Developer: Compile Publisher: NEC Release: 10/90 Genre: Pinball
Alien Crush alongside Pinball Quest made me a fan of video game pinball. By its nature a video game can never replicate the tactile feeling of pinball table. But they can offer an experience that is similar. Alien Crush and its Sci-Fi theme went a long way toward engaging me as a player off its look alone. But it also nails the ball physics which is half the battle when it comes to pinball. Devil’s Crush and its fantasy theme is a marked improvement in almost every way and one of my favorite games on the system.
Devil’s Crush is the second in a loose trilogy of pinball games by Compile. The third in the series, Jaki Crush, is a Japanese exclusive so is obscure. Devil’s Crush is probably the most popular by virtue of its improved Sega Genesis port under the name Dragon’s Fury. It was so popular it would receive its own sequel, Dragon’s Revenge. Personally I like fantasy more than science fiction so this one was right up my alley. It also helps that the table is better than its predecessor. This one remains a rocking good time if you are a fan of the genre.
The primary table has three levels rather than two. Instead of switching when ascending or descending a level the screen scrolls to follow the ball. Each level has its own flippers, background embellishment and unique bumpers that present specific challenges. These present plenty of opportunities to boost your score and look cool too. The level of activity at any moment is higher than most pinball games of the time. Hitting a casket shaped bumper will spawn a gaggle of demons that easily killed for points but might send the ball ricocheting out of your control. If you reach the uppermost level you can clear a wheel of to temporarily access point zones. The most unique element and what most remember is the female warrior on the second level. Her face gradually becomes demonic when hit but is also an entrance to one of the game’s awesome bonus stages.
Aside from looking cool the bonus stages are the key to racking up high scores in the hundreds of millions. If you complete one not only do you get a massive score boost you also become a blue ball. The blue ball doubles your points until death and together with your bonus point multiplier is the fastest way to beating your previous best. But it gets even better. Clearing a bonus round with a blue ball nets you a 4x multiplier! This feat is absurdly difficult to manage but worth it if you are competing against friends or want to max out the scoreboard and see the end of the game. Earning the maximum 999999990 points sounds like a tall task. But with the various multipliers it is actually possible to achieve in a little over an hour. Of course building the skill to do so takes longer than that.
Devil’s Crush is an extremely difficult game. That is expected considering the random nature of pinball. Regardless of speed setting the ball can still swing wildly out of your control. The game almost plays itself. You can exert some measure of control by being careful with your aim. But truthfully that only goes so far. It is soul crushing to see a near perfect run end due to chance, and while it is part of the game it still sucks. I wish it were easier to access the upper portion of the table as the layout of the second layer makes this difficult. Accessing some of the bonus stages (namely 2 & 3) is random; it gets repetitive playing the same ones but now I am nitpicking. Regardless of your goal (points or seeing the ending) there is plenty of fun despite the tough challenge.
In Closing
Devil’s Crush is a fantastic game and one of the better pinball games on console. With its fantastic presentation, setting, and design Devil’s Crush has a lot to offer and is always good for a quick run at a high score. Even though Dragon’s Fury is the better version of the game in my opinion Devil’s Crush remains an excellent game in its own right. You cannot go wrong with Devil’s Crush and it remains a bright spot in the system’s limited US library.
