Review:

I recently purchased a copy of Pokemon Pinball for the Gameboy Color. This game looks a lot better in color (if you don't believe me, look on the back of its box; it compares screen shots of it in and not in color). I think this game is great.

I'll start by explaining the cartridge. It has a Rumble Pak built right into it. The Pak is powered by a single AAA battery. You can't take the Pak out of the cartridge to use it with another game or something (I don't know why you would anyway since it wouldn't work).

When you start the game you can choose between three options; I'll explain them for you who own the illegal ROM but can't read Japanese. You can choose to start the game, look at your Pokedex, or toggle between options (this is where you can switch the rumble off or change controls).

When you start, you can choose between a red or blue table. They both have some different towns with some different Pokemon in each. You can play three bonus stages per table. In the red you can play the graveyard and Digglet stage. In the blue you can play the Meowth and Seel stage. And in both stages you can go to the Mewtwo stage (there is such a stage even though it doesn't say so in the instruction booklet, and it's difficult to get to).

I think this games worth buying. It gets a little boring after a while playing, but it's a cool game you can play over time. Something that I found cool is at some parts of the game, Pikachu actually says his name (just like in the TV show), it's like that in Pokemon Yellow too. I recommend buying this game, so go and do it!

Animated Pokémon

To animate Pokémon, go to the Pokédex and highlight one of the standard (or un-evolved) Pokémon. Then hold the Start button and watch it move!
Note: This only works for the Game Boy Color system.

Catch Pokémon Easily

To catch Pokémon easily, hit a Shledder or Voltorb when their shadow appears, then hold A or B to capture it!

Diglett Bonus Stage

To access the Diglett Stage easily, simply knock out the Digletts and let the Poké Ball roll along an already open flipper - then bat it with the other one!

Double your Prizes

To "double your prizes" simply do this. When you get the CAVE bonus DO NOT GO INTO THE HOLE! Light up the letters C A V E again. Now when you go into the "cave" you will get double the prizes! (e.g. When you get the ball saver bonus it's 60 sec. instead of 30 sec.) I did this trick about 4 times and it easily got me 1st place on the score board! Especially when I got the BIG bonus! Woah!!

Easier Way to get the CAVE Bonus

The hard way to get the CAVE bonus is this: Light up all four letters C A V E located at the bottom of the screen to open a hole in the middle of the board. The easy way is this: 1st Charge up Pikachu's kickback by doing a loop-de-loop around the outside of the board. It should hit a spinner which will cause it to spin, charging Pikach up. Then when the ball falls down to the bottom of the screen and bumps Pikachu. He will do a Pikachu kickback. At this time flip the flippers so that the blank spot is over Pikachu's head. You have to be quick so that the ball will go through the blank spot.

Easy Points

There are several ways of snagging millions of points in Pokémon Pinball! One way is to upgrade the Poké Ball to a Master Ball (by lighting up Evo lights) and then hitting the targets.
Another way is to choose a captured (and evolved) Pokémon, strip it of all of its items and experience, then whack the ball into the hole!

Evolving Pokemon

Red Field: Shoot the pokeball through the left outside loop. Each time you pass through the loop, one evolution arrow will light up. When all three arrows are lit up, shoot the ball into the Evolution cave. Then choose the pokemon you want to evolve.
For example, if you choose shellder, make the pokeball hit all three Water Stones then shoot the ball into the hole in the middle of the field.

Blue Field: Shoot the pokeball through the left loop. Each time the pokeball passes through the loop one evolution arrow will light up. When all three arrows are lit up shoot your ball into SLOWPOKE'S mouth. Then choose the pokemon you want to evolve.
For example, if you choose pikachu make the pokeball hit all three Thunder Stones then shoot the ball in the hole in the middle of the field.

Extra Poké Balls

To get additional Poké Balls, you must get a “CAVE” bonus. Thereafter, every 20th time the letters are lit, you will receive an additional ball!

Find the Rare Zapdos

To get Zapdos, the legendary bird of thunder, go to Lavendar Town on the Red game board. Make sure all of the arrows to the right loop are lit up and none are blinking(to light them up, shoot the pokeball through the right loop). Now, shoot into Bellsprout's mouth and there is a good chance that you will find a Zapdos.

Getting Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Master Ball

To get a Great, Ultra, or a Master ball you must light up the three lights at the top of either table. You do this by touching the little rectangles directly under the lights, and the lights can be moved with the A button, so you can go through the same rectangle and still go from a great ball to an ultra ball to a Master ball.

Getting Stones and Experience in the Evolution Stage Easier

To get stones and experience easier, just simply let you ball go down the drain if you have your saver on and let the ball when it shoots it back up, get the stone or experience for you.

How to Catch Venonat

To catch Venonat, go to Fushia City on the blue table and enter Catch'em Mode.

How to Catch Dragonair

To capture Dragonair, you'll first need to go to Saffron City and capture Evee. (Try and make her evolve three times.) Next, go to Cloyster and snag a pokémon. That pokémon will become Dragonar!

How to Catch Mew

After playing the MewTwo bonus stage three times, try to go to the Indigo Plateau. Mew will appear there, but although you can see him you still have to attack him over 50 times before he is captured.

Illuminate CAVE Lights Easily

The easiest way to illuminate CAVE lights is to rapidly tap the “Up-Tilt” button as the Poké Ball travels underneath the triangular-shaped bouncers. This will move lit CAVE lights out of the path of the ball, while putting unlit ones in their place.
Note: On the Red Table, when the Poké Ball is being launched, it helps to hold the right flipper up.

