Editing Sonic Pinball Party

{{Tab
|title1 = Main page
|tab2   = Staff     |title2 = Credits
|tab3   = Gallery
|bg     = browntab
}}
{{Infobox video game
|image         = SPP GBA US.jpg
|developer     = 
*[[Sonic Team]]
*Jupiter
|publisher     = 
*[[Sega]] {{C|JP/NA}}
*[[Wikipedia:THQ|THQ]] {{C|EU/AU}}
|producer      = 
*[[Yuji Naka]]
*Hatao Ogata
|designer      = 
*[[Sachiko Kawamura]]
*Kazuko Ito
*[[Makoto Yonezu]]
*Hiroshi Tanigawa
*Tomoki Miyazaki
*Naomi Sanada
*Yoshihisa Watanabe
|composer      = 
*[[Tatsuyuki Maeda]]
*[[Teruhiko Nakagawa]]
*[[Yutaka Minobe]]
|released      = {{release|JP=17 July 2003<ref name="JP Release">{{Cite web |title=ソニック ピンボール パーティー |url=http://sega.jp/gba/sonicpp/ |publisher=[[Sega|Sega (JP)]] |language=Japanese |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20031203202319/http://sega.jp/gba/sonicpp/ |archivedate=3 December 2003 |accessdate=26 April 2023}}</ref>|NA=27 May 2003<ref name="US Release">{{Cite web |title=Sonic Pinball Party (GBA) |url=http://www.nintendo.com/games/gamepage/gamepage_main.jsp?gameId=1695 |publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo (US)]] |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030814023552/http://www.nintendo.com/games/gamepage/gamepage_main.jsp?gameId=1695 |archivedate=14 August 2003 |accessdate=26 April 2023}}</ref>|EU=31 October 2003}}
|genre         = Pinball
|modes         = Single-player, multiplayer
|ratings       = {{Vgrating|ESRB=E|PEGI=3+|CERO=All Ages|ACB=G}}
|platforms     = *[[Game Boy Advance]]
*[[Nintendo DS]] (backwards compatable)
|media         = 8MB ROM cartridge
}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Sonic Pinball Party'''''|ソニック ピンボール パーティー|Sonikku Pinbōru Pātī}} is a pinball-themed video game in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]] released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2003. Developed by Jupiter and [[Sonic Team]], the game is a spin-off title featuring references to other games developed by Sonic Team. ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', ''[[Wikipedia:Nights into Dreams|Nights into Dreams]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Samba de Amigo]]'' are the most prominent franchises featured, along with characters from ''[[Wikipedia:Burning Rangers|Burning Rangers]]'', ''[[Wikipedia:Phantasy Star Online|Phantasy Star Online]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:ChuChu Rocket!|ChuChu Rocket!]]''.

''Sonic Pinball Party'' contains three pinball boards along with different multiplayer modes and mini-games. Like many ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' titles on the Game Boy Advance, ''Sonic Pinball Party'' also contains the [[Tiny Chao Garden]].

==Plot==
[[File:Title-Screen-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|thumb|left|225px|The title screen of the ''Sonic Pinball Party''.]]
The Story Mode of ''Sonic Pinball Party'' is set right after [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]'s previous attempt to take over the [[Earth|world]] which was foiled by [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. Taking place in [[Casinopolis]], numerous [[Animals]] visiting the place are being kidnapped by Dr. Eggman and transformed into his [[Badnik|robotic slaves]]. In addition, the doctor has brainwashed [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] and [[Amy Rose|Amy]] into serving him. To defeat Eggman's plans, Sonic enters the pinball tournament dubbed the [[Egg Cup Tournament]].

Sonic manages to defeat [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] in the first match and restores Tails and Amy to normal after beating them during the second and semi-final matches. He then defeats [[Metal Sonic]] in the final match, only for Dr. Eggman to enter and challenge Sonic to an extra match. In the end, Sonic wins after the fifth match, defeats Eggman and rescues all the Animals.

==Gameplay==
''Sonic Pinball Party'' is a pinball video game with the objective being to earn as many [[point]]s as possible. During both the Story and Arcade Modes of the game, the player starts each match with three pinballs, each one shot onto the playfield from the [[Pinball Shooter|plunger]]. When the pinball rolls into the hole on the bottom of the table, the player loses a ball and must try again with another. Losing all three pinballs ends the pinball match. Much like in ''[[Sonic Spinball]]'', the player can control each pinball on the table using the two [[Flipper]]s set on the lower part of the table or the lone Flipper placed in the upper right side of the table. The player can also shake the pinball table in three directions. With these methods, the player can make the pinball sling and hit one of pinball tables' targets in order to rack up points.

