Pokemon Pinball FAQ Version 2.6
By Dylan Andersen
andersen@burgoyne.com
Updates
2.6 8/29/00 Checkup. New spacing and text, some small corrections.
Amazing how a year can change your FAQ writing abilities.
2.5 9/15/99 Some new pokemon locations.
2.4 8/5/99 Slowpoke in Seafoam Islands.
2.3 7/24/99 Not quite complete. Growlithe and Magikarp in Lavender
Town.
2.2 7/22/99 Get list and some text. I think it is complete now.
2.1 7/21/99 Get list, text, and ending.
2.0 7/19/99 Overhall of get list and several bits of info.
1.5 7/13/99 Even better text file, a lot of altered text, pokemon
locations.
1.4 7/13/99 Better text file.
1.3 7/13/99 Changed to lowercase, some altered text.
1.2 7/11/99 Pokemon locations, some altered text.
1.1 7/11/99 Rendered some text, how to get Mew.
1.0 7/9/99 Original FAQ.
Preface
This FAQ is based on the Japanese version I imported a while back. The
US and Japanese versions are practically identical, as far as I know,
besides the language, of course, which is translated in this FAQ.
Pokemon Pinball is not a good pinball game if your looking for a game
challenging you to score high points. The Mewtwo Bonus Stage ruins this
by giving literally about a billion points each time you play it.
Here's your FAQ if you are looking to score high points: Play the
Mewtwo Bonus Stage as much as you can without quite passing it each
time. If your curious, my personal high scores on PP are
121,601,795,500 (with over 200 pokemon in stock) on the blue version and
58,646,491,450 on the red version. I could have gotten higher scores on
each, but I would have probably ended up in a coma. I have also caught
Mew on several different occasions, along with all of the other Pokemon.
With the importance of points behind now, let's focus on the real fun to
PP: The perfectionist's challenge of catching all of the different
Pokemon and becoming a Pokemon Master.
Red and Blue Versions
The difference between them is the shape of the boards and the maps on
each. The map differences cause the available Pokemon on each to be
different. The blue version is easier because of its arrows that guide
the ball, its bonus stages, and its general shape. The advantages of
the red version are the unique maps it has and its permanent lighting of
the ball bonus lights. Also it is easier to move from map to map
without other modes starting due to the higher difficulty of reaching
the places to start them. This can help you get some rarer Pokemon.
Flippers
Hit Left to move the left flipper and the A button to move the right
flipper. The flippers on this game are simply not that good. Sometimes
the Pokeball will magically pass through them and the angles it shoots
the ball are somewhat odd. Basically you have to get use to the
different ways they function. You should use good defense by holding up
the flipper on the side the Pokeball is on when the ball is flying in
several directions.
Tilt
You can tilt as much as you want on this game. Hitting the B button
will move the board to the left (therefore the ball seems to go right
using a right sided button), pushing Down will move the board to the
right (therefore the ball seems to go left using the left sided pad),
and pushing Select will move the board upward (therefore the ball seems
to go down). Use the tilt to save your ball from falling down the gaps
or to nudge the ball into the map move buttons and other objects. If
the ball is going straight down the center of your flippers, hit either
A and B or Down and Left at the same time when the ball is almost
between the flippers to save it. You can also make the ball fly left if
you tilt the board as it is coming out of the central hole. Plus you
can redirect the ball if you tilt at the same time you flip it.
Lighten Arrows
Throughout the game, arrows will light up and show you what to do and
where to go. Pay attention to them to help guide you.
Map Move
Hit the Pokemon button on one of the two sides three quick times (the
number or amount of Digletts will show you how much you've hit it in the
necessary time). On the blue version these are Psyduck's head and
Poliwag by a red button. On the red version these are the two sets of
Digletts on each side. The easiest way to hit these is to let the
Pokeball roll to the end of the flippers and flip it. After that you
have 30 seconds to go one of the ways the arrows point and put the ball
in the hole. Moves one and two will lead to beginning stages. Moves
three and four will lead to secondary stages. Move five will lead to
Indigo Plateau, home of Mewtwo and Mew. Once you get to this map and
move again, the maps will start all over. You will notice each map has
similarity to groups of areas on the original Pokemon. For example,
Indigo Plain is made up of the cave on Victory Road and the Unknown
Dungeon, and Lapras can be found in Saffron City where you pick him up
in the Sylph Labs building. Also, if you are quick and lucky enough,
with the slot open you can bounce the ball off the side button for the
third time and have it land in the slot hole for an automatic map move.
