Introduction

Well, we are back readers. Not too long ago I reviewed developer Azimuth Studio’s demo of A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad (you can read the review here if you want to see if anything’s changed) and now we return once more. Now almost ready for a full release—as of this review it hasn’t yet launched on Steam—I wanted to return to this blood-pressure-inducing pinball game and see if anything has changed. While the core of the demo remains intact, some changes have been made and for the most part they’re quite welcome. Here’s my review of A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad for the PC. Thank you to Azimuth Studios for the opportunity to review your anger-inducing game.

Gameplay

Assuming you didn’t read the demo review, A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is pretty easy to explain. A fusion of pinball, puzzle, and physics gameplay, your goal is simple on paper: guide your “ball” — with a human inside of it—into the end goal. Simple… so simple… right? Nope. This is a puzzle game for a reason, and the title explains exactly how you’ll feel while playing it.

Using classic pinball mechanics like paddles, bumpers, and even the ability to shake the “table,” you need to get your ball man through each level. Unfortunately, as easy as it sounds, the boards are far from forgiving. You’ll need timed hits, light movements, and a bit of luck to progress. There are several ways to play A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad. You can play it in the classic mode where—like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy—there are no checkpoints or retries. One wrong move, and you’re starting over.

However, what makes this version less rage-inducing are two optional settings. There’s a checkpoint system that provides set respawn points, and a skip system that automatically moves you forward if you’re stuck on a checkpoint for more than 10 minutes. Sure, these may sound like “easy mode,” but as someone who gets mad at games like this… I turned both on without hesitation.

A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad also includes its strange random buttons once again. There’s a jumpscare button where a man in a hat screams at you. The “lemon button” exists solely so he can say… lemon. You can speed up or slow down the game. There’s even an explosion button that feels ripped out of a Twitch extension. These buttons don’t change much—aside from the time modifiers—but they at least chip away at your frustration.

As you play, you’ll unlock different ball skins and new worlds (one of the three worlds will release later, so there are two for now), giving some incentive to push through failure. Personally, this isn’t my strongest genre, but I can absolutely see the appeal of failing repeatedly until you finally nail that perfect sequence.

Graphics

If you ever imagined what the word “random” would look like in visual form, A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad answers that question. This is not a triple-A game with a massive graphics budget. Like Getting Over It, its visuals embrace randomness. Cows floating in space. Strange colorful backdrops. Oddities everywhere. It works for what it’s trying to be, but it’s definitely not the most visually appealing game on a screen.

Sound

I wasn’t expecting much in the audio department—something I mentioned in my original demo review. A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad isn’t about epic OSTs or memorable tracks. It’s meant to be calming while you’re busy throwing your controller at a wall. The highlight here is the narration, which mixes sarcastic humor with randomness. I also love that you can hear the developer talk about why he made the game. It’s a nice personal touch.

Overall Impression

A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad will absolutely make some players mad—even if the developer insists that wasn’t the goal. The title is, at least, honest. Puzzle and pinball fans will likely enjoy attempting to clear each world without using assists, while others will treat the game exactly as intended: a quirky homage to Getting Over It. That’s perfectly fine.

Conclusion

In the end, A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad still retains the same score I gave it for the demo—which isn’t a bad thing by any means. I like games like this when I just need to kill some time, and I’m sure Twitch streamers or YouTubers will have plenty of laughs with their audiences while playing it. As a game, A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is simple, and that’s why I can’t give it a radically higher score. Yes, it’s fun—and a bit angering—but it’s a very straightforward pinball puzzle game that rarely deviates from its initial mechanics. Still, if you love games like this or Getting Over It, you’ll love A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad.

—Aaron