Mewtwo Bonus Stage

To get the Mewtwo bonus stage, play both bonus stages per table (ie Seel and Meowth stages on the blue table, Gengar and Diglett on red.) The next bonus stage will be Mewtwo's stage.

Moving Pokémon in the Pokédex

To get the moving Pokémon in the Pokédex select to an unevolved Pokémon or basic Pokémon then press start. Then you can see the Pokémon move. This only works for basic Pokémon.

Pokedex Counter

Go to your Pokedex and press SELECT. This will show you how many pokemon you have and how many you've seen. (The ones you have seen in your pokedex are shadows.)

Predict which way the arrow is pointing in Blue Field

If you want to find out which way the arrow is pointing in Blue Field(into Cloyster's mouth, Slowpoke's mouth, up, or down) then look at the 3 arrows underneath the pathway to the top of the board. If the arrow pointing to the left is lit, it will soon point to Slowpoke. If the arrow to the right is blinking, it will soon point to Cloyster. If the middle arrow is lit, it is either pointing up or down.

Hint: if you want to make sure that it will go into Slowpoke's/Cloyster's mouth, light all the arrows on either side by putting it through the loop.

Red Field Evolution

Having trouble hitting the ball up the outer left loop 4 times? Try this trick: Whenever the ball is initially released into the field(when a new ball is sent or your ball is saved), the ball will bounce up near the edge of the right flipper. While the ball is in limbo, shake the field left(Down on the D-Pad) 4 times; once while the ball is rising, once at the peak, and twice on the way down. Hit the ball with the right flipper as soon as it is in range(the tip of the flipper will strike the ball), and it will always go up the outer left loop. Finally, there's a use for the Ball Saver on the slots!

Another useful method is to stop the ball and hold it with the left flipper up. While the ball is still, it will spin counter-clockwise. Now, release and immediately hit the left flipper; the ball should roll a pixel or two down the flipper before shooting straight up the Evolution Lane. The timing is difficult, but with practice these two tricks will allow you to evolve pokemon at your leisure.

Revive Tired Pokémon

While in the Evolution mode, your pokémon may become "tired". To revive them, just hit the ball through one of the loops!

Slot Effects List

Here is a list of the different effects of the slot bonus:

Small- get a 100-900 point bonus
Big- get a 1,000,000-9,000,000 point bonus
Ball Saver- turns the ball saver on under your flippers
Ball Upgrade- you ball upgrades one level
Bonus Multiplier-the number shown will be added to your bonus multiplier
EvoModeStart- starts the evolution mode
Twin Pikachus- gives you left and right pikachu kickback till you loose your ball
Extra Ball(rare)- gives you one extra ball
GoToBonus- proceed to a bonus stage

Special Evolution Bonus

To get the special evolution bonus:
You must get into the evolution mode.
You must get the menu and select a pokemon that has a star.
Go through the whole evoultion process.
After you "evolve" the pokemon you will get a special evoulution bonus worth 10,000,000.

Special Stages

In order to get a special stage you have to catch three pokemon in one place.
For example: If you catch Pikachu, Pidgey, and another Pidgey in Viridian forest, without getting a "game over", or switching to somewhere then back again, a hole will appear saying "Go To BONUS". Go in and you will be in the stage.

The Red field Bonus Stage is Diglett's Cave and the Blue field Bonus Stage is Meowth's House.

Where to find Pokemon

Each Pokemon has a preferred hiding spot. HEre's where to find many of them.

RED FIELD

Pallet Town: Charmander, Rattata, Nidoran (M), & Poliwag.
Viridan Forest: Weedle, Pidgey, & Pikachu.
Pewter City: Spearow, Jigglypuff, Ekans, & Magikarp.
Cerulean City: Oddish, Mankey, Jynx, & Abra.
Vermilion City Seaside: Shellder, Krabby, Ekans, & Farfetch'D.
Rock Mountain: Voltorbe, Diglett, & Mr.Mime.
Lavender Town: Gastly, Magnemite, Cubone, & Electabuzz.
Cycling Road: Spearow, Doduo, Lickitung, & Snorlax.
Safari Zone: Paras, Rhyhorn, & Chansey.
Seafoam Islands: Horsea, Staryu, Seel, & Articuno.
Cinnabar Island: Ponyta, Growlithe, Omanyte, & Kabuto.
Indigo Plateau: Machop, Onix, & Ditto.
BLUE FIELD

Viridan City: Squirtle, Nidoran (M), & Bulbasaur.
Viridian Forest: Caterpie, Rattata, & Pikachu.
Mt.Moon: Zubat, Paras, & Clefairy.
Cerulean City: Bellsprout, Meowth, Jynx, & Abra.
Vermilion City Streets: Shellder, Krabby, Farfetch'D, & Sandshrew.
Rock Mountain: Diglet, Voltorbe, & Mr.Mime.
Celadon City: Mankey, Meowth, Eevee, & Porygon.
Fuchsia City: Magikarp, Goldeen, Kangashan, & Exeggcute.
Safari Zone: Doduo, Nidoran (F), & Chansey.
Saffron City: Ekans, Sandshrew, Hitmonchan, & Hitmonlee.
Cinnabar Island: Ponyta, Koffing, Aerodactyl, & Magmar.
Indingo Plateau: Geodude, Ditto, Moltres, & Mewtwo
Note: There are more Pokémon in each area but those are the ones you will find most often.