Peggle Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 11 March, 2009

Better than a ball of yarn?

Version tested: Xbox 360

The most unusual thing about this Live Arcade iteration of PopCap's acclaimed and beloved Pachinko-style puzzler is how long it's taken to cross over onto consoles. Casual games tend to be viral in their spread, and once one has captured the public imagination, there's little you can do to stop it being ported to anything with buttons and a screen.

Of course, even though it's accessible to players of all ages and abilities, Peggle is no more a casual game than heroin is a casual drug. Once it gets its cheery whimsical hooks into you, there's not much point resisting. Better to sit back and succumb to the obsession. Peggle, it must be pointed out, also has the advantage of not leaving you unconscious and covered in sick in a Glasgow pub toilet.

For those who have yet to experience Peggle, you fire a ball into a screen full of pegs. Whichever pegs you hit are removed at the end of the turn. The orange ones are your primary concern, since getting rid of those is how you progress to the next level. Blue pegs will notch up small scores, but will also obscure the path to those essential oranges. There's also a pink peg, randomised each turn, which boosts your score.

At the bottom of the screen is a bucket, forever gliding from side to side. If your shot lands in the bucket, the ball goes back into your stash and can be used again. If it falls off the bottom of the screen, it's gone. Extra balls can be earned through a variety of means, most commonly racking up a score of over 25,000 in one shot, but the disparity between the number of orange pegs you need to hit (at least 25) and the available balls with which to get the job done (10) is what keeps you on your toes.

Each board also has two green pegs, and it's here that things start to get really interesting. Hitting these will activate the special power of whichever character you're playing as. There are ten such characters, all the same on 360 as on the PC. Hitting a green peg as Bjorn Unicorn, for example, allows you to predict the trajectory of your shots for a few turns. Tula the sunflower removes one fifth of the remaining orange pegs, starting with the ones closest to the green peg you struck. Lord Cinderbottom the dragon lets you shoot a fireball through the board, clearing swathes of pegs in one go, while Master Hu the owl gives you a zen-ball which automatically adjusts your next shot for maximum results.

'Peggle' Screenshot 1

Peg Party isn't quite as exciting as the name suggests, but it's diverting enough.

Each character must first be unlocked by beating their section in the Adventure mode, which features 55 levels in sequence. Once unlocked, you can choose which character to use in any level, and any game mode. There are tactical advantages to each, but the game is broad enough in its design that no single power is more useful than the others. For those with boisterous competitive streaks, there's an inherent high-score appeal - just check YouTube for some outrageously high-scoring shots - but the beauty of it is that anyone can muddle along, rack up impressive numbers and have a bloody good time without being sucked into a twitchy hardcore mindset.

The tipping point for many people is Peggle's random factor. Unless you're Rain Man, there's a limit to how far ahead you can plot your moves, and sooner or later you'll resort to just firing a ball into a load of pins and hoping for the best. Some can't get past this element of luck, but the magic of Peggle is how it makes each gamble feel fresh and exciting. The escalating plink-plink-plink as you clock up pegs is shamelessly uplifting, and for every shot that goes just wide of the mark there's one that somehow bounces its way to some seemingly impossible orange pegs before landing safely in the bucket.

It's so simple, yet so damnably addictive. There's immediate and primal sensory pleasure in the way the ball bounces around the pegs, and the game knows well enough that victory is something to be celebrated. Each level is cleared in a flurry of rainbows and fireworks, while Beethoven's Ode to Joy soars from your speakers. It's joyous, unashamedly whimsical and all the better for its utter lack of cynicism. Anyone with a soul should own at least one copy, so why not this one?

'Peggle' Screenshot 2

Peggle offers loads of fun score boosters for skilful - or lucky - shots.

Well, if you don't already have Peggle in its PC incarnation then you might as well get the Live Arcade version, because they're pretty much identical. It's a bit stupid that the offline, turn-based, two-player duel mode won't let you play with just one joypad, but you're still getting all the Adventure levels, all the 70-plus Challenge levels, and all the loveliness that the keyboard-and-mouse contingent have been enjoying for two years.

What sets Peggle's Live Arcade outing apart from its PC sibling is Peg Party Mode, which pits you against up to three other players in a simultaneous Peggle-off. The host can set the number of rounds, and impose a time limit on taking each shot, but the aim is simply to score more than the other players before the balls run out. Trouble is, you're each playing on your own boards, and only really get a sense of competition by prodding the Y button to see how your opponents are faring. It's a curiously remote approach to what could have been a defining development in the game's evolution, and it's certainly not enough to justify a download if you already own it on PC.

While it's a shame that the Xbox 360 experience doesn't do more to move the established template forwards on the multiplayer front, it would also be fairly nit-picky to allow such concerns to detract from the fact that Peggle was, and still is, a wonderful, maddeningly moreish gem of fuss-free game design. Every home should have one.

9 / 10

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Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • DFawkes #1 3 years ago

    Need this. I know it's just Peggle, but Peggle is the light.

  • PearOfAnguish #2 3 years ago

    EXTREME FEVER

  • dazrichards #3 3 years ago

    How much?

  • Physically_Insane #4 3 years ago

    Better than RE5

    o_O

  • JHuxley #5 3 years ago

    Meh...not enough to tempt me away from the Steam version. Mouse control FTW.

    Excellent game though, well worth buying if you haven't played it before.

  • andywilkie35 #6 3 years ago

    I'm absolutely all over this, looking forward to it

  • JHuxley #7 3 years ago

    @Physically_Insane

    Yes it is. Probably.

    But it's also worth noting the difference in price...I doubt this would have been 9/10 if they were charging £35.

  • Ninja_Tino #8 3 years ago

    I'm shocked to say I've never, ever played Peggle and I play a lot of games. Definitely getting it!

  • mojo_x #9 3 years ago

    Meh. Non-games are ftl. I played Peggle Nights through to 90% completion while listening to a couple of 1Up Podcasts and couldn''t see what the big fuss was about. Deleted.

    Stop polluting Live Arcade with games for soccer mom's MS.

    Bring on Puzzle Quest Galactrix.

  • crwoody #10 3 years ago

    Was going to aviod this, but i just can't!!! Just bought over xbox.com :(

    This also means i'm going to loose my xbox, tv and girlfriend for while, just the same as i lost my pc for that version!

  • seasidebaz #11 3 years ago

    Why did it drop a point? WHY?????? THE REVIEW READS AS A 10 WHY DID IT GET 9 etc etc.

  • Monkey_Puncher #12 3 years ago

    I hope they release Peggle Nights as DLC sometime.

  • jonsaan #13 3 years ago

    GAAAAAAAHHHH. More money!

  • DanMW #14 3 years ago

    800 points.

  • DDevil #15 3 years ago

    800 points... SOLD.

  • morriss #16 3 years ago

    "Eurogamer like puzzle game....SHOCKER!"

    I can't fucking stand them. :)

  • Wastelander #17 3 years ago

    Hah, where did the article image of Claude come from? I want the wallpaper!

    Ah! Found it here.

    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 12:13

  • Wastelander #18 3 years ago

    It's not really a puzzle game. It's more like pachinko/pinball.

  • Tomo #19 3 years ago

    Never played Peggle either. Might have to get this... Or is it cheaper on Steam?

  • Wastelander #20 3 years ago

    I bought the PC version (Peggle Deluxe) on an actual disc in the supermarket for £2!
    No disc required to play, no DRM or anything.

  • spookyzombie #21 3 years ago

    I always feel like this is the kind of thing I should be playing on a DS. I'll certainly try the demo though.

  • JonFE #22 3 years ago

    "At a guess, it's some silly MS limitation with profiles (can only have one assigned per controller), but it's ludicrously stupid."

    I think you are right; I remember a similar discomfort while playing Worms with my son. Certainly stupid.

  • skillian #23 3 years ago

    If anyone's still unsure how the game plays and can't wait till they get home and can play the demo, you can play a low-res Peggle free online here: [link url=http://www.po pcap.com/games/free/peggle
    ]http://www.po pcap.com/games/free/peggle
    [/link]

  • mfnick #24 3 years ago

    "Some can't get past this element of luck"

    That'll be me then.

    Tried the hour trial of this a while ago on PC. Played it for 30-45 minutes, got very bored, couldnt see the appeal & deleted it.

  • Physically_Insane #25 3 years ago

    Holly shit! I just made an impulse buy and it's fucking awesome! Agree 100% with this review!

  • dmt2 #26 3 years ago

    Peggle and Achievements.

    It's like Crack with smack sprinkled on top

  • Colonelkurtz #27 3 years ago

    I've played both this and Lumines on my cellphone, and they do lucily grow very tiring after a few weeks.

  • CASE #28 3 years ago

    @ MrED209 buy your girlfriend a controller for a 'present'... See?
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 13:34

  • kangarootoo #29 3 years ago

    "Eurogamer like puzzle game....SHOCKER"

    Peggle isn't a puzzle game. Its not even close to having a single puzzle in it.

    Its 2 parts skill to 8 parts chaos theory.

    I'm not saying it is isn't fun, I am just being a pedant... and I don't really know why :(

  • christourlord #30 3 years ago

    Now release it on iPhone please.

  • seasidebaz #31 3 years ago

    I've played both this and Lumines on my cellphone, and they do lucily grow very tiring after a few weeks.

    Mobile phone games are a pile of arse, though. Peggle on a REAL format never grows old.

  • DUFFKING #32 3 years ago

    @ mojo_x: Puzzle Quest Galactrix is apallingly bad.

  • kangarootoo #33 3 years ago

    @seasidebaz

    "Mobile phone games are a pile of arse, though"

    I've got Puzzle Quest on my phone and I rather like it.

    Its cut down compared to the proper versions (no buying of dungeons or training of mounts), but its entertaining enough for a few quid. Plus they changed the game types, so nothing relies on quick reactions (which would have been a moo on a mobile phone keypad).

    Its not on a par with the DS version (I assume, I've not played the DS version), but it does the job for me when I am bored on the train.

  • VampiricEye #34 3 years ago

    Is it stuffed with Achievements? I certainly hope so.

  • urban #35 3 years ago

    truly one of the greatest.

  • HolyJebus #36 3 years ago

    The "luck factor" definitely turned me off this game.

  • dr_faulk #37 3 years ago

    I don't know if I should buy a game that's got the same name as a nickname of someone's granny.

  • JayKwon #38 3 years ago

    @ JonFE and rest, Shizoid and Burnout Paradise Party package allows 2 players using only one controller.

    EDIT: Never heard of this game though (shame on me), I will be looking into this soon.
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 18:03

  • siro #39 3 years ago

    I'll get it.:)

  • RedSparrows #40 3 years ago

    Never played before, got the trial, itching to buy it.

    Sooon

    :(

  • widow88 #41 3 years ago

    Requires 2 controllers because each is tied to a profile though I would agree that if you played without being signed in then one controlller should be supported.

  • 3william56 #42 3 years ago

    Even more pedantically, luck plays no factor in Peggle (or any other ball game, particularly with a computer generated ball). Just the buildup of small differences/errors in aiming and position cause unpredictable behaviour after a couple of bounces. Have a word with Mr Mandelbrot- he'll set you straight.

    Back to the review: is it a new set of levels, or just the same ones I have on my mobile already?

    This is screaming out for a Echochrome/LBP user generated level editor / online store. Would be great to see how ridiculously monsterous scores you could manufacture, like some of the pointwhore LBP levels (and could actually add a puzzle element - e.g. create a level where x pegs can be hit with one ball etc.

  • Petulant_Radish #43 3 years ago

    I was a Peggle virgin, now I’m an absolute Peggle slut, feasting on the Pegular teats all night after an impulse buy that ma me feel dirty. I feel dirty no more.

