Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball (Nintendo Switch) Review

By Rudy Lavaux 28.06.2018

Review for Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball on Nintendo Switch

Who would have thought that Bethesda games would come to a Nintendo platform someday? Living in current times, one could think that with Wolfenstein II on the horizon at time of writing and with Doom and Skyrim already out for months, that it's like Bethesda and Nintendo had always gone together like bread and butter, and yet if one was to wind back time to, say, two years ago, before the initial release of Bethesda Pinball on other platforms, and the chances of anything Bethesda related to ever come to a Nintendo console seemed slim to none. The Bethesda Pinball pack skipped the Wii U version of Zen Pinball 2 entirely and save for some Bethesda related content in Minecraft for Wii U, no one would have dared expect more. Now the year is 2018, however, and the Nintendo Switch is proving too successful for anyone to ignore anymore, which means that not only has the Switch seen some Bethesda productions, but these pinball tables that skipped Nintendo hardware before finally landed on Nintendo Switch for gamers' pleasure.

Every single table in this package comes with its own set of special unique features taken from the game they are based on, bringing to pinball formula some things either rarely, or never before seen. The Doom table, based on the 2016 game now also available on Switch, is probably the most traditional of the bunch in that regard, although it isn't saying much considering it is still very heavy on unique mechanics. First of those is the player's health bar, although similar mechanics have been seen before, notably in the Portal table, as well as ammo management for the player's selected weapon, although the default one has infinite ammo just like in Doom. Enemies from the game dot the table and have to be shot with the ball in order to be "gunned" down by the weapon currently equipped on the player's virtual playable character that is always seen on the side of the playing field.

The Doom table is middle-sized and medium in difficulty with the ball coming back fast but not blazingly so. Just like the Doom game, it is not so hard that newcomers who just want in on the gritty, violent action are put off, but offers a decent enough challenge that hardcore players will still get their fill should they wish so. Indeed, a difficulty level selection is prompted at the start of each game, featuring the same difficulty names as the original, which influences enemy health and how much damage they deal to the player, but also can remove kickbacks and ball saves altogether. Why choose a higher difficulty, then? Simply because this comes with the perk of increased score bonuses, that's why! Difficulty selection is a staple of the Doom series, so seeing it implemented here in this fashion is a pleasing sight to behold.

Screenshot for Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball on Nintendo Switch

The Fallout table pushed the special features envelope a few steps further by including more things to manage about the player's virtual character. Bethesda games are indeed, traditionally, heavy on character customisation and so this pinball rendition - maybe more based on Fallout 4 than any other, if only through the presence of a companion - is no exception. Indeed, on each new game, it is possible to create a character, either male or female, and assign skill points to different character traits, such as perception endurance or charisma, much like you would in Fallout. Beyond that, once again the player's health has to be kept in check, as well as exposure to radiation, the former naturally being important while tackling quests or missions, while the latter not only decreases the maximum amount of health that the player can have, but also reduces the amount of points that most activities performed on the play field can yield. Furthermore, the classic Fallout currency "bottle caps" can be used in a shop to improve armour and weapons, or even cure the aforementioned exposure to radiation. In a very RPG-ish fashion, taking on quests rewards experience points that count towards the level, not the player's Pinball FX3 level, which is a completely separate thing, but the Fallout player on this particular table, adding an extra layer of depth to things not found on other tables. The Fallout table is, ultimately, much like the Doom table, average on difficulty but adds an extra layer of depth, which can either please stat hungry people or detract them, according to their tastes and preferences, just like some people prefer Doom to Fallout outside of the pinball realm for the same reasons.

Screenshot for Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball on Nintendo Switch

Finally, the Skyrim table is probably by far the most original seen up till now in the Pinball FX3 line-up. Its approach to RPG design inside a pinball table, Pinball FX3's own separate levelling system notwithstanding, puts a twist on this particular table that makes it almost feel like a completely separate genre of its own and not a simple pinball table. Much like the Fallout table, starting up a new game on this one prompts the player to create a character, much like the Elder Scrolls V itself at the start of the game in fact, inviting players to pick a race and the like. It is even more in depth than on the Fallout table! Likewise, the player must keep track of stamina, magicka, and health throughout in-game missions, and so on, and dying may set the player back outside of a mission currently being played through. This is altogether separate from the pinball aspect itself: if the character is defeated, the ball is still in play and the game won't end until all playable balls have been spent, of course, but the intertwined RPG elements work surprisingly well.

It goes as far as giving the player an inventory where armour and weapons can be equipped onto the character who is displayed on the side of the play-field at all times and equipment changes are indeed reflected onto the character model itself, just like in full fat Skyrim. Moreover, when all balls have been lost, since losing all progress on the table and on the playable character would be a pain, the player is offered to continue on as the same character, complete with skill trees and equipment conserved. This is perhaps never before seen, even in virtual pinball history. Then, to round things off nicely, like the other tables, this one includes Jeremy Soule's soundtrack from the original game, so it is certainly the highlight of the Bethesda bundle.

Screenshot for Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball on Nintendo Switch

Of all the tables, Skyrim is perhaps the one designed to allow easier scoring and high scores rolling while the other two are more in the middle ground area on that front. It makes sense considering Skyrim is the highest selling game of the bunch represented in pinball form in this package, although this is admittedly more because it is available on more platforms than, say, Fallout 4. Nevertheless, Skyrim is a popular game and, as is usually the case, the Skyrim table is probably the easier to grasp and score on for that reason. It is interesting to see these tables being brought to the Nintendo Switch, as well, all the more in such times when Bethesda seems intent on bringing its content to Nintendo platforms where it was simply not represented at all before (Skyrim and Fallout content in Minecraft Wii U notwithstanding). Now, two of Bethesda's games, which have already been made available on Switch, have made the jump to Switch in pinball form, as well. Of those three, one can only wonder if the Switch will ever see Fallout, be it in a remaster or through a new release. Only the future will tell…

Screenshot for Pinball FX3: Bethesda Pinball on Nintendo Switch

Cubed3 Rating

9/10
Rated 9 out of 10

Exceptional - Gold Award

Rated 9 out of 10

Bundling together three tables based on three great games, all complete with great soundtracks and visuals properly licensed from their creators without funky alterations or replacements, the Bethesda Pinball pack is perhaps the best licensed package available in Pinball FX3 to this day, not just for the content represented, but also because of the great gameplay mechanics and systems being used here to enhance the pinball experience in unique, original ways. It's to the point that it feels almost different from traditional pinball but, make no mistake, those exclusive mechanics are still driven by the tightly controlled pinball gameplay at the heart of this piece of digital entertainment, and will challenge gamers' reflexes and skills just as well as any other pinball tables available on Switch right now.

Developer

Zen

Publisher

Zen

Genre

Table Games

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  7/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date Out now   

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