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Pinball FX2: Ms. Splosion Man
Score: 90%
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Zen Studios
Media: Download/1
Players: 1 - 4
Genre: Arcade/Classic/Retro/Online

Introduction:

Twisted Pixel's legendary sense of humor is fused with Zen Studios' knack for all things pinball in one of Pinball FX2's best downloadable tables yet. Pinball FX2: Ms. Splosion Man accomplishes exactly what it sets out to achieve, although nobody should be surprised. This development team has proved time and again that they know what they're doing; between Pinball FX2 and Zen Studios, they haven't made any missteps. Each and every table I've played is a shining example of how to make and theme a pinball table. Uncovering each table's secrets while climbing the online leaderboards has always been a joyful experience, and combining that experience with the infectious energy of Ms. Splosion Man results in a match made in heaven.

Theming:

While I acknowledge Ms. Splosion Man as superior to Splosion Man, I'll admit to finding the original more charming. Perhaps I find the relentless manic energy of Splosion Man more endearing than Ms. Splosion Man's diva persona. Regardless, the Ms. Splosion Man table gets just about everything right. The signs of collaboration are certainly there; Twisted Pixel clearly had no problem sharing assets with Zen Studios. All those animations and sound effects go a long way towards doing justice to both franchises. The music gets annoying after a while, but again, I'm comparing Ms. Splosion Man's more elegant soundtrack to the raw insanity of Splosion Man's.

In terms of aesthetics, the table looks exactly like what you'd get if you took a level from Ms. Splosion Man and added a dimension. The bright blues of the laboratory setting contrast wonderfully with the furious hot pink that permeates the rest of the table. Ms. Splosion Man herself is quite a presence on the table, and her enthusiastic (and incessant) shrieking of meaningless girly girl gobbledygook is as funny here as it is in the original game.


Gameplay:

Pinball FX2: Ms. Splosion Man does what every well-themed pinball table does: it takes several ideas from the source material and translates them into pinball applications. So, as expected, pinballs splode here and there, there are several glass windows to shatter, and the Mighty Eternal is your main enemy. Other elements of the franchise are here, as well; barrels can be used to your advantage, and zip lines also make an appearance. This is where the Ms. Splosion Man table really shines. It's the little things; instead of kickback lanes, treadmills escort wayward balls to relative safety. It's a nice change; usually, treadmills are a source of frustration in the Splosion Man games.

Value:

If you haven't played Splosion Man or its sequel -- or (for whatever reason) don't like those games, you're not going to get much out of Pinball FX2: Ms. Splosion Man, that is, other than a well-made game of video pinball. The pricing model remains the same; at 240 Microsoft Points, this isn't a bad deal, and the content is great as usual. Like the other tables, it's not something you'll find yourself staying up late at night for. Instead, you'll return to it every now and then, ready to best your previous high score. Pinball FX2: Ms. Splosion Man is quality DLC, or as Ms. Splosion Man would say, "COTTON CANDY PANDA!"

-FenixDown, GameVortex Communications
AKA Jon Carlos

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