When starting a game you can time which one of the maps you wish to
start by hitting A when it shows.
Field Multiplier
This is not very important because it slightly increases points. Light
up the three slot lights at the top. It will turn your ball in steps
from Pokeball, to Superball, to Hyperball, to Masterball. Each give you
more and more points for things you do on the regular board. After
getting the Masterball, you get 10,000,000 point bonuses each time you
light the lights again. The ball type will wear off in one minute
increments. On the blue version you have to be careful because lights
will be canceled out when hit again. You can move the lights around
using the flipper buttons. If the ball keeps going up and down the same
slot, keep hitting the flipper button so it will light up other
unlighten lights.
Slot
Very important. You need the slot to help keep your ball in play and
get other rewards. The double Pikachu savers and regular ball savers
are highly needed to get anywhere in the game. To get a slot, light up
the four lights on the sides of your flippers that spell out HOLE (I
think it spells CAVE on US version). You can move the lights the same
as the ball bonus lights. After you do this, the hole will open in the
center of the board. Hit the ball in it. There is no strategy to
getting what you want from it. It will give you something randomly.
Whenever the ball is shot out of the hole in the center of the board,
hold up your right flipper to send the ball in the slots to help spell
out HOLE again. If you are quick enough you can light up two letters.
When you become good at the slots, you can get rewards easier here than
doing other activities.
Pikachu Savers
Randomly Pikachu will save your ball from falling down the sides. Push
Left to save it on the left side and A to save it on the right side.
With a normal Pikachu saver, you have to charge him using the spinner to
fill the lightning bolt icon to make him save the ball. With the slot
you can get Pikachu savers that will save it on both sides 100 percent
of the time without charging. This is necessary if you expect to get
far in the game.
Ball Savers
These are issued from the slot and Get and Evolve Modes. The mode ones
last the first minute during each mode. The slot ones come lasting in
30, 60, and 90 second time increments. These can be saved for after you
go into get and evolve modes. They can also help you get far in the
game.
Bonus Multiplier
Get this by hitting the two buttons with numbers by them or by hitting
random other spots. After you get x99 and get more multiplier bonuses,
it will not give any additional bonuses from them. The only importance
of it is to build up enough rewards to start randomly getting extra
balls.
Extra Balls
Two ways to get them: First, do the slot several times and it will be
added as a possible prize from it. Second, work through the game for a
while without losing a ball while doing several things like map moves,
slots, Pikachu saves, and bonus multipliers. Eventually the random
bonus multipliers you get from all around the stage (especially the
Pikachu savers) will become extra balls. But when you lose your ball,
you have to start building up all over again to get more extra balls.
You can only get up to nine extra balls. After that it starts giving
you 100,000,000 point bonuses.
Get Mode
This will allow you to get Pokemon. There are two ways to start it.
First, go up the curved path on the right side two or three times. When
you go up the path more than three times you are more likely to get rare
Pokemon. Then go in the upper right hole. Second you can start it with
time in the slots. After you start it, you have two minutes (first
minute with a ball saver) to hit the top bumpers six times, then the
Pokemon that appears four times. Some Pokemon are easier to get in one
version than the other. But if a Pokemon is listed on a map and that
map is on both versions, it is possible to get that Pokemon on each
version (except for Nidoran M and F, Male is on red and Viridian Town,
Female is on blue, plus I think Scyther and Pinsir are only on blue).
