![Super Pinball - Behind the Mask [Model SHVC-3P] screenshot](images/game/62389_2.png "Super Pinball - Behind the Mask [Model SHVC-3P]")
Super Pinball - Behind the Mask © 1994 Meldac
Super Pinball: Behind the Mask is a dedicated pinball simulation title. Unlike many other console pinball games of the era that focused on licensed themes or fantasy abstractions, this title prioritized realistic physics and table design. It offers three distinct tables—"Jolly Joker," "Blackbeard and Ironmen," and Wizard—each featuring unique mission objectives, scoring mechanics, and layouts that challenge the player to master specific ball trajectories and flipper techniques.
GAME ID: SHVC-3P
Technical Specifications: The game utilizes an 8-megabit FastROM cartridge in a LoROM configuration. Notably, it does not feature battery-backed SRAM; because pinball scoring is traditionally arcade-style, the game focuses on live play rather than persistent career tracking or save-state progress.
Released on January 8, 1994 in Japan.
Design Philosophy: The development team, led by designer Takashi Kobayashi, emphasized a "bird's eye" view that attempted to simulate the look and feel of a physical arcade machine within the Super Famicom's resolution constraints. This was a departure from the scrolling style often found in competing titles, allowing for a more stable view of the entire playfield.
Competitive Roots: While a single-player simulation at its core, the game includes a "Competition Mode" that allows up to four players to take turns, making it a surprisingly common fixture in local multiplayer sessions of the mid-90s, where players would compete for high scores rather than direct head-to-head combat.
Regional Variance: While Japan saw this release via Meldac, Nintendo handled publishing duties in North America and Europe. The core game remained identical across these regions, maintaining the KAZe-developed engine that was widely regarded for its fluid ball physics.