Zen Pinball 2 - "A Three Console Comparison"

I've not said this before, but Zen Studios' Zen Pinball tables were one of the first arcade game experiences that I spent money on. Back in the day, before Sony's unfortunate hacking incident, and before "OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno" was a thing I spent massive amounts of time playing the first set of MARVEL tables. I loved the Wolverine tribute table as well as the other Marvel superhero themed tables that Zen Studios had created. I even took advantage of the core set offerings as well as the occasional free table that was gifted to the public. To say Zen Pinball was merely a fun experience would be a complete understatement on anyone's behalf. Even in my early days on the PS3 I could tell that Zen Studios had something special going on. Later on when I finally became the gaming journalist you know me as I gained the privilege to play tables before their release, and even shared my findings with you. It was definitely a dream come true.

As the years have passed, and my library of Zen Studios pinball tables have grown in number I found significant differences in the various console versions. Currently as it stands I have in my possession three Playstation consoles, each with 'Zen Pinball 2' installed. The three consoles I'm speaking of are the last-gen PS3, the current-gen PS4, and the recently introduced PS Vita. While all the console versions of Zen Pinball 2 offer fun on basically the same tables there are some subtle, and not so subtle differences among the offerings.

When it comes to the PS3 version of "Zen Pinball 2" you'll find that it has the largest Zen Studios pinball table library of all. Zen Studios has committed several years worth of time, effort, and money to bring to the table experiences worthy of a gamers' collection to the convenience of your home. Everything from the graphic presentation to the sound quality are top notch in this version of the game. In fact I go so far as to say that they still hold their own against the newer PS4 offerings. While the the tables, and menu system might be a slight downgrade in comparison to the PS4 I still think the PS3 tables are worthy of adding to your game library. With that being said though there is one downside to the PS3 Zen Pinball 2 experience. Even though it is an offline/online game you'll find that your connection speed plays a crucial role in how well your total score will end up being. On occasion ball physics seem to lose touch with reality, and the ball's gravity, and direction will do unspeakably horrible things to your potential scoring efforts. I've seen it happen on several different occasions, especially when my PC was in the midst of a download/upload. Other than that unfortunate thing the game remains awesome.

Now that current-gen/next-gen consoles have made their way onto the scene we are privileged to experience yet another iteration of the Zen Pinball 2 legacy. While the graphics, and visuals are worlds better than their PS3 predecessor this copycat collection of tables does have it's noticeable pros & cons. Among the more positive aspects you'll find that the gameplay is more smooth, and that with the complimentary PS4 controller getting the pinball to do exactly what you want is a super easy, and fluid task. It makes the Zen Pinball 2 experience greater than it has ever been before. On the downside of things though you will find that getting the PS4 version of the game to recognize the fact that you have downloaded the full free tables is an uphill battle. To this day I cannot for the life of me figure out how to delete a PS4 DLC download, so that I can re-install the ones that did not show up. It is an unnecessary hassle that is in no way Zen Studios' fault though. Another downer lies with the limited library of tables available in the PS4 version of the game. Due to Sony's strict limitations Zen Studios had to choose a certain number of tables from their impressive last-gen selection. I felt this was an injustice to all of us diehard Zen Pinball 2 fans who had invested time, and money into getting the best stats, and scores possible. Once again though this is not Zen Studios' fault.

Lastly we have the PS Vita version of Zen Pinball 2. As one might imagine the menu system in this bad boy has been downsized greatly in comparison to the PS3, and PS4 versions. Things had to be simplified in order to fit all the necessary content in the smaller file sizes. Thankfully though the graphics, and visuals are still up there with their PS3, and PS4 counterparts. The tables on this small screened gaming device look, and respond just as great, if not better than the other versions. One thing I really liked about the PS Vita version of Zen Pinball 2, other than it's portable nature was the fact that the bumper button based gameplay felt amazing. The flippers responded quickly, and made scoring an easier task than it has been in any other version to date. I could literally see myself besting my top PS3, and PS4 highscores on the PS Vita. It is that responsive. For those of you looking for Zen Pinball 2 goodness on the go then this version is a must have! While the menu system has been downsized the available table collection still compare to that of the PS3. You'll even find some freebies amongst the lot to get you started properly.

In the end it's a hard decision to make, but there is one definitive version that outplays the others, and that gives you more bang for your buck. That version, of course is none other than "Zen Pinball 2" on the PS Vita! As I mentioned earlier the flipper responsiveness rivals even the offerings of next-gen's PS4. The fact that the table library is more comparable to the PS3's version of Zen Pinball 2 than the PS4 version only further serves to prove my point. Add the additional free tables, and you have a quality experience that is worth your time, and if you dare to spend more, worth your money as well. I highly suggest that whatever console you might have in your possession you choose to invest some time, and money in this amazing arcade style pinball experience. You will not be disappointed if you do!