Usually, they've only alienated true fans looking for a great pinball game, making them wary of the genre in general. Take heart, pinball fans! Pro Pinball: The Web, while it may not hit the super jackpot, takes great strides in the right direction. Empire Interactive has developed a truly viable pinball simulation rather than a bizarre hybrid with silly trappings that heretofore have passed as cyber pinball games.
Pro Pinball: The Web is straight up pinball, realistic in most every aspect and, while it isn't the most perfect table ever devised, the dedication poured into creating a realistic simulation is obvious.
As a stand-alone table, the game is actually just slightly above average. Although a lot of work was put into the design, it still isn't close to the top-notch design of today's best real pinball tables and, in fact, its fairly generic looks detract from the overall experience.
The layout, on the other hand, is decently structured and none of the ramps are too difficult to hit. The table is of average difficulty with multi-ball action fairly easy to initiate and the different modes create just the right amount of challenge. The best thing about the table is its sharp look at high resolution, though you need a high-end computer to run the game in its highest graphical modes.
Without doubt, the game's most outstanding feature is its superb physics model. While a truly accurate replication of "wild" pinball movement may yet be in the distant future, Pro Pinball: The Web contains the most accurate ball physics to date. The ball feels weighty and connected to the table in just the right way while possessing accurate amounts of backspin and exhibiting the same strange quirks seen on actual tables.
When you play Timeshock! That's why we've basically rewritten everything: the ball physics, the whole flipper thing. That's something we're really proud of now. Previously, the flippers would affect the ball; now the ball actually affects the flippers as well.
As far as we can tell this is unique. It's all a lot more subtle now, which means you can do all sorts of different tricks and shots. The balls now spin and actually roll -they can even bounce and hit the glass.
It's a lot more realistic. As well as overhauling the mechanics of the game, it's also changed a lot graphically. The ridiculously hi-res mode options are still intact, and consequently the table is incredibly detailed.
It took over a year to draw, and when Ade tells me that the bulbs have filaments and the microswitches have diodes and wires, I'm not in the least bit surprised that it took so long. You'll need an 8mb graphics card to appreciate this detail in x in bit colour, but the premise is that it's there if you want it. To ensure that Timeshock!
In other words, if you liked The Web. We've come to expect a lot of depth and gameplay in the new generation of PS games. Sadly this PC port Pinball sim is surprisingly shallow. Granted it's not terrible--the ball physics are decent and the gameplay and graphics are passable--but the fact that there's only one table is just unacceptable.
It seems as if you're only getting about 30 percent of a game with Timeshock. Even more maddening--there's nothing creative about it. Other games, like Hot Shots Golf or Ten Pin Alley for example, have taken their somewhat boring genres and spiced them up with unique graphics, characters and engaging gameplay. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for TS. Beyond multiball and special target hits, there really aren't any exciting gaming moments. Unless, of course, you count getting a tilt penalty--whoopee!
Strangely forgoing the option to offer more tables, they include a slide show instead? Granted the rendered scenes close-ups of the table look pretty good, but they certainly don't redeem the game.
In the end, it comes across as a cheap way to add some substance to an overall slim package. Sorry, we're not fooled. There's just not enough depth in this decent but very limited pinball offering. Unfortunately, none of the viewing angles work too well it's just the nature of trying to fit a whole pinball table on a TV screen. The visual problem is made worse with the overly colorful and cluttered playing field. I also find it difficult to recommend paying money for a one-table console pinball game.
The single pinball table presented here doesn't seem like a bad game at all. In fact, I'd probably play the thing in real life, if I came across it in an arcade. Instead it's good old-fashioned ass-kicking rock 'n' roll, courtesy of Bruce Foxton remember The Jam? Hey, how could you possibly forget? To be honest, with guys like this supplying the sounds, there's no way you can go wrong. In addition to all the super music, you also get a pretty neat pinball game to play around with too.
The visuals are silicon graphic-tastic, with multiple viewing angles and stupidly high resolution of up to x with over 32, colours - and all this at a ridiculously fast 60 frames per second.
For those of you interested in the 'proper' pinball bits in the game, you'll be pleased to know it has three flippers, two ramps, loops, orbits, targets, grab magnets, drop targets and In summary, Pro Pinball is a greatlooking game with lots of features and a superb soundtrack.
I confidently predict it will blow the competition away when it comes out at the end of this month. Browse games Game Portals.
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