Dream Pinball 3D

Dream Pinball 3D is a pinball simulation game developed by TopWare Interactive and published by SouthPeak Games for Microsoft Windows, first released online in 2006, and then ported to Wii and Nintendo DS in 2008. Dream Pinball 3D features six tables to play on, each with a distinct theme, including a medieval table, an aquatic table, a monsters (zombies and vampires mostly) table, and a dinosaurs table. Apart from the different visual styles, each of these tables pose a different challenge because of their varying flipper, ramp, and bumper positions.^[4]

Dream Pinball 3D
European Wii cover art for Dream Pinball 3D
Developer(s)	A. S. K. Homework RuneSoft (Mac)
Publisher(s)	GER: Zuxxez Entertainment (PC) WW: SouthPeak Games
Platform(s)	Windows, Wii, Nintendo DS, iOS, Mac OS X
Release	Windows GER: September 2006[1] NA: February 12, 2008 EU: February 2008 AU: April 2008 Wii NA: April 22, 2008 EU: May 16, 2008 AU: May 22, 2008 Nintendo DS NA: April 24, 2008 AU: April 2008 EU: June 27, 2008 iOS WW: July 18, 2012 Mac OS X/OS X GER: August 15, 2008[2] WW: December 3, 2012[3]
Genre(s)	Pinball
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Windows screenshot of Dream Pinball 3D - displaying the 'Monsters' pinball table.

As in the majority of pinball simulation video games - the objective is to gain as many points as possible by hitting the correct bumpers and obstacles. Bonuses included - point multipliers and extra lives - they are gained by hitting particularly hard shots. The games also features six different pinball materials - such as gold and steel - which affects the ball's physics.

The Windows version features an online high score list - in which the player can compare their performance with others. The Wii version can either be played with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, with controls similar to Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection released a few months prior, or just the Wii Remote itself turned on its side for classic control.^[5] The Nintendo DS version is played entirely with buttons, with the D-pad being used to nudge the table.^{[citation needed]} The top screen is used to represent the table's backglass, limiting the main dynamic camera view of the table to the touch screen.^[6]

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	DS	PC	Wii
Metacritic	56/100[7]	61/100[8]	54/100[9]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	DS	PC	Wii
GamesMaster	49%[10]	N/A	N/A
GameZone	N/A	N/A	3/10[11]
IGN	6.5/10[6]	5.1/10[12]	5.1/10[13]
NGamer	N/A	N/A	50%[14]
PC Format	N/A	79%[15]	N/A
PC Gamer (UK)	N/A	77%[16]	N/A
PC Gamer (US)	N/A	38%[17]	N/A
PC Zone	N/A	70%[18]	N/A

The DS, PC and Wii versions received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[7][8][9]

Sequel

Five years after the game's initial retail release, TopWare Interactive released a sequel to the game, Dream Pinball 3D II, in Europe, targeting next-generation Nintendo platforms, as well as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, it was only known to be available on Wii U and Xbox 360.^{[citation needed]}