If you own any other form of Peggle, this PSN release can be ignored very easily. If you don't, then get it immediately.
Peggle, like many puzzle games, holds a simple concept. Players aim silver balls at different colored pegs, with the ultimate goal to hit all orange pegs on the board to finish the stage. In addition to orange pegs, purple pegs help increase score and the green pegs allow for special Master abilities, like releasing a second ball or showing different trajectories. Extra balls are earned with big scores and catching the falling ball in a circle at the bottom of the screen. The brilliant simplicity in Peggle remains a major draw for both new and veteran gamers alike. It's a straightforward and easy-to-jump-into formula, but it will satisfy the thirst of gamers looking for high scores and intricate methods of completing each stage, with the overall completion formula giving incentive and goal to those who just want to finish the game boards. The fact that the physics are so complex also helps the game deliver a good amount of depth (the best shot isn't always the most obvious). It's a formula that aims for accessibility, but will instantly grab you with its challenge, purpose, and surprisingly deep gameplay.
Peggle's concept turns out to have quite a bit of versatility throughout its multiple modes, and the Playstation Network release of Peggle has quite a few modes to keep you interested. The prominent Adventure mode lets players associate themselves with the Peggle mechanics while also unlocking new stages, challenges, and Master abilities to use in the other modes. The Adventure mode is pretty straightforward and mostly feels like a quick way to earn the selectable Master skills, but once you're finished with that mode, the game opens up a great deal, allowing the player to select their own Master skill to use in the other modes instead of being assigned one by default. During the simple Quickplay mode, previous stages seen in the Adventure mode can be replayed for high scores and skills. The Master Duel mode pits players against the Peggle Masters and their skills, with both sides aiming for high scores and skilled Peggle shots. Most interesting of the extra modes is the Challenge mode, a selection of boards where the player must overcome different scenarios skillfully. These challenges can range from completing a board with a limited number of Peggle balls, or finishing a board with more orange pegs than usual. The challenges can be quite difficult, and sometimes frustrating, but they give some serious incentive to replay Peggle, even if high scores aren't your cup of tea.
Completing Peggle's Adventure mode can take a couple of hours, but the increased number of modes (along with a cool competitive multiplayer component for Peggle partiers) gives Peggle a solid amount of longevity. But like many great puzzle games, Peggle has that near perfect amount of addictive depth that will keep you coming back again and again. It demands time and practice to perfect your Peggle shot and revisiting older stages whether to increase your skills or nail that high score on the leaderboards is plenty fun. When combining it all, you're bound to have a lot of content to play, but Peggle misses the shot by just a bit. It just doesn't feel like a full game. Maybe it's the slightly high $10 price point. Maybe it's the simple game mechanics. Maybe it's the lack of any standout or groundbreaking modes. Whatever it is, though, Peggle feels slim and almost methodical in its design. It's a fun game, for sure, but the fact that there could've been so much more in this PSN release pushes Peggle away from gaming nirvana. It comes close, very close, but there's a gap along the road to puzzle perfection that Peggle just can't seem to cross. Shame.
Peggle is as laid-back and emotionally encouraging as it gets. Hearing the chirping of birds as you select the game from your XMB is just the beginning. The comforting rising sun on the title screen, the way Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" bursts from the game soundtrack as the final orange peg is hit; Peggle just nails that spiritual, zen-like mentality that so many puzzle games desperately need to find. Considering the fact that other puzzle games like Tetris, Breakout, and even Bejeweled focus on fast reflexes, split-second thought processes, and struggling against the clock, Peggle encourages the player to sit back, relax, and ponder their next move without rush. The presentation is where it's most apparent. The fact that each Peggle Master wears a happy smile as you decide how to make your next shot shows it in spades. Peggle's presentation is full of brilliant colors, a tender soundtrack, and some surprisingly impressive visual effects as well. It's beautiful and constantly comforting, showing a simple game that begs to be played and rewards you thoroughly for doing so.
Pros
+ Pure, simple, and addictive puzzle game formula
+ Good amount of content
+ Cheerful and light-hearted graphic design
+ Encouraging soundtrack
Cons
- Never feels like a full game
Peggle is a relaxant; a challenging, light-hearted relaxant that practically any gamer will be able to jump into and play without a second thought. The depth in the different Master skills and the intricacies of many of the puzzle boards demand time and effort to truly get under control, but in the end are constantly rewarding. It's addictive, albeit a bit frustrating, and has a good amount of content packed in. However, Peggle just doesn't have much creativity in this PSN release. There could've been more modes, a piece of exclusive content here or there, but if you've already experienced Peggle on your PC or through any of its other incarnations, the PSN release will feel a bit underwhelming. There's a vacancy in this release of Peggle, something small but noticeably absent that keeps it from reaching its full potential. Judging it on its own merits, however, Peggle is Peggle, making it a simply stellar puzzle game for this generation. If you're looking for a puzzle game with depth and unquestionably addictive qualities, Peggle will absolutely deliver. It's one of the best games available on the Playstation Network, and will instantly hook you. Good luck finding the strength to turn off your PS3 afterward, though.