Originally released on Sega Genesis, Dino Land is a forgotten pinball game re-released by the dedicated team at Ratalaika Games and Shinyuden. For those not aware, Ratalaika has been re-releasing many 16-bit games recently including the Aero games, Scurge Hive, Final Zone, the Cyber Citizen Shockman titles, Rider’s Spirit, Moto Roader, and many more. On top of that, the original games they release are mostly retro-inspired and I personally am a big fan.
Until I read the press release, I never heard of Dino Land as I was a Nintendo kid, but I am happy I had to chance to play this hidden gem. It only costs $6 too.
What makes Dino Land a quality pinball title? First, it has a unique theme – dinosaurs. Mixing chibi dinos with highly interactive pinball tables merges much better than expected. However, this theme would not work as well as it does if it was not for thoughtful table design. With tons of interactivity, ramps to slide, and secrets to trigger, there is always something to target. Aiming shots are important in any pinball game, sure, but even more so here because focusing on certain areas is the only way to access additional tables and the boss battles. After playing for a while, noticing subtle clues is the only indicator of how to access this additional content (which I won’t spoil here as it will ruin the fun). Just know that each table is also vastly different than the last, offering plenty of variety.
This re-release follows the same template as most of the games listed above. Meaning, welcomed emulation features are included and are quite useful. In addition to accessing save states, the rewind feature is a godsend here as lost balls can be a thing of the past. Further, the cheats menu allows players to eliminate frustration thanks to unlimited balls and having access to turn the ball into a dinosaur at any time. What does this mean? With the press of a button, the ball transforms into a dinosaur and the player can move around the board like a top-down Zelda game, activating triggers by bumping into them. This is actually a really thoughtful gameplay mechanic and wish more pinball games did this as it allows the player to explore and appreciate the details of each board.
As fun as Dino Land is, there are a couple things to note. First, the ball physics are a little jerky. The chopping animation can make hitting those high angle shots, for example, more difficult than it should be. Thankfully, it gets easier once you get the feel for it. Secondly, the boss battles are virtually impossible. Unless there is some trick I am not aware of, I have no clue how to beat any of the bosses. Thing is, the boss isn’t the focus, it is the minion. As soon as the boss room is initiated, a little creature starts walking toward your captured dino friend at the top of the screen. Within just a few seconds, this minion kidnaps the stranded dino companion and the boss fight exits. All this happens within maybe five seconds and there is never enough time to even realize what is happening let alone hit the minion enough times. After many attempts, I was able to defeat the first boss due to luck as my first shot got stuck on the minion and killed him just before reaching the dino. I was unable to replicate this for the second and third stages though, preventing me from finishing the game even with the cheats activated.
While not a perfect pinball game, it still is a genuinely fun one. Plus, the inclusion of box art and manual scans helps provide some historical context for this overlooked sleeper hit. The soundtrack is also good and fits the pleasant gameplay well. If it wasn’t for the dedicated work of Ratalaika and Shinyuden, I probably would have never known about this game. So I encourage you to wishlist it because it is filled with simple retro charm that will literally put a smile on your face.
SCORE: 8/10
Also Play: Kirby’s Pinball Land (GB) or Pinball (NES)
Don’t Forget About: Alien’s Crush and Devil’s Crush (TG16)
Wait For It: Galactic Pinball on the upcoming Switch Virtual Boy app
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
X/Twitter: @ZackGaz
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