Story Mode features five different matches, while the basic goal of Arcade Mode is simply to rack up points until the player has run out of balls. Depending on how well the player performs in the Arcade mode, his/her best scores can be listed in the Rankings. [[Ring]]s/Blue Chips collected in either Story or Arcade Mode can be used to purchase [[Chao Egg]]s and similar objects in the [[Tiny Chao Garden]] or as currency to stake in some of the minigames.

===Controls===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Button formation
!Action
|-
|{{A Button (GBA)}}
|[[Pinball Shooter|Plunger]]
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} left
|Tilt left [[Flipper]]s
|-
|{{A Button (GBA)}}
|Tilt right [[Flipper]]s
|-
|{{L Button (GBA)}}
|Tilt left
|-
|{{R Button (GBA)}}
|Tilt right
|-
|{{B Button (GBA)}}
|Tilt up
|-
|'''START'''
|Pause
|}

===Story Mode matches===
In the Story Mode of ''Sonic Pinball Party'', [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] has to face five different opponents, each with different [[point]] requirements to clear their match. Running out of time or losing all balls before reaching the point requirement returns the player to the title screen. The player's progress in the Story Mode will be saved after winning a match. Following matches and tips for clearing them are:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Match
!Image
!Description
|-
|'''1st Match'''
|[[File:Sonic-VS-Knuckles-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|150px]]
|[[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] challenges [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] to collect 10,000,000 [[point]]s on the [[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] table, starting at Neo Green Hill Zone. Completing the first match unlocks the [[Samba de Amigo (Sonic Pinball Party)|Samba de Amigo]] table.
|-
|'''2st Match'''
|[[File:Sonic-VS-Tails-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|150px]]
|The challenge ordered by the brainwashed [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] involves collecting 15,000,000 [[point]]s in 5 minutes on the [[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] table, starting at Casino Paradise Zone. Completing the second match unlocks the Slots minigame in Casinopolis mode.
|-
|'''Semifinal Match'''
|[[File:Sonic-VS-Amy-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|150px]]
|The challenge ordered by the brainwashed [[Amy Rose|Amy]] involves defeating [[w:c:nid:Gillwing|Gillwing]] on the [[Nights (Sonic Pinball Party)|Nights]] table. Completing the third match unlocks the Bingo minigame in Casinopolis mode.
|-
|'''Final Match'''
|[[File:Sonic-VS-Metal-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|150px]]
|[[Metal Sonic]] challenges [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] to clear first seven stages of the [[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] table.
|-
|'''Extra Match'''
|[[File:Sonic-VS-DrEggman-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|150px]]
|Suddenly, [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] enters the event and challenges [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] to collect 30,000,000 [[point]]s in five minutes on the [[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] table. Eggman begins the match with a 200,000 point head start, where the player has to collect at least 30,000,000 points within the time limit. Clearing the match makes the credits roll.
|}

==Pinball tables==
''Sonic Pinball Party'' contains three different pinball tables, each with their own set of rules, targets and settings. However, only [[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] and [[Nights (Sonic Pinball Party)|Nights]] are available at the outset. The Sonic and Nights tables have number of stages that the player can progress through by activating and completing different modes. All stages have the same pinball table layout with only aesthetic differences. The goal in [[Samba de Amigo (Sonic Pinball Party)|Samba de Amigo]] table is to finish each song with an A [[rank]].

The player has to fulfill certain tasks on the pinball table in order to activate different modes, including knocking down [[Bumper]]s multiple times, [[Drop Target]]s, getting through loop lanes multiple times or flinging the ball into one of the active holes.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!'''[[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]]'''
!'''[[Nights (Sonic Pinball Party)|Nights]]'''
!'''[[Samba de Amigo (Sonic Pinball Party)|Samba de Amigo]]'''
|-
|[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-Sonic-Table.png|center|200px]]
|[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-NiGHTS-Table.png|center|195px]]
|[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-Samba-de-Amigo-Table.png|center|235px]]
|}

===Gimmicks and obstacles===
====Sonic====
[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-Sonic-Table-Terms.png|thumb|180px|[[Sonic (Sonic Pinball Party)|Sonic]] table with object markings (''For full size, click the image'').]]

