Zen Pinball 2: Marvel's Ant-Man (PlayStation 4) Review

From the get-go, the pinball table is impressive to look at. Set in Hank Pym's laboratory, the dark colour palette keeps the visuals easy on the eyes, especially when trying to keep track of the ball is the most important part. The layout is simple, with the multitude of lanes leading to the back end of the table. However, the atomic particle ball gets the most attention because this blue sphere is the key to unlocking the multi-ball feature. Drawing elements from Ant-Man, the ball can be shrunk-down in order to access a second play area below the main table, though keeping the ball within that area is quite difficult.

Hank Pym and Scott Lang stand around the pinball table, and they deliver witty dialogue as the game progresses. The voice actors have done a remarkable job in ensuring that the characters sound exactly like their counterparts from the film, in Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd. While the pinball machine itself does not delve into the plot of the movie, there is enough dialogue to explain some of the context around it. Yellow Jacket and Pym's daughter Hope also make 3D appearances, as the table does its best to appease to both fans of the franchise, as well as newcomers who may not have seen the movie.

While playing doesn't require seeing the film beforehand in order to understand it, it does at least require some knowledge and experience in Zen Pinball 2. This is mainly due to the fact that it is quite difficult to keep the ball in play for newcomers here in Ant-Man. There are a few awkward spots on the table, which can result in many lost balls forced into the out-lanes, and be quite frustrating at times. The other issue is that the missions themselves are not as obvious as the other tables that Zen Studios has developed. Fortunately, thanks to the table guide in the pause menu, it is a minor quip in an otherwise exciting new pinball videogame.