Sonic and pinball have been interlinked practically since the very beginning, with the blue blur’s ability to roll up into a ball being a perfect match for being flung around with flippers and bumpers. The Sega Genesis’ Sonic Spinball was the first game to focus entirely on that concept, however, and it’s been omnipresent in collections ever since.
November 23rd, 2023, will mark the spinoff’s 30th anniversary but the official Japanese Sonic Twitter account has gotten well ahead of the celebrations with a new piece of artwork based on an iconic part of the game. Check it out:
今月は発売から30周年を迎える『ソニックスピンボール』の記念イラストを公開✨
エッグマン基地の「ピンボール防衛システム」を突破し
ロボットにされた動物たちを救い出そう🔵💨最初のステージの、フリッパー下の沼に浮いているこのタルには、落下時に何度も助けられましたね…😅#ソニック pic.twitter.com/j5wuNSvVjz
— ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ【公式】 (@SonicOfficialJP) March 21, 2023
It’s likely to be a familiar sight for anyone who played Spinball – falling into the very first toxic pit in the game could drop you in a little metal bucket with nothing but an oar to sail yourself to safety.
Sonic Spinball is available to play now via the Sega Genesis app for Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack subscribers.
Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
