Zen Pinball 2: Venom (PS4) Review

A more skillful pinball table.

Zen Studios is back once again with a new Marvel table, this time having the alien symbiote, Venom, taking on the webcrawler Spider-Man, and occasionally Carnage. With a more advanced set of rules and more tricky shots, the new Venom table provides a higher challenge, while still providing a really fun pinball experience.

The table is sectioned off into two main parts – the lower part feels cramped at times, and requires some precise shots to launch the ball into the other section, the top part. The top part is where many of the missions take place. Throwing the ball through certain lanes will release Carnage from his cage, and both Venom and Spidey will have to hold him off. There is also a smaller mini-game type table where players must send the ball into wall buttons for a jail break. When Carnage is not in play, Venom and Spider-Man are facing off.

The design is slick.

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Wii U, Vita
MSRP: $2.99
Price I’d pay: $2.99
Multiplayer: Online tournaments.

Goo man hates sounds.

The upper part of the table is more open than the bottom, but using the upper flippers takes some quick reflexes. Doing so will result in higher multipliers when Venom and Spider-Man battle. Hitting certain areas like ringing the bell tower or starting a fire will force Venom to move to other sections of the table.

The bottom part is where the multiball comes into play. Players must hit covers of a ball lock to then shoot the ball into the locks of the black Spider-Man suit. Once done, the multiball will commence. There is also a ball saving lock at the top of the table that is slightly difficult to hit, but if done correctly, will result in a ball save if one ever does lose one to a drop lane.

It’s tingling.

One of the cooler parts of the table is the Spider Sense. When the ball does go into the far drop lanes, that doesn’t mean players have lost the ball just yet. If they have fast enough reflexes, they can tilt the table as the ball goes over the Spider Sense icon and the ball will be put back into play. It is a split second shot, but if pulled off correctly, it can save the ball. It also makes me feel like a badass to actually get it.

Pow! Right in the kisser.

The other thing that got me about many of the offerings in the Zen Pinball universe is how annoying many of the tables’ music and sounds are. The Venom table has some of the best voices and music I have heard since the format came to the PS4. I actually enjoyed the sounds and music this time around, which was the opposite of the South Park tables.

While I enjoyed this table very much, it did take some getting used to. Usually the Zen Pinball tables are a breeze to understand and play, but this Venom table is one exception. It will take some skill to get everything down, but when you do, you’ll see it is one of the better tables to have come out in months. I highly suggest it, but at the same time need to warn people: you’ll need to practice this table before hitting those high scores.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Complex table that rewards skill
  • Great music and sounds
Bad
  • Takes some getting used to
9
Excellent
Written by
Drew is the Community Manager here at ZTGD and his accent simply woos the ladies. His rage is only surpassed by the great one himself and no one should stand between him and his Twizzlers.