{|
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*1. [[Pinball Shooter|Plunger]]
*2. [[Flipper]]s
*3. [[Badnik|Enemy]]
*4. Return lane
*5. [[Sling Shot]]s
*6. Rollover lights
*7. Final Zone light
*8. Zone lights
*9. Lock hole light
*10. Ball Lock hole
*11. Zone [[Drop Target]]s
*12. Feature Hole light
*13. Egg Loop light
*14. Right ramp lane light
*15. Right ramp lane
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*16. Big Target Hole light
*17. Big Target Hole
*18. Center ramp lane light
*19. Center ramp lane
*20. Chao A Hole
*21. Chao B Hole light
*22. Chao B Hole
*23. Left ramp lane light
*24. Stock and Free lights
*25. Left ramp lane
*26. Ring Loop light
*27. [[Bumper]]s
*28. Field Multiplier
*29. Feature Hole
|}

====Nights====
[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-NiGHTS-Table-Terms.png|thumb|160px|[[Nights (Sonic Pinball Party)|Nights]] table with object markings (''For full size, click the image'').]]
{|
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*1. [[Pinball Shooter|Plunger]]
*2. Cannon
*3. [[Flipper]]s
*4. Return lane
*5. [[Sling Shot]]s
*6. Rollover lights
*7. Final Stage light
*8. Stage lights
*9. MAP [[Drop Target]]s
*10. [[w:c:nid:Nightmarens|Enemy]]
*11. Ideya Capture hole
*12. Outside ramp lane
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*13. Spinner
*14. Ideya Palace lights
*15. Ideya Palace
*16. ECN [[Drop Target]]s
*17. DRMY lights
*18. DRMY loop/Para loop
*19. Symbol hole
*20. Enemy hole
*21. Pian hole
*22. Inside Ramp lane
*23. Lock hole
*24. Chip loop/lights
|}

====Samba de Amigo====
[[File:Sonic-Pinball-Party-Samba-de-Amigo-Table-Terms.png|thumb|160px|[[Samba de Amigo (Sonic Pinball Party)|Samba de Amigo]] table with object markings (''For full size, click the image'').]]
{|
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*1. [[Pinball Shooter|Plunger]]
*2. [[Flipper]]s
*3. Out lane
*4. [[Sling Shot]]s
*5. Fever lights
*6. Right side loop light
*7. Right side loop
*8. Left side loop light
*9. Left side loop
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*10. Right ramp lane light
*11. Right ramp lane
*12. Left ramp lane light
*13. Left ramp lane
*14. Palmtrees
*15. Song Play hole
*16. [[Bumper]]s
*17. [[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Pose]]
|}

==Characters==
===Non-playable characters===
{|
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Amiga]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Amigo]]
*[[Amy Rose]]
*[[Animals]]
**[[Deer]]
**[[Elephant]]
**[[Flicky]]
**[[Gorilla]]
**[[Kangaroo]]
**[[Lion]]
**[[Parrot]]
**[[Peacock]]
**[[Penguin]]
**[[Rabbit]]
**[[Robin]]
**[[Seal]]
**[[Sea Otter]]
**[[Skunk]]
*[[w:c:phantasystar:Ash Canaan|Ash Canaan]] {{Cameo}}
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[w:c:phantasystar:Bernie|Bernie]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Burning Rangers|Big Landman]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Bingo]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Bongo]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Chao]]
**[[Dark Chao]]
**[[Hero Chao]]
**[[Cheese]]
*[[Wikipedia:Burning Rangers|Chris Partn]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Chumba]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:ChuChu Rocket!|ChuChus]] {{Cameo}}
*[[w:c:nights:Claris Sinclair|Claris Sinclair]]
*[[Cream the Rabbit]]
*[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]
*[[w:c:nights:Elliot Edwards|Elliot Edwards]]
*[[GamiGami]]
*[[Wikipedia:ChuChu Rocket!|KapuKapus]] {{Cameo}}
*[[KeroKero]]
*[[Kiki]]
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[Knuckles the Echidna]]
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Linda]] {{Cameo}}
*[[w:c:nights:Nightmarens|Nightmarens]]
**[[w:c:nights:Clawz|Clawz]]
**[[w:c:nights:Gillwing|Gillwing]]
**[[w:c:nights:Gulpo|Gulpo]]
**[[w:c:nights:Jackle|Jackle]]
**[[w:c:nights:Puffy|Puffy]]
**[[Reala]]
**[[w:c:nights:Wizeman the Wicked|Wizeman]]
*[[w:c:nights:Nightopian|Nightopians]]
*[[Nights]]
*[[Metal Sonic]]
*[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]
*[[Oct]]
*[[Omochao]]
*[[Pen]]
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Pose]]
*[[Pierrot]]
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Rio]] {{Cameo}}
*[[w:c:phantasystar:Rupika|Rupika]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Senbon]]
*[[Shadow the Hedgehog]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Burning Rangers|Shou Amabane]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Slot]]
*[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]
**[[Super Sonic]]
*[[Buzzer|Stinger]]
*[[w:c:phantasystar:Sue|Sue]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Tikal]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Burning Rangers|Tillis]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Wikipedia:Samba de Amigo|Wamba]] {{Cameo}}
*[[Yukimaru]]
|}

