Vs. Pinball (1984). Play Free Online

Summary

VS. Pinball is the multiplayer arcade spin on Nintendo’s classic Pinball. The cabinet features two stacked monitors, the lower showing the launch and the upper playfield; a plunger hurls the ball from the bottom to the top, and the ball travels between screens through open lanes. I love how the paddles feel just like real pinball flippers, yet the game adds a competitive edge with head‑to‑head action. Hidden behind a bonus hole is a Breakout‑style minigame where Mario rides a platform to rescue Pauline, giving a surprising mash‑up of Nintendo characters. In Japan the title ranked 24th among table arcade units in September 1984, showing its brief arcade impact.

Storyline

In VS Pinball’s bonus mode, the action shifts from the usual pinball chaos to a daring rescue. Mario appears on a moving platform, and the player must launch the ball to bounce off his platform and smash the blocks that trap Pauline, the classic damsel from Donkey Kong. Each block destroyed clears a path, and when the last one falls, Pauline drops onto Mario’s platform, rewarding the player with a burst of bonus points. However, the tension spikes if she slips and hits the ground—doing so ends the round with a loss.

Edited by Maya Carter