Zen Pinball is right up there on my "Top 5 PlayStation Network Games" list. Whether it's higher than Joe Danger and Shatter remains to be seen, but let it never be said that I don't appreciate the never-ending work of Zen Studios. The newest downloadable table, Zen Pinball: Mars, has finally hit the network, and as always, it's absolutely worth a buy for anyone who owns Zen Pinball.

I've decided to stop predicting the future of Zen Pinball's downloadable tables, though the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 table has left me wanting another game-themed table. (Come on, Zen Studios. A table based on Ratchet & Clank or Uncharted would be awesome!) But enough about what I want. Here's what we've got: the fourth planet from the sun. Since there is so much mystery shrouding the Red Planet, there's plenty of room for Zen Studios to get creative. And Zen Pinball: Mars is nothing if not creative. Just about everything apart from the bottom of the playing field is made up of future tech; ramps have a sterile, utilitarian look to them. This contrasts with the bottom of the playing field, which is the surface of Mars. The contrast is stark and easy to appreciate; a giant face appears to be rising out of the dust, and bright, runic symbols practically beg to be lit up. The ball out zone reads "Are We Alone?" Of course, it wouldn't be Zen Pinball if crazy things didn't happen during play. Playing correctly will reward you with one of several crazy events. For example, satellites "orbit" the field of play, and the Space Spider acts as a rather fickle ball-saver. Again, the attention to detail is everything; when you lose your ball, the Space Spider facepalms. As always, the sound design follows suit with an appropriate blend of techno/electronica and subtle mystery.

Zen Pinball: Mars is pinball on Mars, only without the weaker gravitational forces. This reminds me of how fortunate we are to live on Earth. Pinball would be one of the easiest games in the world if the world in question was Mars. Zen Pinball, however, would remain just as challenging there as it is on our own world. That's because Zen Pinball is a realistic pinball experience with just a touch of fantasy. Things happen on these tables that probably couldn't happen today... but probably could in the near future. I just hope I live long enough to see pinball tables evolve to this level of technical sophistication. More details on Zen Pinball and all of its downloadable tables can be found in our extensive coverage, which has been condensed into the second link at the bottom of the page for your convenience.

How far does $2.50 go for you? The answer to that question will lead you to the answer to "Should I buy this table?" However, I'm going to take it a step further and repeat what I've been saying since the first table was released. If you own Zen Pinball, you know if you like it or not. Since this table doesn't really change anything that makes the original game fantastic, the decision should be a very easy one. For most of you, that's my convoluted way of saying "Just buy it."