra balls in Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island after reaching a certain number of points. It keeps the game balanced and fun to play.

    In the end, there is not much more to say about Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island, other than it being a fantastic game, full of life, that I will always hold dear.

    Definitely recommend this gem.    … Full Review »
  2. Kristoff
    Mar 14, 2012
    8
    Very good game! Brings up memories ;)
  3. ChrisR.
    Feb 27, 2002
    7
    Excellent graphics.
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