Ping Pong Trick Shot (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Ping Pong Trick Shot, if nothing else, turns on, and allows engaging with the software as it may or may not have been intended. Unfortunately, there's not much more to say beyond that. Once the software loads and the players begin, they are given a chance to be a part of arguably one of the most broken and bland experiences available on the 3DS.

The gameplay is really very simple. Throw a ball so it bounces and eventually lands in a cup. This is the focal point of the entire experience, and honestly, it has some clever spins placed on it. From gaps to walls, finding new ways to bounce the ball into the cup seem to be plentiful, and the idea could easily be milked for some interesting ideas.

The problems really begin with its presentation, which is bland and uninspired. There are few textures - just shapes. The ball is round, the cup is shaped like a cup. Because of this, it almost feels patronizing, especially against the boring solid blue background. Still, simple graphics can be forgiven if the game play is fun and exhilarating.

…and here, in the depths of Ping Pong Trick Shot, it definitely isn't. Aiming is done with the left stick, by pulling it back to do so. Then, a power bar fills incredibly quickly, before you hit A to shoot. While the pull power is definitely what you make it, the fact that it requires pin point precision down to the millisecond to nail it, is both ridiculous and unfathomable. Getting good at the game is clearly doable, but with the awkward controls, and the inconsistent physics, it would be hard to make an argument for putting much time into this.

The cup seems to have its own set of rules, as sometimes hitting the rim sinks the ball, while other times the ball seems to move away from the cup like a spectre. These kinds of issues plague the game, and the inclusion of multiple modes really just sets the tone for how frustrated you want to be and what it was caused by. There's just nothing much here, and it's awkward by how obvious it is. Still, this turns on, even if it turns onto a thin veneer of loose mechanics and uninspired gameplay.