Peggle Nights

Peggle Nights is a Windows, Mac OS X and Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade[1] downloadable game from PopCap Games. Upon its release, PopCap marketed the game as a "follow-up" to Peggle,[2] although an actual sequel to the 2007 PC Game was released in 2013. The gameplay between Peggle and Peggle Nights has remained largely unchanged, with each stage featuring a colorful 2D background filled with different colored "pegs". The objective in each level is to clear all of the orange pegs by hitting them with a ball shot from the top of the screen. New to this version are 60 new levels, 60 additional challenges, the introduction of the new Peggle Master Marina the Electric Squid, and the addition of an "Aced" score for each level.

Peggle Nights
North American PC box art
Developer(s)PopCap Games
Publisher(s)PopCap Games
Electronic Arts
SeriesPeggle
EnginePopCap Games Framework
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • NA: September 16, 2008
  • Steam: October 15, 2008
Mac OS X
  • NA: March 1, 2009
Xbox 360
  • NA: November 18, 2009
PlayStation 3
  • NA: November 19, 2009
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

PopCap gave little pre-release build-up to Peggle Nights, with only a mention of the game by founder by Jason Kapalka in a January 2008 interview and PopCap publishing its press release on the day it was released. Critical reviews of Peggle Nights were favorable, most of the praises going towards the gameplay mechanics and presentation taken from the original Peggle; however, Peggle Nights's overwhelming sameness to its predecessor, as well as its narrative dream element, garnered mixed responses.

Gameplay
Main article: Peggle § Gameplay
One of the few major additions to Peggle Nights includes the character of Marina, a squid that can shoot lightning to strike a set of pegs.

Gameplay for Peggle Nights has remained similar to the original game, although additional types of style shots, such as off the wall,have been added. The primary gameplay addition to Peggle Nights is the new Peggle Master Marina.

Marina is the final Peggle master of Peggle nights, and her power is a high risk, high reward shot. Lightning travels from the first peg touched to the center of the score bucket. The lighting eliminates all pegs in the path, including armored ones. Marina's power is best used late in the game when the score multiplier is highest.[3] Despite being one of the strongest Peggle masters, Marina did not return for Peggle 2 - though Batrina in Peggle Blast has a similar power.

As its opening theme, the game uses the classical piece "Clair de lune", the third movement from the piano suite Suite bergamasque by Claude Debussy.

Release

Pre-release revelations of Peggle Nights were limited to an interview with PopCap founder Jason Kapalka published by Rock, Paper, Shotgun on January 30, 2008; he revealed it would be a "pretty straightforward 'sequel'" to Peggle, "with the primary points of appeal being dozens and dozens of new levels, one additional power-up/Peggle master, and some new kinds of challenges." He also revealed the dream aspect of the game.[4] PopCap's press release of the game was made public the day it was released, and IGN reported a Peggle sequel had been "much-anticipated."[5]

As of January 2010, three expansions have been released: a holiday theme, a spring theme and a pack with fan-art-based levels.[6] All three come with extra adventure levels and challenges. While these extra levels are on the PC and Mac versions of Peggle Nights, they have not been patched into the iOS version of Peggle. The Xbox Live Arcade version of Peggle received Nights content in the form of a downloadable expansion for the game on November 18, 2009.[1][7] The iPhone version of Peggle received Nights content as an In-App Purchase on October 4, 2010.[8]

It is also unlockable in Peggle: Dual Shot for the Nintendo DS. However, in Peggle Dual Shot, Marina is not unlockable.

Reception

Approbation towards aspects of the original Peggle were prominent in reviews of Peggle Nights, such as its "balanced" gameplay,[26][25] level design,[26][25] addictive nature,[19][24][26] and vibrant presentation.[19][25] The fact of Peggle Nights being simply the same Peggle game with different levels and added features was praised by some reviewers[13][19][17][22][27] and lukewarmly-thought-of by others.[16] PopMatters writer Thomas Cross was concerned that the lack of newness wouldn't help the Peggle series' chances of staying relevant,[26] while Gamezebo suggested gamers would be "downright disappointed" if they expected more.[23]

Michael Scarpelli of Inside Mac Games called Peggle Nights's levels "far more intricate than in the original Peggle. There are moving pieces and barriers abound and there are a far greater percentage of levels that will take a handful of tries to pass."[25] On the other hand, Joe Blyth of Eurogamer called the levels "a little disappointing," particularly criticizing the "inaccessible boxiness" of the Renfield stages.[16] However, he did praise the character of Marina and her stages.[16] The ace awards were also honored by reviewers,[16] including Scarpelli who reasoned they added replay value to Peggle Nights.[25]

The dream aspect of the game "makes for some great new background art, and some opportunities for quirky humor as well," according to Game Revolution;[17] and the dreams were "sweet and unpredictable," in Blyth's opinion.[16] A couple of reviewers particularly spotlighted Tula's story for its emotional engagement,[16] Steve Hogarty of GamesRadar+ writing that "few games approach such subject matter, and fewer still with such gravitas."[18] Scarpelli praised the dream concept for giving a variety of backgrounds that added a "particular flair" to the peg placement.[25] However, Thomas found the story "meaningless" to the experience,[26] and Steve Hogarty of GamesRadar+ felt it hindered the gameplay's quality: "Pegs are sculpted more closely around background artwork, and the art itself threads narrative through the progression of levels."[18]

References
  1. Faylor, Chris (2009-08-26). "Peggle XBLA Getting 'Nights' Expansion". Shacknews. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  2. "PopCap Launches Peggle Nights for PC" (Press release). PopCap Games. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  3. Sketchie00 (2010-08-13), Let's Play Peggle Nights - Marina 11-1, retrieved 2017-10-17
  4. Meer, Alec (January 30, 2008). "RPS Interview: PopCap on Casual, Peggle & Valve". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  5. "PopCap Launches Peggle Nights for PC". IGN. September 16, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  6. "Bonus Levels". PopCap Games. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  7. "Gamespy Article". Archived from the original on 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  8. "Peggle Nights comes to the iPhone as in-app purchase". Gamezebo. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  9. "Peggle Nights for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  10. "Peggle Nights for Xbox 360". GameRankings. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  11. "Peggle Nights for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  12. "Peggle Nights for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  13. Hayward, Andrew (September 30, 2008). "Peggle Nights Review for PC, 360". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  14. Nicholson, Brad (March 9, 2009). "Destructoid review: Peggle Nights". Destructoid. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  15. Reed, Kristan (January 19, 2011). "Best of the Mac App Store". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  16. Blyth, Joe (October 25, 2008). "Peggle Nights". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  17. "Peggle Nights – PC Review". Game Revolution. September 17, 2008. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  18. Hogarty, Steve (October 9, 2008). "Peggle Nights review". GamesRadar+. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  19. Onyett, Charles (September 25, 2008). "Peggle Nights Review". IGN. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  20. "Pegge Nights for Playstation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  21. Mastrapa, Gus (October 20, 2008). "Peggle Nights". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  22. Kim, Albert (October 1, 2008). "Casual Games: 'Peggle Nights' and more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  23. Saltzman, Marc (September 16, 2008). "Peggle Nights Review". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  24. Peterson, Brian (November 25, 2009). "Peggle Nights". Gaming Age. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  25. Scarpelli, Michael (May 7, 2009). "Peggle Nights". Inside Mac Games. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  26. Cross, Thomas (January 28, 2010). "Peggle Nights". PopMatters. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  27. Hill, Jason (October 2, 2008). "Review: Peggle Nights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  28. Kohler, Chris (December 3, 2008). "Best of 2008: Top 5 PC Games". Wired. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
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