Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles (MPAC)
Platforms: Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox, Playstation Network PlayStation 3
Price: 800 MSP, $9.99 on PSN in US and (€9.99) in Europe
Launch Date: June 20, 2012
Publisher: Zen Studios
Developer: Zen Studios
Game Twitter: @zen_studios
Overview:
Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles (MPAC) is smashing Hulk-style onto XBLA. This hero-filled DLC contains a set of 4 pinball tables to add to your Pinball FX2 collection. Zen Studios has an established reputation of creating some great pinball tables and once again they do not disappoint. You have to watch the trailer below and see for yourself because the screenshots do not do it justice.
Avengers Chronicles Tables:
The Avengers
This table is based off of events from the Avengers movie that I loved! So come join the fight with Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor with Nick Fury leading the Avengers.
I have spent a lot of time playing this table and it is probably my favorite. Yes, this table is totally awesome and clearly a great amount of detail and hard work went into this! My favorite thing about this table is that you are able to choose your Avenger ball. Each ball is colored to resemble the Avenger it represents and each ball has its own unique powers.
World War Hulk
After Hulk’s banishment to outer space he returns to Manhattan to seek revenge against the Illuminati and wage war against the X-Men, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four and Doctor Strange.
When I first played through all four tables my first impressions of this table wasn’t that great. However, my feelings have completely changed after coming back to it and playing the table some more. I think initially I was just so sucked into The Avengers table that I couldn’t be objective about poor, sweet Hulk. The table has a great feel to it and not to mention 11 ramps!
The Infinity Gauntlet
On this table Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock battle Thanos and recover the six Infinity Gems (Time, Space, Reality, Power, Mind, and Soul) to save the Universe. Who knew you could save the universe playing pinball? Each Infinity Gem produces a special mind bending effect on the table creating an intense pinball atmosphere. Also, this table is loaded with 139 lines of dialogue which seems pretty impressive to me.
I am just going to be honest and say that I can’t really get into this table. The colors are really bright and it hurts my eyes at times. The gameplay quality is great as usually but I just don’t enjoy it as much as the other tables. Now that I have my achievement I will only play it to either try to beat a high or if there is a tournament for the table. Other people may like this but it just wasn’t my thing. With all that being said, I bet later today I will be playing this table again. 
Fear Itself
Now The Avengers must defeat the Asgardian god, Serpent, and free the world from the grip of fear. This table uses magnetic energy in ways never experienced on a pinball table. It also has the deepest mini-games ever produced in a Zen Studios pinball table.
I am totally hooked on this table and it is surprisingly my favorite of the (MPAC). I am so hooked on The Avengers table but there is something magnetizing about this one that keeps drawing me back (bad joke but true). Everything about this table is entertaining from the visual design to the gameplay.
Achievements:
- Total of 200 Gamerscore.
- Each of the four tables has one Achievement worth 50 GS.
Pros:
- Each table has a unique story, objectives, styling, and gameplay.
- Gameplay, graphics, and sound are set at very high standard that we have learned to expect from Zen Studios.
- I like the approach on XBLA to have only one 50 achievement per table. It is more satisfying to hear that achievement pop and see the 50 GS. Made me happy.
- Lots of replay value unless you hate pinball!
Cons:
- The brightly colored Infinity Gauntlet table is hard on my eyes. After 5 minutes or so my eyes adjust though.
- Hulk’s voice always gets annoying after a while but there is not much you can do about it. It’s Hulk!
Final Verdict:
If you can’t tell I really enjoyed playing the Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles on XBLA. All four tables are unique and it is evident that Zen Studios put a lot of work into this pack. I did not like one of the tables but I could just be an oddball. For only 800 MSP, I highly recommend this to any pinball fan and if you are also a Marvel fan this is double bonus for you.
Graphics & Sound |
9 |
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Gameplay |
10 |
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Fun Factor |
9 |
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Replay Value |
10 |
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Overall |
9.5
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What did you think about the tables? Feel free to share your thought or screenshots of your high scores below!
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