Mithias is not too thrilled by the latest attempt to market the Pokemon craze. GBA has one of its darker days in the office with this effort.

When I was first given this review I must admit I was slightly optimistic. Having been in high school when the Pokémon rage started I actually (quite embarrassingly I might add) know a fair bit about this pocket monsters. (Is that so?! Ed)

Pokémon Pinball is Nintendo's latest attempt at getting as much as they possibly can out of what has to be one of the most marketed enterprises in the world.

Taking the Pokémon from the ruby and sapphire versions of the Game Boy game, the idea is to basically catch all of the Pokémon using your pinball, cunningly disguised as a Pokéball.

There are only two tables to play on, one for Ruby and one for Sapphire (GASP!) but in each table you can travel to different areas to catch different Pokémon. Well, I say travel, it just means making a different picture appear in the centre of the table.

To catch the Pokemon you have three options; you can either go into catch mode where you must hit a pokémon three times to catch him, go into egg mode which is the same except the pokémon moves around the table of try to evolve one by hitting three items on the board with you ball.

That said there isn't a lot else to do in the game.

Sure there are bonus levels to do and a shop where you can buy ball upgrades or the option to recover you ball when it falls, but the game still lacks anything likely to bring you back to play it again.

On a more positive note, the graphics are relatively good. The movement of the ball is smooth and the table is nice and clean looking. The sounds are basic as is the music, not really pushing the limits of the GBA.

This is a game designed for and marketed with kids in mind. If you're an adult, there really is nothing in this game that will interest you at all.

If you're a parent looking for your kids, they probably will like it. But with only four controls in the game, it doesn't really stimulate them at all.

In other words, buy another game.

Sorry Nintendo!

3/10

Mithias