From when you start a game, it is predetermined how likely you are to
get each Pokemon. So if a certain Pokemon is being difficult to get
while you are playing a game, you can start the game over and either
play the same version if it is only on that version (turn the power off
and on), or try to get it on the other version if it is available on
that, then you can have a better chance at getting certain Pokemon it is
not giving you. Here are the Pokemon (with evolutions) I have found
(not quite all I think, but almost all and enough to catch them all) in
each map (listed with the number of moves it takes to get to each stage
and the version/s its in) and their approximate difficulty to obtain
(based on my experiences on a scale of 1-5, 5 being hardest, and Mew):
Viridian Town (Blue 0-2)
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
29 Nidoran F (30 Nidorina, 31 Nidoqueen) 2
32 Nidoran M (33 Nidorino, 34 Nidoking) 2
1 Bulbasaur (2 Ivysaur, 3 Venusaur) 3
7 Squirtle (8 Wartortle, 9 Blastoise) 3
60 Poliwag (61 Polywhirl, 62 Polywrath) 3
72 Tentacool (73 Tentacruel) 3
118 Goldeen (119 Seaking) 3
Viridian Forest (Both 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 1
19 Rattata (20 Raticate) 1
10 Caterpie (11 Metapod, 12 Butterfree) 2
13 Weedle (14 Kakuna, 15 Beedrill) 2
25 Pikachu (26 Raichu) 3
Mt. Moon (Blue 0-2)
41 Zubat (42 Golbat) 1
35 Clefairy (36 Clefable) 2
74 Geodude (75 Graveler, 76 Golem) 2
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 3
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 3
27 Sandshrew (28 Sandslash) 3
46 Paras (47 Parasect) 4
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 4
Cerulean City (Both 0-2)
63 Abra (64 Kadabra, 65 Alakazam) 1
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
43 Oddish (44 Gloom, 45 Vileplume) 2
56 Mankey (57 Primeape) 2
32 Nidoran M (33 Nidorino, 34 Nidoking) 3
52 Meowth (53 Persian) 3
54 Psyduck (55 Golduck) 3
69 Bellsprout (70 Weepinbell, 71 Victreebell) 3
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 3
118 Goldeen (119 Seaking) 3
124 Jynx 3
10 Caterpie (11 Metapod, 12 Butterfree) 4
13 Weedle (14 Kakuna, 15 Beedrill) 4
Vermillion City Streets (Blue 0-2)
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 3
27 Sandshrew (28 Sandslash) 3
52 Meowth (53 Persian) 3
69 Bellsprout (70 Weepinbell, 71 Victreebell) 3
83 Farfetch'd 3
90 Shellder (91 Cloyster) 3
96 Drowzee (97 Hypno) 3
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 3
Rock Mountain (Both 0-2)
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 2
41 Zubat (42 Golbat) 2
50 Diglett (51 Dugtrio) 2
100 Voltorb (101 Electrode) 2
66 Machop (67 Machoke, 68 Machamp) 3
74 Geodude (75 Graveler, 76 Golem) 3
95 Onix 3
122 Mr. Mime 3
79 Slowpoke (80 Slowbro) 4
Celadon City (Blue 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
52 Meowth (53 Persian) 2
69 Bellsprout (70 Weepinbell, 71 Victreebell) 2
10 Caterpie (11 Metapod, 12 Butterfree) 3
35 Clefairy (36 Clefable) 3
37 Vulpix (38 Ninetales) 3
43 Oddish (44 Gloom, 45 Vileplume) 3
56 Mankey (57 Primeape) 3
58 Growlithe (59 Arcanine) 3
63 Abra (64 Kadabra, 65 Alakazam) 3
123 Scyther 3
133 Eevee (134 Vaporeon, 135 Jolteon, 136 Flareon) 3
137 Porygon 3
127 Pinsir 4
147 Dratini (148 Dragonair, 149 Dragonite) 4
Pallet Town (Red 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
19 Rattata (20 Raticate) 2
32 Nidoran M (33 Nidorino, 34 Nidoking) 2
118 Goldeen (119 Seaking) 2
1 Bulbasaur (2 Ivysaur, 3 Venusaur) 3
4 Charmander (5 Charmeleon, 6 Charizard) 3
60 Poliwag (61 Polywhirl, 62 Polywrath) 3
72 Tentacool (73 Tentacruel) 3
Pewter City (Red 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 2
39 Jigglypuff (40 Wigglytuff) 3
129 Magikarp (130 Gyarados) 3
37 Vulpix (38 Ninetales) 4
Vermillion City Seaside (Red 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 2
96 Drowzee (97 Hypno) 2
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 2
43 Oddish (44 Gloom, 45 Vileplume) 3
83 Farfetch'd 3
90 Shellder (91 Cloyster) 3
Lavender Town (Red 0-2)
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 2
56 Mankey (57 Primeape) 2
81 Magnemite (82 Magneton) 2
92 Gastly (93 Haunter, 94 Gengar) 3
104 Cubone (105 Marowak) 3
58 Growlithe (59 Arcanine) 4
125 Electrabuzz 4
129 Magikarp (130 Gyarados) 4
145 Zapdos 4
Fuchsia City (Blue 3-4)
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 2
118 Goldeen (119 Seaking) 2
129 Magikarp (130 Gyarados) 2
48 Venonat (49 Venomoth) 3
102 Eggsecute (103 Eggsecutor) 3
115 Kangaskhan 3
Safari Zone (Both 3-4)
29 Nidoran F (30 Nidorina, 31 Nidoqueen) 1
32 Nidoran M (33 Nidorino, 34 Nidoking) 1
112 Rhyhorn (113 Rhydon) 2
46 Paras (47 Parasect) 3
84 Doduo (85 Dodrio) 3
113 Chansey 3
123 Scyther 4
127 Pinsir 4
128 Tauros 4
147 Dratini (148 Dragonair, 149 Dragonite) 4
Saffron City (Blue 3-4)
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 1
16 Pidgey (17 Pidgeotto, 18 Pidgeot) 2
27 Sandshrew (28 Sandslash) 2
43 Oddish (44 Gloom, 45 Vileplume) 2
52 Meowth (53 Persian) 2
58 Growlithe (59 Arcanine) 2
69 Bellsprout (70 Weepinbell, 71 Victreebell) 2
56 Mankey (57 Primeape) 3
37 Vulpix (38 Ninetales) 3
106 Hitmonlee 4
107 Hitmonchan 4
131 Lapras 5
Cinnibar Island (Both 3-4)
37 Vulpix (38 Ninetales) 2
58 Growlithe (59 Arcanine) 2
77 Ponyta (78 Rapidash) 2
88 Grimer (89 Muck) 2
109 Koffing (110 Weezing) 2
114 Tangela 2
126 Magmar 4
138 Omnite (139 Omster) 4
140 Kabuto (141 Kabutops) 4
142 Aerodactyl 4
Cycling Road (Red 3-4)
19 Rattata (20 Raticate) 2
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 2
84 Doduo (85 Dodrio) 2
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 2
129 Magikarp (130 Gyarados) 2
72 Tentacool (73 Tentacruel) 3
98 Krabby (99 Kingler) 3
108 Likitung 3
143 Snorlax 4
Seafoam Islands (Red 3-4)
79 Slowpoke (80 Slowbro) 2
86 Seel (87 Dewgong) 2
90 Shellder (91 Cloyster) 2
118 Goldeen (119 Seaking) 2
120 Staryu (121 Starmie) 2
41 Zubat (42 Golbat) 3
116 Horsea (117 Seadra) 3
144 Articuno 4
Indigo Plateau (Both 5)
27 Sandshrew (28 Sandslash) 1
74 Geodude (75 Graveler, 76 Golem) 1
95 Onix 2
66 Machop (67 Machoke, 68 Machamp) 2
21 Spearow (22 Fearow) 3
23 Ekans (24 Arbok) 3
41 Zubat (42 Golbat) 3
132 Ditto 3
146 Moltres 4
150 Mewtwo 5
151 Mew 20
How To Get Mew
You do not have to have the other 150 Pokemon. Pass the Mewtwo stage at
least three times and move to Indigo Plateau (do either one before the
other). Keep going into Get Mode (sending the ball up the right side
ramp several times for better odds) until he appears. Like the 20 grade
of difficulty says, he does not appear often. Many say he appears 1 out
of 16 times; I don't believe this. If your lucky his shadow will
eventually appear. You now have two minutes to play with him (first
minute with a ball saver, second without it). Hit the top bumpers six
times. His moving form will appear. Now you can hit him an infinite
number of times getting 3,000,000 points each time you do; it won't let
you spell GET. But to catch him just hold the ball in an upward turned
flipper and watch him dance out the rest of the time limit. Do not lose
your ball during this time. When the two minutes are up, it will say
that Mew ran away (no matter how many times you hit him). But Mew will
appear on your Pokedex in his colored form with his description. So I
guess you caught him.
Evolve Mode
It is started two ways: Shoot the Pokeball up the left curved path
three times and put it in a left hole. Or eventually get it from the
slot. You have two minutes to complete it (first minute with a ball
saver). During the mode, you hit arrowed spots to try and make
experience or items appear. If it says the Pokemon is tired, then shoot
the ball up either the left or right curved path or wait eight seconds
for it to wear off. If it says get item or experience, hit the object
wherever it is. Collect three of what it wants and put the ball in the
middle hole. The evolutions needed to catch all of the Pokemon are
listed above in the parentheses under Get Mode. When your evolving a
Pokemon to its final stage or when its already there, it is more
difficult to evolve with more highlighted places to hit. If you evolve
it when it is already fully evolved, you get 10,000,000 points. If you
want a certain evolution of Eevee that is not offered to you when you go
into Evolve Mode, hold the ball until it ends and go into the mode again
until it offers you the stones you need.
Bonus Stages
Passing these will make it more possible to get rarer Pokemon. Two ways
to get these: One is get three Pokeball markers on your middle display.
You get one ball marker each time you capture a Pokemon. You get two
ball markers each time you evolve a Pokemon. If you get more than three
before using the bonus stage, they will not count. The hole in the
middle will open. Go in it to play the stages. The second way to get
these stages is by getting the slot a few times where it will eventually
become an option. There are three bonus stages on each version that go
in order as you pass them and start over when you pass the Mewtwo stage.
If you do not pass them, you will keep playing them until you do. Here
is how to play each of them:
(1) Red Version: Diglett Stage: Hit all of the Digletts, then hit the
Dugtrio three times without having the ball fall down between the
flippers. Use good defense to stop the ball from going down and try to
keep the ball on one side of the field at a time.
(1) Blue Version: Meowth Stage: Hit Meowth to get coins froms him.
The more coins you hit in a row without hitting Meowth, the more
exponentially increasing coins you get rewarded from each. One minute
is all the time you have to fill the bar at the top. If the ball falls
between the flippers, you lose coins. Basically keep trying to knock
several coins off him without hitting the coins. You can have up to six
coins out.
(2) Red Version: Gengar Stage: One and a half minutes. Hit ten
Gastlies, ten Haunters, and a Gengar five times. The ball falling won't
deduct anything. Be experienced in the directions the ball flies on
each flipper shot.
(2) Blue Version: Dewgong Stage: One and a half minutes to fill the
bar at the top by hitting the Dewdongs in the head. If you hit more of
them in a row of pop-ups, you get rewarded more hits and points. You
can get up to six hits added and 256,000,000 points from hitting several
heads in a row. Again be experienced in directions of the ball.
(3) Both Versions: Mewtwo Stage: Two minutes to hit Mewtwo 24 times.
No penalty when the ball falls. This stage may seem impossible at
first, but it's somewhat easy when you know how. Do not pay attention
to the force field (it gets smaller the more you hit him), just keep
aiming at Mewtwo. The way to flip the ball at him is to have it slowly
roll from the sides onto the flipper. If the ball is coming fast from
the sides, hold up the flipper like a ramp and it will fall slower on
the other side. When the ball comes slowly on the flipper, there is a
hotspot to shoot it from. It is above the hinge dot, toward the inside.
With practice you will find this spot. You can also send the ball at
Mewtwo by flipping it when it is dead stopped on the end of one of the
flippers. Remain persistant with a constant shot from the hotspot
without panicing and you should beat him. If your in trouble you can
try hitting A and B or Down and Left at the same time when the ball is
coming fast from the side. It is not always accurate though.
Caught Them All
When you catch all 151 Pokemon, you get a crown placed at the top of
your high score windows. Thanks.
Additional Tricks
You can reset the game by pushing Select, Start, B, and A at the same
time. You can configure controls and rumble and do a sound test on the
option screen. On the Pokedex you can see how many pokemon you've seen
versus how many you have caught by pushing the Select button, and you
can see the animated form of base characters by pushing the Start
button. Finally, you can reset all data (Pokedex and high scores) by
holding Up-Right, Select, and Start, then pushing A on the copyright
load-up screen, then push A again to reset data, B to cancel.
Credits
Tom Warr for a little japanese translation.
Matt Vanston for Magikarp in Lavender Town and Slowpoke in Seafoam
Islands.
Jeff I for Vulpix in Pewter City, Vulpix and Mankey in Saffron City, and
Machop in Indigo Plateau.
Pokemon is a copyright 1995-1999 of Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak
Inc.
Pokemon Pinball is a copyright 1999 of Hal Laboratory and Jupiter Corp.
This Pokemon Pinball FAQ is a copyright 1999/2000 of Dylan Andersen.
