Slamball Longplay (Commodore 64 Game) - Warning: Contains Flashing Lights!
2- Slamball Longplay (Commodore 64 Game) - Warning: Contains Flashing Lights! -
Slamball, released for the Commodore 64 in 1984, stands out for its unique features. The most striking is its organic setting: the pinball table is ingeniously designed as the interior of a gigantic monster, where balls not saved by the flippers are humorously "digested".
Unlike traditional pinball games that focus on scoring points by hitting various objects or launching the ball up ramps for bonuses, Slamball introduces a distinct challenge. Players must strategically knock over 37 targets to advance to the next stage, a task that proves enjoyable yet far from simple.
The game is engaging and fun, though it falls short of greatness due to a few shortcomings. One notable issue is the inconsistent performance of the flippers, which can appear weak or fail to interact with the ball at crucial moments, as if invisible. Additionally, the game lacks variety in its stages, which remain identical in layout and difficulty across levels, with only the color scheme changing. This lack of progression and diversity lessens its overall appeal.
Players are given five lives to complete their mission, and given this title's challenge, every life counts. However, the game generously allows for frequent nudging, a tactic that can save the ball from many perilous situations due to the game's unusually high tilt tolerance. This feature was tested extensively, revealing that Slamball does indeed tilt, but only after persistent nudging, a testament to its forgiving nature in this aspect.
Reflecting on past experiences, even in the early '90s, the difficulty of advancing past the first stage led to much speculation among friends about what lay beyond. The anticipation was met with humor when we discovered that progression merely led to a similar second stage. By the way, there are a total of four stages in the game. Once you've completed the fourth stage, rather than advancing to the next, you continue playing within that same level.
Overall, despite its flaws, Slamball remains a delightful diversion for pinball enthusiasts. However, with more attention to detail and variety, it could have been a landmark title, potentially the Commodore 64's answer to Pinball Dreams, showcasing what could have been achieved with a bit more polish and innovation.
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