Catch 'em Mode

Catch 'em Mode (Japanese: ゲットモード^[1] Get Mode, GET(ゲット)モード^[2] Get Mode) is the main game mode used to catch Pokémon in Pokémon Pinball and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire.

Entering the Catch 'em Mode

In both games, two out of the three Catch 'em Arrows (the triangles pointing up at the right side of the table) are turned on by default at the start of the game. This enables the Catch 'em Mode to start immediately. After entering this mode for the first time, the player is required to light up the Catch 'em Arrows to enable it again.

Turning on the Catch 'em Arrows is accomplished by throwing the ball up through the Right Loop. This may cause the ball to turn counterclockwise at the top of the table.

Each area has certain Pokémon species available. Some species can be caught with specifically two or three Catch 'em Arrows turned on.

Alternatively, the Catch 'em Mode is also one of the prizes available from the Slot Mode.

Catching a Pokémon

In the Catch 'em Mode, the player has 2 minutes to catch the Pokémon, as seen by the countdown ticking at the top-right corner. In addition, the Ball Saver is set to 1 minute. If the countdown reaches 0 or the player loses the ball without the Ball Saver, this mode will end and Pokémon will not be caught. However, the Pokémon still counts as "seen" in the Pokédex.

The Pokémon's sillhouette is seen at the Pokémon Panel. The player needs to hit the Bumpers at the top of the screen to uncover square-shaped pieces of the Pokémon. When all the pieces are uncovered and the complete image of the Pokémon is revealed, the Center Hole is opened. Once the ball enters the center hole, the player catches the Pokémon.

Once the player has caught the Pokémon, it counts as "caught" in the Pokédex and this lights up one of the three Poké Balls in the Pokémon Panel. If the three Poké Balls are lit up, the player can enter the next Bonus Stage.

The caught Pokémon can evolve in the Evolution Mode.

Pokémon Pinball

In Pokémon Pinball, there are no evolved Pokémon (as of Generation I) available in the Catch 'em Mode.

In this mode, hitting a Bumper uncovers one piece of the Pokémon. Therefore, the payer needs to hit the Bumpers six times to uncover all the six pieces.

Up to 255 Pokémon can be caught at the same time within a game: catching a 256th will result into the counter being set back to 0 and the list being blanked, but the player will receive a bonus of 1,000,000,000 points.

Red Field

For the list of available Pokémon, see: Red Field → Areas

Once two or three Catch 'em Arrows are turned on, the Catch 'em Mode starts when the ball enters Shellder's shell.

Blue Field

For the list of available Pokémon, see: Blue Field → Areas

Once two or three Catch 'em Arrows are turned on, the Catch 'em Mode starts when the ball enters Bellsprout's mouth.

Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire

In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, there are several unevolved or evolved Pokémon available in the Catch 'em Mode. Several first-stage Pokémon are available from the Egg Mode instead.

If the player has the Timer Bonus activated, there is an additional 30 seconds to finish this mode (from 2:00 to 2:30).

In the Catch 'em Mode, hitting a Bumper uncovers one piece, then two more pieces, then more three pieces of the Pokémon. Therefore, the payer needs to hit the Bumpers three times to uncover all the six pieces.

If the player hits the Bumpers three times while the Pokémon was still completely unrevealed, the Pokémon is revealed immediately with a lightning animation.

Ruby Field

For the list of available Pokémon, see: Ruby Field → Areas

Once two or three Catch 'em Arrows are turned on, the Catch 'em Mode starts when the ball enters Sharpedo's mouth.

Sapphire Field

For the list of available Pokémon, see: Sapphire Field → Areas

Once two or three Catch 'em Arrows are turned on, the Catch 'em Mode starts when the ball enters Wailmer's mouth.

Music

In Pokémon Pinball, the Catch 'em Mode music themes are known as BGM 02 (in the Red Field) and BMG 09 (in the Blue Field).

In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, the Catch 'em Mode music theme is known as BGM 25.

References

↑ Japanese manual of Pokémon Pinball
↑ Japanese manual of Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire