Rating: 
Summary: Microsoft Gets One Right
Review: I began playing pinball back in the 1960s and always liked the Gottlieb machines the best. Microsoft has done a fantastic job of simulating these games, right down to the glare off the glass and the sounds of the EM components coming to life. No detail has been overlooked. The flippers even make that electric buzzing noise if you hold down the buttons. Incredible!Game play is smooth and realistic. There are a few quirks -- the ramp shot on Cue Ball Wizard is almost impossible with the left flipper and the machines tilt too easily, but these are minor complaints. If you don't have a lot of space, this game is a perfect way to have a bunch of pinball machines in your basement. My only complaint is that the CD has such a limited number of games. With the exception of Knock Out, the early designs are interesting from a historical perspective, but not that much fun to play repeatedly. I'd like to see a "Best of Gottlieb" CD with about fifty more games from the Golden Era of pinball. I'd also like to see the same quality applied to some of the old games produced by Chicago Coin, Bally, and Williams. A lot of the old pinball games are disappearing and it would be nice to see them preserved for posterity. New generations should get the chance to play games like El Dorado and 8-Ball Deluxe! And why stop there? I'd love to see Microsoft recreate some of the golden oldies with the same attention to detail. Games like Jet Rocket, S.A.M.I., Stunt Pilot, or Bally's old soccer game would be a blast. But with that said, hats off to Microsoft for putting out a top notch CD. More!
Rating: 
Summary: Annoying, with potential
Review: I didn't find the older games interesting. However, Haunted House and Cueball wizard are entertaining and have potential. Problems: In Haunted House, the need to switch keys to control the flippers in the extra levels seems an unnecessary complication. Plus, the left flipper in the upper level is not very useful. Seems more a matter of luck than skill to get the ball over to the right side of the level. In Cueball Wizard, the programmers seem to have tried to program the flipper physics to include a sticky elastomer on the flippers, rather than the more common hard rubber (if I'm reading the tips correctly). In any case, the ball does not seem to behave consistently off the flippers - I've had the ball, when trying to trap it, actually stick to the tip of the flipper, and not roll down. Of course, when you let go, Newton takes over again, and the ball falls down the hole, untouchable. And, since the launcher force increases as long as you hold the key down, and the ball will be released from the launcher automatically at maximum force, timing the skill shot is darned near impossible. You should be able to hold at some level of force and release at will. And, yes, there are motion halts...which always, in this pinball as well as others, always stop the controls, while leaving the ball free to escape at will (as it were). Another general pinball game gripe is impossibly fast ball acceleration, at times. I admit, just getting the physics of these things must be a daunting task. Keep trying, you have some potential here. RB
Rating:
Summary: So real it's scary!
Review: I have been playing real pinball machines for 40 years, and leave it to the geniuses as Microsoft to replicate this effort. I have actually spent many a Friday night at the local tavern back in the 70's playing the spirit of 76 game, and sometimes I keep forgetting that I am actually on the computer. The sights, sounds, feel, graphics, it's all there. I also have the 3-d Ultra Thrillride, which in case you didn't know is modeled after Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa. about 10 miles east of where I live. That, too is excellent, yet different. The funny thing is my wife can clean up on the thrill ride machine but she thinks that the MS machines suck. I'm not the best pinball player in the world, and I do agree these are tough. I'll give it stars, but be advised, it tends to load slow between tables. All in All great fun.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic pinbal for your computer
Review: I love pinball, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. This may not be the best, but it is a high quality, realistic and most important fun to play. With seven different tables it's hard to get bored. For the price you can't beat it.
Rating: 
Summary: Microsoft Pinball Arcade
Review: I received this software not too long ago, and I must say that from Microsoft's point of view, this is one of their shunned products. My love for pinball games had given me reason to take a look at Microsoft's Pinball Arcade, but it was for the wrong reason. After getting the program on my computer, I eagerly tried it out with literal disappointment. Slow frame rates, less-than-expected visual graphics, and set schemes in the pinball really didn't appeal to me very much (although I must say the their haunted house did give me reason to like it). Before getting this, give second thought to other pinball games before coming to this one, but if you enjoyed the 1950s version of "Knock Out," go right on ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing. There much better pinball games out there.
Review: I thought the idea was a good one... you get to play reproductions of influential pinball games throughout pinball history. However, I have to say that the execution left a lot to be desired. The ball physics is very poor, and the animation was way too choppy (I have a fast machine, and the other pinball games played much more smoothly). I found myself instantly frustrated with the lack of control I had over the ball and gave up playing it after just an hour. I'm a pinball fan, and spent the last couple of months buying pinball games and trying them out. Microsoft Pinball arcade scores near the bottom of the list. If you want a great pinball game, get "Pro Pinball: Timeshock" instead. "Addiction Pinball" was also pretty good, and "Full Tilt 2" wasn't bad, but all of them beat this lame program hands down. Bottom line: I had high hopes for Microsoft Pinball Arcade, and it let me down. Big time.
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing!
Review: I was very surprised to to find that the pinball game that came with my computer is far better that this. Did not have "the feel" of real pinball. This is compared to the other game. I expect much, much more from Microsoft. I do not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great game
Review: I've had this game about a year now and I love it. I play it almost every day. It has a pinball table from every decade starting with 1930s all the way to the 90s. It shows the evolution of pinball. The graphics on this game are immaculate and game play is sensational. If you like pinball, this is a great game!!!
Rating:
Summary: The most realistic pinball sim I've ever played.
Review: I've played 4 of the machines, in real life and the simulations are awesome clones of the REAL thing. While young I was lucky enough to learn alot of pinball playing Spirit of 76, and there's no almost no difference. Cue Ball Wizard, the most current game, is lacking a simple way to hit the right ramp shot (the real game has a VERY easy ramp shot). Otherwise, the old games are entertaining, with different generations remembering one table or another.
Rating: 
Summary: Just as real but should be upgradable
Review: Its great!!! I mean I was surprised of the detail and sound, you actually feel like it's the real one, but it should be upgradable, cause once you played it a few days you start to get bored of the models featured in this software.
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