Mario Pinball Land (2004)

Developer: Fuse Games, Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii U, Game Boy Advance
Genres: Sport, Pinball, Adventure, Arcade
Rating: 2.8 of 5, 11 player ratings
Where to get it: Nintendo eShop

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A frantic, inventive pinball-platformer hybrid where flipper skill replaces jumping in a quirky rescue romp.

whimsicalarcade-fastlightheartedfranticinventive

About

Jumping has always helped Mario perform heroic feats, but in Mario Pinball Land, the plumber must learn how to roll to rescue the princess. When Bowser kidnaps Peach and escapes to another dimension, a scientist transforms Mario into a ball to chase after the fiend. Now you must use your flippers to shoot a much rounder Mario into doors that lead to new areas. In his new form, Mario is also useful for knocking down enemies, picking up special bonuses, and finding power-ups.

Screenshots

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More by Nintendo

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.