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0 Bounce Arcade channels all things pinball to bring an immersive and exciting experience. Developed by Velan Studios, it is out now on the Meta Quest store.
Pinball, but not as we know it
Costing £15.99 on the Quest store, will this be worth your pennies, or should you save them for your local arcade? Let’s find out!
Gameplay
Firing up Bounce Arcade you are thrown into the tutorial, showing you the game’s basic mechanics. Essentially you hold two big shields to propel the balls into the arena. Aim for all the little nooks and crannies to build up your score and multiplier. For anyone who’s ever played a pinball table, you are the flickers.
Once you’ve got through the basic tutorial you then find yourself at the main menu. With each of the levels in front of you to choose from. There are currently only 4 levels, which on the surface isn’t a lot to get stuck into. However, if you get into the game enough you are likely to only scratch the surface of what is a very well put together game. Or you might get bored of just having access to the same 4 levels! Personally I found having only 4 levels meant I spent a decent amount of time on each of them to get the most from the game. Aiming for those high scores is an absolute blast!
Upon starting the balls start flying in all directions and sometimes at great speeds. Keep your reflexes finely tuned watching for difficult rebounds and deflections. One thing that differs from a traditional pinball table is your ability to influence the ball’s movement. One ability allows you to guide a ball in the direction you want it to go. With another giving you the ability to pull the ball back towards you, allowing you to fully master the balls.
Level Select
So what types of levels do we have in Bounce Arcade? Let me tell you some more about them.
Gunpowder Gulch – This Wild West-themed level sees you cracking safes. Aim for the flying barrels and trigger the shoot out where the paddles transform into pistols for you to fend off the deputies. A great introduction to the game with a nice easy pace to it.
Asteroid Outpost – Survive deep space mining all the while harvesting Arcadium from asteroids. All sounds simple right, but with you having to repair your ship and get the critical systems back online it’s anything but.
Monster Manor – Fancy a stint in a haunted mansion, how about one with a restless spirit? This might be the level for you. Light the candles, catch the ghosts and battle unnatural forces while you uncover the secrets of the mansion.
Pirate’s Plunder – Head onto the high seas and pillage your way to glory. Load the cannons, plunder treasure and raise the Jolly Roger to fend off skeletons.
Graphics & Audio
Bounce Arcade looks like a retro-styled 3D pinball table. With bright lights and neons everywhere. The effects on the screen pretty much do exactly what you would expect them to. It’s never going to win awards for the graphics, but then it doesn’t need to when the gameplay is so much fun.
I always struggle to hear the audio when it comes to VR games, mostly because I have a tendency to talk to myself a lot. Thankfully Bounce Arcade sounds great, with a toe-tapping soundtrack helping the game to bring back nostalgic arcade emotions.
Longevity
How long are you going to spend playing Bounce Arcade? A valid question. Well, I felt like I had given the game a good play-through after spending around an hour playing. However, what did keep me playing was the high scores. Being on track to break your high score only to lose two balls in quick succession was soul-crushing. My favourite part of this was seeing names I recognised on the world leader board and working to get a higher score than them. I’m not competitive, you are!
Final Thoughts
I was dubious about Bounce Arcade when I first checked out the store. It looked basic and too simple to be immersive. I stand (I’m currently sitting) here now in front of you (through the screen) and hold up my hands (in between typing) to say I was wrong to have judged the game so soon. The game is difficult in some areas but at every turn, I was greeted with an experience that kept me hooked. If you are looking for a hint of nostalgia with a fun casual experience then this one should be on your wishlist.
Bounce Arcade receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
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