The game that stuck out like a sore thumb and got me most excited for its full launch during a recent Steam Next Fest was Pinball Spire, an indie effort from Apparition Games. For those of us who grew up with pinball titles like Full Tilt! Pinball, Pokemon Pinball, or Kirby’s Pinball Land, or those plugging away at the current Pinball FX boards, there’s a certain nostalgia and dedication to skill that makes this genre and arcade classic a hit to this day. With a Metroidvania lens at the forefront of this iteration, is that gimmick enough to make what’s typically a one-note game something truly special?

Pinball has many addicting intricacies that keep players coming back: the flashy visuals/sounds, the sky-high skill ceiling, and the high score that could always be higher. Transition this into an adventure game in Pinball Spire, and all of these little details get shown in a new light. It’s no pushover of a game either. Once you clear a table, you’re thrust upwards, get a convenient save point, and have to take on a new challenge with a new game mechanic in the mix. It’s a rinse-repeat cycle that somehow doesn’t get old the longer it goes on.

The new abilities you get, as you ascend the titular spire in Pinball Spire, lead to some tricky flips needing to take place for progression. Thankfully, you’ll quickly be equipped with the ability to temporarily slow time and get a projectile path to fine-tune your shots exactly where you want them to go, as opposed to trying to hit a speeding ball with pinpoint precision. While the boards you reach can seem small, you’ll have to manage to hit every nook and cranny to progress at points, demanding perfect shots several times over; thanks to the plentiful saves, though, these aren’t too daunting.

The struggle in pinball is that perfection is seemingly unattainable except for those who are truly adept. In Pinball Spire, this is no different. It’s very easy to get considerably stuck on a board or two if you can’t pull off the perfect shot, even with slow-mo at your side as you might not get to see the entire shot in your pathing, as the many mistakes you’ll make can prolong your next attempt for dozens of seconds. This pursuit of perfection is worthwhile, though, as the feeling of clearing a board feels like a massive accomplishment.

Clocking in at about 4 hours, Pinball Spire can be conquered in just a few sittings. The variety and regular progression make the gameplay loop satisfying enough to persist for this short length, and leave the player feeling great for managing to beat it due to the skill requirements. Since the demo reeled me in far before launch, it’s worth trying out before you commit to the $14.99, but for those so inclined, it is a more-than-worthwhile purchase and a great way to kill a few hours, whether it’s in short bursts, or a marathon pinball run for the ages.

A PC review copy of Pinball Spire was provided by indie.io for the purposes of this review.

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Pinball Spire

$14.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Fulfilling Progression
• Banging Soundtrack
• Plenty of Save Points

Cons

• Easy to get Stuck
• No Tilt Button