===Bosses===
#[[Knuckles the Echidna]]
#[[Amy Rose]]
#[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]
#[[Metal Sonic]]
#[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]

==Other modes==
===Party Mode===
'''Party Mode''' is the multiplayer component of ''Sonic Pinball Party'' which can include up to four players in total. The game requires each player to have own [[Game Boy Advance]] handheld console along with copy of ''Sonic Pinball Party''. Party Mode consists of three different versus mini-games.

====Hot Potato====
{{Nihongo|'''Hot Potato'''|爆弾|Bakudan}} is a one of two versus minigames in Party Mode. Players have to use [[Flipper]]s to fling rolling bombs off their table and onto opponents'. Both player's pinball tables have three holes at the top of them, each acting as a gateway corresponds to the other player's table.

The players' objective is to fling bombs off their table and onto your opponents' tables. Players must not let any balls fall through their flipper basin: drop more than three and the player get eliminated from the match. However, retired players can still shoot harmless black balls to distract the surviving players. The last remaining player wins the match.

====Hockey====
'''Hockey''' is the second versus minigame in Party Mode. Players are connected to a single playfield, but each can only see his own flipper basin. A bunch of gold and silver balls ricochet around the field. These balls must not breach the player's defense. Each player begins with 100 [[point]]s, but they will lose point for each ball that slips by the players' barricade. Silver balls take away one point while gold balls take away three points. The game ends when the timer hits zero or when any one player loses all of his points. The winner is whoever has the most points remaining.

====Ladder Climb====
{{Nihongo|'''Ladder Climb'''|びる の ぼり|Biru no Bori}} is a co-op minigame in the Party Mode. The goal is to sling a single pinball up a vertical passageway by using [[Flipper]]s on either wall. Each Flipper comes in different color and each color corresponds to a different player.

If the ball happens to fall straight down the middle, each player has to keep pressing left on {{Directional Pad}} or {{A Button (GBA)}} to magnetically attract the pinball. The game ends when the time runs out, and the player's collective score is tallied based on the ball's height.

===Casinopolis===
{{See also|Casinopolis}}
[[File:Sonicpinball pree32003 12 640w.jpg|thumb|225px|right|Roulette, one of playable minigames featured in Casinopolis mode.]]
'''Casinopolis''' is an separate mode in ''Sonic Pinball Party'' that contains three different minigames. [[Cream the Rabbit]] and [[Cheese]] act as guides in Casinopolis mode. Here, the player uses [[Ring]]s, which are collected in the game's Arcade or Story Mode, as gambling stakes to play one of the minigames. In each minigame, the player loses Rings when the pinball drops down to the [[Flipper]] drain.

When the player starts the game for the first time, only the Roulette minigame is available. Slots and Bingo can be unlocked by playing through Story Mode ([[Sonic Pinball Party#Story Mode matches|see this section]]). The player can exit the minigames by pressing '''START''' button.

*'''Roulette''': The player slings a pinball into one of the two targets in the top corners on the board. Each time the player gets one in, a random number of lights up on the roulette wheel. If the player gets the same number more than once, the stakes on that number increases. After two minutes, the table freezes, and the roulette starts spinning. If the roulette lands on any of the lit numbers, the player will receive [[Ring]]s.
*'''Slots''': The player has to bounce a pinball into the two targets in the top corners on the board to increase the chances of scoring a match on the ''[[Wikipedia:ChuChu Rocket!|Chu-Chu Rocket!]]''-themed [[slot machine]] on the middle of the board.
*'''Bingo''': The player has to sling a pinball into the two targets in the top corners on the board to light up random squares on the [[bingo]] grid. If the players gets a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal road, they will score Rings.

