True Pinball

From Sega Retro

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TruePinball title.png

True Pinball
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Ocean Software, Gaga Communications (JP)
Developer:
Genre: Table

















Number of players: 1-8 (alternating)
Release Date RRP Code

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True Pinball, known as Tekkyuu: True Pinball (鉄球 トゥルー・ピンボール) in Japan, is a pinball game released for the Sega Saturn in 1996.

True Pinball is an enhanced remake of the Digital Illusions' 1995 Amiga/DOS game Pinball Illusions, featuring the same four tables (Law 'n Justice, Babewatch, Extreme Sports and The Vikings, the latter originally added as a DOS exclusive) with graphical and audial upgrades to suit more advanced hardware. The major difference between True Pinball and Pinball Illusions is the addition of pre-rendered 3D modes - whereas Pinball Illusions only allows you to play the tables from a top-down perspective, True Pinball renders them at an angle, simulating depth (and a more realistic perspective for the user) and reducing the amount of scrolling needed to see the entire table.

The game can be played either in a low resolution 3D mode, a high resolution 3D mode (which, due to interlacing tricks, will not function properly with component video or with most emulators) or in a similar 2D mode found in the original game. Other tweaks include altered music, more speech and altered menus.

Though the tables are more detailed in the Saturn version, it is still considered to be out-classed by the DOS version of Pinball Illusions, primarily due to the fact the maximum screen resolution there is 800x600, resulting in sharper graphics. Also, as the tables were not originally designed for 3D, many elements, particularly towards the top of the screen, are obscured by scenery. Also scrolling, which is not always desirable by the user, is not completely eliminated (unlike Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators, released for the Saturn a few months prior in 1995).

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
77 №51, p177
80 №172, p40
73 №41, p50
74 №50, p67
40 №4, p145
85 №42, p82/83
85 №61, p114
83 №77, p34/35
71 №4
86 №79, p10
62 №17, p84/85
Sega Saturn
74
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
77
[1]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
80
[2]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[3]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
73
[4]
Freak (IL)
88
[5]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
73
[6]
Joypad (FR) PAL
74
[7]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
70
[8]
Maximum (UK)
25
[9]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
70
[10]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
85
[11]
Next Generation (US)
50
[12]
Player One (FR)
85
[13]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
58
[14]
Sega News (CZ)
91
[15]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
83
[16]
Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)
95
[17]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
71
[18]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
60
[19]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
58
[20]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
86
[21]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
82
[22]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) PAL
62
[23]
Video Games (DE) PAL
69
[24]
Sega Saturn
72
Based on
24 reviews

True Pinball

Saturn, US
TruePinball Saturn US Box Back.jpgTruePinball Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Truepinball sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
TruePinball Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
TruePinball Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
TruePinball Saturn JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngTruePinball Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover