For once in a lot of time, a pinball game has another purpose besides getting the highest possible score. Nearly 400 Pokemon await to be caught in two different boards. Think you can catch them all?

Each board has its own unique set of features, locations and Pokemon, but some things are shared in common by both boards.

The lower part of both boards features a central image of the location you are in right now. Above it, there is a special hole that opens under circumstances explained later. Below the picture, there are three lights. Catching/Hatching a Pokemon lights up one, while evolving counts as two. Once all three lights are on, the hole above the image will open to grant access to the bonus stage displayed in the image. 

Going down a little more, we find the inner lanes heading to the flippers, while the outer two bypass the flippers, losing the ball. Pikachu protects one side, and can deflect a ball that falls onto it if the Pika Charger, located in the right loop in both boards, is flipped to its maximum capacity. Each of this lanes also has a light, with a letter on it. Each time the ball passes through the lane, the letter lights up, until the word HOLE can be read. At this time, or when the mode you are in right now ends, the central hole will open, leading to the Slots. In the Slots, many goodies can be earned, ranging from bonus points to special events.

On the upper part of the board, above the bumpers, there are three more lights. These lights represent the Ball Upgrade, and when all three are on, your Pokeball will turn into a Super Ball, then an Ultra Ball and finally the Master Ball. Contrary to the common games, the Ball Upgrades only serve for bonus multiplier: 2 for the Super Ball, 3 for Ultra Ball and 4 for Master Ball. The upgrade lasts for about 60 seconds before fading off.

As a last reminder, you get an Extra Ball when you catch 15 Pokemon in any possible method. The number of Pokemon caught is displayed in the bottom right corner, next to the number of coins and balls remaining. Another Extra Ball can be purchased in the Market.

Description: On the right side, we find the Catch Lane, leading to Sharpedo. Left of it, is the Market Ramp. More to the left, we find the bumpers and the Hatch Lane. On the right wall of the Hatch Lane there’s a switch that changes what the bumpers are. You can find yourself with one rotating Chinchou, three rotating Chinchou, three static Chinchou or three static Lotad. Rarely, a Whiscash will appear, and hitting the ball into its mouth leads to the Spheal Challenge, a bonus minigame. Hitting the Whiscash body will make it angry, and will disappear while using Earthquake to shake the entire board for a while. In the Hatch Lane, we find Cyndaquil. If hit three times, it will be encased in the nest, and the egg above it will be ready to hatch once the ball is sent there one more time. After that, send the ball inside the nest again to make Aerodactyl deploy another egg and Cyndaquil will resume its position. Left to the Hatch Lane is the Coin Lane, which gives you coins each time the ball is sent through it. The final feature of the board is the switch where Chikorita stands. Hitting it will make Chikorita use Razor Leaf on both Linoone standing on the side walls above the flippers. Once hit, the Linoone will pop their heads out. If you hit the right one, Makuhita will change its position. When not facing you, Makuhita can punch the ball when it passes by and send it through a special lane where Nuzleaf is. After a few hits, Nuzleaf will fall over, serving as bridge to finish the lane. At the other side, there is a Ball Upgrade. If the left Linoone is hit, a Gulpin will appear behind it. If three Gulpin are gathered, Travel Mode will start.

Catch ‘em Mode: To start Catch ‘em Mode, first you need at least two lights on the right loop active. Send the ball through the right loop to do this. Once done, send the ball into Sharpedo, and the catch can start. The silhouette of the Pokemon will appear on the central image, and can be revealed by hitting the bumpers three times. Once revealed, the Pokemon will appear, with the word CATCH! below it. Hit the Pokemon three more times to light up the whole word, and you will catch it.

Egg Hatch Mode: The fourth time the ball is sent through the Hatch Lane, the egg will hatch. The hatched Pokemon will roam the board for a while. To catch it, just hit it twice. Send the ball into the Hatch Lane again so you can repeat the process. 

EVO Mode: To start EVO Mode, all three lights on the left loop must be active. Send the ball into the left loop three times, and you will see the Market changing into Pokemon Center. Send the ball into it to check the Pokemon you’ve caught up until now, and choose which one to evolve. Once selected, you’ll have to collect three evolutionary items that appear anywhere in the board. The hole above the image of the Pokemon trying to evolve will open, so send the ball into it and the evolution will be finished. Remember, evolving a Pokemon lights up two Pokeballs for the bonus stage, while it counts as one towards the number of caught Pokemon.

Travel Mode: As explained above, you need to hit the left Linoone three times when its head is out. After this, Travel Mode will start. Send the ball through either the right or left loop, and the hole will open. Send the ball into it and you will be given the option to travel. Your location only affects the Catch ‘em Mode and has no influence on the Pokemon that hatch from eggs.

Bonus Stages: This board has two unique bonus stages, plus a third one shared with the other board. The first is the Kecleon Stage, the second is the Groudon Stage and the third is the Rayquaza Stage.

I will not detail how to beat each stage. The only thing I’ll say about it is that you need at least 10 hits to beat Kecleon and 15 to beat Groudon and Rayquaza. Also, the second time you play the Groudon and Rayquaza Stages in the same game, if you complete the stage, you will catch them. The Bonus Stage cycle is as follows:

Essentially, before facing Rayquaza for the first time you will have captured Groudon. Complete the cycle for the second time and you will capture Rayquaza. If you don’t manage to complete a Bonus Stage, although only proved in Rayquaza’s case, the cycle doesn’t advance, so you will be stuck on that stage until you beat it.

Special: On the Ruby Board you have the chance to catch 5 unique Pokemon: Latios, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile and Aerodactyl. They can appear in any location, but they are extremely rare to find. Compare it to find a shiny Pokemon. Also, neither Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile can evolve.      

Sapphire Board

Description: The Sapphire Board has a unique metallic structure covering the Coin Lane, the Hatch Lane and the Launch Lane. Strangely enough, when the ball is launched from the plunger passes through the “nest” where the egg lies, although it does’t trigger the hatching nor anything involved with it. The Market is guarded by Plus le and Min un, one at each side of the entrance, deploying an electrical force. To enter the Market you first need to shift off the energy, by hitting both Plus le’s and Min un’s switches. Right to the bumpers there’s a Pelipper standing on a switch. Hitting the switch shifts Pelipper’s attention to the bumpers, while also flapping its wings. Send the ball through the Coin Lane and Pelipper will swallow it. If the switch was sparkling, you will be transported to the Spheal Challenge. If not, Pelipper will return and drop the ball in the bumpers through the central light. On the lower part, there are two switches at each side of the wall. On the right, there’s a Zigzagoon, which, when standing on its four legs, will use Quick Attack when the Slots are rolling to stop them. On the left, there’s a nest, and everytime the switch is pressed, a Seedot falls into it. Three of them activate Travel Mode.

Catch ‘em Mode: As in the Ruby Board, you need at least two lights from the right loop active to start this mode. Once you accomplish this, send the ball into the Wailmer in the right side, this will trigger the mode. Again, the silhouette of the Pokemon appears, and once the bumpers are hit three times, the Pokemon reveals itself, with the word CATCH! below it. Three hits on the Pokemon light up the whole word, catching the Pokemon.

Egg Hatch Mode: The Hatch Lane is located below the Wailmer. Send the ball through it three times to light up the “nest”, and the fourth time, the egg shall hatch. The hatched Pokemon will go down the metallic path to the board, and roam for about 45 seconds. Two hits on it and you will catch it. Send the ball through the Hatch Lane once more and the machine will place a new egg in the “nest”.

EVO Mode: As in the Ruby Board, you need all three lights on the left loop active. The third time the ball is sent through the left loop, you will see the Market’s screen changing into EVO, and Plusle and Minun will both lower the electrical field. Send the ball into the structure, so you can select the Pokemon to evolve, and the mode starts. Collect all three evolutionary items on the board and hit the ball into the hole to finish the evolution. The items can appear everywhere, and that includes appearing in between the bumpers, although that’s very rare to happen, and also very unlucky.

Travel Mode: Hit the switch on the left wall until three Seedot are in the nest. Once the mode is started, send the ball through either the right or left loop, and the hole will open. Hit the ball into it, and you will be given the option to travel. Again, remember that location only changes the available Pokemon in Catch ‘em Mode.

Bonus Stages: There are three bonus stages, two unique to this board. The Bonus Stages are the Duskull Stage, the Kyogre Stage and the Rayquaza stage.

The Duskull Stage is different than the rest of stages. First, you have to hit 20 Duskull, and after that, Dusclops will appear. Dusclops is done in 5 hits. Kyogre and Rayquaza need at least 15 hits. Again, Kyogre can be captured if you clear the stage for the second time in the same game, and the same applies for Rayquaza. The Bonus Stage cycle is also the same that appears in the other board:

Again, remember that, at least in Rayquaza’s case, if you fail to beat a Bonus Stage, the cycle won’t advance, and you will replay the stage until you clear it.

Special: There’s a chance, although very low, that Latias can appear in any location in Catch ‘em Mode.

There are a random number of locations you can go through Travel Mode. Some locations are unique to a board, while others are shared, like the ruins. Once you travel enough times, not below 5 times, you can end in this special location. You’ll notice this location for the moon towering above some kind of cave in its image. If you start Catch ‘em Mode in here, you can find Regirock, Regice, Registeel and Beldum, the latter being able to evolve into Metang and Metagross. Also, if you happen to activate the Slots, you can hit a special bonus called “Jirachi’s arrival”. This will make Jirachi appear on the board for 30 seconds. It won’t stay still, but won’t move as often as a hatched Pokemon, and is also bigger. Hit it three times within the time limit and you will catch it. Seems there’s not enough time, but you will see for yourself that even 30 seconds is more than enough.