===Lesson Mode===
[[File:Lesson-Mode-Sonic-Pinball-Party.png|thumb|[[Omochao]] teaching the player in the Lesson Mode.]]
In '''Lesson Mode''', [[Omochao]] teaches the player all the basics about the gameplay in ''Sonic Pinball Party''. Instructions are split into ten parts for both the Sonic, Nights and Samba de Amigo pinball tables. Pressing {{B Button (GBA)}} exits the Lesson Mode.

===Options===
*'''Button Config''': Change the functions of controls for different actions.
*'''Language''': Change the language of the messages to Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. The language setting is the first option that appears when the player starts off the game for the first time.
*'''[[Sound Test]]''': Listen to the various music tracks and sound effects used in the game.
*'''Chao Navi''': Turns the on-screen hints during gameplay on or off.

===Tiny Chao Garden===
{{Main|Tiny Chao Garden}}[[File:Chao Ball.PNG|thumb|The Chao Ball mini-game in the Tiny Chao Garden of ''Sonic Pinball Party''.]]
'''Tiny Chao Garden''' is a simulation minigame where like in ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' and ''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'', players can raise [[Chao]]. While similar to the [[Chao Garden]], this mode comes with several limitations: Chao do not age, can only interact with a finite number of items, and there can never be more than one Chao. Players can link the Tiny Chao Garden to the Chao Gardens in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' to transfer Chao or items from the Tiny Chao Garden and to participate in races.

Tiny Chao Garden in ''Sonic Pinball Party'' is unlocked by default. [[Ring]]s amassed in the game's Story, Arcade and Casinopolis modes can be used to purchase items from the Tiny Chao Garden or in the minigame called Chao Ball, where the basic goal is to remove as many red and green balls on top of the screen as possible, while releasing any Rings above them.

==Development==
===Release===
''Sonic Pinball Party'' was first released on 15 June 2003 in United States,<ref name="US Release"/> where it was sold exclusively in the Target stores. Because of the marketing, the game went largely unnoticed during its release. Also, because certain countries such as Canada and Mexico did not have separate Target stores, [[Sega]] did not make alternate arrangements to release the game to other stores in those countries. The game remained unpublished in Canada and Mexico until the release of ''[[Combo Pack: Sonic Advance + Sonic Pinball Party]]'' in 2005, thus making the game available in other retail stores.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 79.38%<ref name="GameRankings">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/589414-sonic-pinball-party/index.html|title=Sonic Pinball Party|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]]|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref>
|MC = 77%<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/sonic-pinball-party/critic-reviews|title=Sonic Pinball Party|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Metacritic|Metacritic]]|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref>
|EGM = 7.5/10<ref name="Metacritic"/>
|GI = 6/10 <ref name="GameInformer">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0807.1752.23326.htm|title=Sonic Pinball Party|publisher=Game Informer|accessdate=3 July 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813114142/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0807.1752.23326.htm|archivedate=13 August 2004}}</ref>
|GamePro = 4/5<ref name="Gamepro">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/30035.shtml|title=Review: Sonic Pinball Party|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GamePro|GamePro]]|accessdate=26 June 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001202026/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/30035.shtml|archivedate=1 October 2007}}</ref>
|GSpot = 8.1/10<ref name="Gamespot">{{Cite web|last=Provo|first=Frank|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-pinball-party-review/1900-6030602/|title=Sonic Pinball Party Review|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]]|date=25 June 2003|accessdate=26 June 2016}}</ref>
|GSpy = 74%<ref name="Gamespy">{{Cite web|last=Nutt|first=Christian|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/august03/sonicppgba/|title=Sonic Pinball Party (GBA)|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameSpy|GameSpy]]|accessdate=26 June 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060107031609/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/august03/sonicppgba/|archivedate=7 January 2006}}</ref>
|IGN = 79.38%<ref name="IGN">{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Craig|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/29/sonic-pinball-party|title=Sonic Pinball Party Review|publisher=[[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN]]|date=28 May 2003|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref>
|NP = 82%<ref name="Metacritic"/>
|Play = 83%<ref name="Metacritic"/>
}}
''Sonic Pinball Party'' received generally positive reviews from critics and journalists alike, with [[Wikipedia:Metacritic|Metacritic]] giving it a 77% based on 15 reviews and [[Wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]] giving it a score of 79.38% based on 16 reviews.<ref name="GameRankings"/><ref name="Metacritic"/> [[Wikipedia:GamePro|GamePro]] praised the graphics and the gameplay, stating it to have "enough extras to keep any [[Sega]] fan enthralled."<ref name="Gamepro"/> Frank Provo of [[Wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]] praised the game's overall gameplay and the artistic quality of pinball tables, while also saying that the multiplayer mini-games were "welcome additions to the overall conglomeration that composes ''Sonic Pinball Party'', even if they don't really fit the premise of standard pinball."<ref name="Gamespot"/>