  • TOOTR #44 3 years ago

    @ Seasidebaz - LOL, Yeah Eurogamer have been bought/possessed/partially eaten by Sony - can't believe this got only a 9!!!!! Cry.Wail. Moan.Gnash teeth. Visit Dentist. Gnash teeth more... I'm never coming to this site again until they change the score to 10 and take back the mean things they said about the mutliplayer.It hurts my ears to hear it so now my teeth and ears are running under less than optimum capacity etc etc

    Meanwhile in a nicer game-loving reality - Peggle rocks but where's the Crystal Defender review - that came out yesterday too no? Whats it like? Is it pants as I feared or is it a pleasant surprise?

  • muscleblade #45 3 years ago

    "Is it pants as I feared or is it a pleasant surprise? "

    Definently pants.

  • metalangel #46 3 years ago

    Bought this last night after one level - it is charming, cheerful and infectious! Yes, luck is a factor... but when you ball bounces madly off a series of pegs and somehow ends up in the free ball bin you will still laugh with glee as if you did it all.

  • tinners #47 3 years ago

    Any game that stops me from religiously playing SF4 until my eyes bleed is a classic imo.



    EXTREME FEVERRRRRRR!!!!!!!

  • Stratus #48 3 years ago

    As someone who has actually cleared and aced every level in Peggle Nights I feel validated in making a couple of statements.

    There is actually a great deal of skill involved if you want to BEAT the game entirely. Knowing which character to pick for the Master Challenges and Quick Play is also something which can make a huge difference in scores and cleared percentages.Yes, there is alot of luck as well, especially for newbies and those just firing randomly and trying to get through Adventure Mode. But when you become very good at Peggle it's entirely possible to clear stages of ALL the pegs with several balls spare to pad your score.

    Unfortunately as far as the Xbox version is concerned the omission of mouse control and the ability to select with the mouse cursor the EXACT spot on the peg you wish to hit makes 100% completion virtually impossible on the later stages IMHO. Especially when you are trying to do bank to the bucket shots near the bottom half of the screen. There is too much guess work even on my 46" Samsung to consistently be accurate.

    I played Peggle Xbox Live version to Adventure Mode completion and am mangling my way through alot of Master Challenges, but unless some form of "crosshair" option or the like is implemented in a patch or update I will unfortunately be playing on the PC. Seems like a MAJOR omission to me.

    Oh yeah, MAGIC HAT RULES!!!

  • Arwin #49 3 years ago

    I bought this, one of the very few games I bought on 360 Live Arcade so far. It's ok, but I have to agree that the PC version plays slightly better, even if the graphics are tonnes smoother on the 360 for me (sucky PC). I agree that the 360 is harder to be precise with.

    Also, as a game though I like it, it's an 8 at best. The luck factor is fairly significant (100.000 bonus for instance for getting multi-ball into the bucket, which is almost always a matter of luck), although there is clearly some skill involved (I worked my way up to position 38 and 40 on two of the first five levels). It's addiction is very similar to a pinball table in the end (to which the crab skill is a nice reference), but I do feel that some of the better pinball tables and pinball games like the Pro-Pinball series (Timeshock in particular) are a fair step up from Peggle. There was a Pro-Pinball compilation on PS1 or PS2 a while ago, they should do another release like it on PSN or Live Arcade - something like that with achievements, online leaderboards and even multiplayer would be great. I don't quite like the current offering on Live Arcade, and PSN doesn't have anything yet.

    Also in terms of the physics and graphics, this game could have been a 16bit era game for sure. I've seen more complicated physics stuff there ... (E-motion, for one)
    Edited by 2 at 15/03/09 @ 20:23

  • Daikon #50 3 years ago

    This game is a weird kind of pinball-meets-arkanoid-meets-pachinko-meets-puzzle-bobble mashup.
    And it works and it's totally addictive.
    And it's only 800 points!
    And it has rainbows!
    And Bjorn the Unicorn!

  • Zebula77 #51 2 years ago

    One of the few PSN games I've played in a long time. Heartily recommended for a quick blast. :)