Mario Pinball Land

Fast-paced alternative to the real arcade with 3D graphics and challenging play for Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP

Mario makes his debut as a human pinball in a game that mixes all the action and adventure you've grown to expect from Mario with the fast-paced flipping excitement that pinball fans love. Nintendo went straight to the experts at the Professional Amateur Pinball Association to make it official: Mario Pinball Land packs all the excitement of a big bulky pinball machine right into your hands. Jacob, fifth-grader and reigning Pinball Junior World Champion called on his years of pinballing experience to give Nintendo his expert review of Mario's latest adventure. Jacob praises the 3D graphics and challenging game play, and recognized Mario Pinball Land as the best alternative when a traditional pinball machine is out of his reach. Just in time for the holidays, Mario Pinball Land is the perfect stocking stuffer; wherever the holidays take you, Mario Pinball Land will entertain Mario fans anytime, anywhere.

Pinball, a beloved arcade game with roots tracing back to the 18th-century French table game called "bagatelle," has evolved dramatically over the years to become a staple of modern gaming culture. The game took on its more recognizable form in the early 20th century in America, with companies like Gottlieb and Bally transforming it into a coin-operated entertainment machine featuring flippers, bumpers, and flashing lights. During the 1940s and 1950s, pinball faced legal challenges in various U.S. cities due to its association with gambling, but the invention of the flipper in 1947 helped shift its perception from a game of chance to a game of skill. The 1970s and 1980s marked the golden age of pinball, coinciding with the rise of video arcade games, and introduced iconic machines like "The Addams Family" and "Black Knight." While the advent of home video game consoles in the late 20th century led to a decline in arcade gaming, pinball has seen a resurgence in the 21st century, benefitting from technological advancements, passionate fan communities, and the rise of "barcades" that celebrate retro gaming. Today, pinball remains a captivating blend of art, engineering, and gameplay, continuing to thrill players of all ages.