Craig Harris of [[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN]] praised the game for the "virtual" aspect of the pinball gameplay and offering a huge amount of content, but criticized its lightweight physics which made it difficult to pull off skilled, bulls-eye shots, and the Casino mini-games for not being balanced very well. His overall statement was that ''Sonic Pinball Party'' was "a great game, but not quite a must-have."<ref name="IGN"/> Christian Nutt of [[Wikipedia:GameSpy|GameSpy]] was not completely satisfied with the game, stating that it was "serviceable enough pinball romp that's too focused on presenting a pseudo-realistic game without the technical clout to back it up."<ref name="Gamespy"/>

==Re-releases==
{|class="wikitable"
!Image
!Platform
!Description
|-
|[[File:Combo Pack Sonic Advance Sonic Pinball Party.jpg|70px]]
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|Released in a compilation with ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' as part of the ''[[2 Games in 1]]'' series in Europe and Combo pack in the United States.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Pinball Party Battle.jpg|70px]]
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|Released in a compilation with ''[[Sonic Battle]]'' as part of the ''[[2 Games in 1]]'' series in Europe and Double pack in Japan.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Pinball Party C Crown.jpg|70px]]
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|Released in a compilation with ''Columns Crown'' as part of the ''[[2 Games in 1]]'' series in Europe.
|}

==Trivia==
*''Sonic Pinball Party'' is the only ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic]]''-themed title that the developer studio Jupiter has worked on. Several years prior the game, the studio worked on a similar pinball-themed game, ''[[w:c:bulbapedia.bulbagarden:Pokémon Pinball|Pokémon Pinball]]'', for the Game Boy Color, which led to the sequel ''[[w:c:bulbapedia.bulbagarden:Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire|Pokémon Pinball: Ruby &amp; Sapphire]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]] several months after the release of ''Sonic Pinball Party''.
*This is the second ''Sonic'' game to feature a ''Nights into Dreams''-themed pinball table, the first being in ''[[Sonic Adventure]]''.
[[File:Not the egg carrier.png|thumb|100px|The space shuttle seen in X-Zone.]]
*The space shuttle seen in the left corner of [[X-Zone]]-themed Sonic pinball table seem to be a recycled version of one of the [[:File:SaconEggCarrier_02.jpg|earlier designs]] of the [[Egg Carrier]] from the development of ''[[Sonic Adventure]]''.
*For unknown reasons, at the end of Story Mode, Sonic can be seen wearing the [[Grind Shoes]] on an sprite which is directly based on one of the [[:File:Adventure 2 Battle Sonic.png|official artworks]] from ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]''.
*This is the first game to have [[Metal Sonic]] speak in his normal form.
**It is also Metal Sonic's only appearance on a [[Game Boy Advance]] game.
*This was the first ''Sonic'' game to use the '''Pan-European Game Information''' (PEGI) label on the cover/box art of the PAL/European release.
*According to [[Ian Flynn]], ''Sonic Pinball Party'' is not canon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrrja9qJOiw&t=3299s|title=Keepin' on Bumblin' <nowiki>|</nowiki> BumbleKast LIVE! for May 1st, 2023 - Ian Flynn Q&A Monthly Stream '''(54:59)'''|work=Youtube|publisher=BumbleKing Videos|date=April 29, 2023|accessdate=August 12, 2023}}</ref>

==Videos==
[[File:Sonic Pinball Party Commercial - 'Forfeit' Japan|thumb|left|350px]]
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==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Plain link|http://sonic.sega.jp/pinball/|Official website}} '''(Japanese)'''
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[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]
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[[Category:Games developed by Sonic Team]]