Pro-Pinball: The Ultimate Compilation

Rating:
Summary: The best gaming value I have ever seen!
Review: Accept no substitutes: Pro Pinball is the _only_ PC pinball simulation worth playing. And for an unprecedented low price, you get all three Pro Pinball titles: The Web, Timeshock!, and Big Race USA. Considering this: I bought Timeshock! and The Web together for $15 and Big Race USA by itself for $30 and am _still_ happy with the value I got. You can imagine, then, what kind of treasure you're getting with this package.

Unlike other PC simulations of that silver ball, Pro Pinball offers tables that are so complex and realistic in their design they can literally hold their own against (and oftentimes outperform) modern pinball tables you might see at your local arcade. Gameplay in all three tables is complex, yet engaging enough that you can have absolutely no idea what's going on yet have a blast nonetheless. Once you figure out the rules to the tables, though, the games really take off, and that's where the addiction comes in. And no silly things like balls that change shape, ridiculously large multi-tiered tables, or illogical loops -- every gadget, ramp, and gizmo in these tables are completely believable and have been implemented in real, physical tables in the past. The balls move smoothly and realistically with alarmingly accurate physics, and a truer representation of pinball cannot be found, anywhere.

The themes of the tables are also very well-designed and make you want to play "just one more game." The Web has a Blade Runner-esque theme and feels a bit derivative and dated, but it is also the oldest title. Timeshock! and Big Race USA are the real treasures of this package, and both complement each other very nicely, each giving you a very different pinball experience with Timeshock!'s serious, time travel story and Big Race USA's very light-hearted, humorous veneer.

If you've _ever_ liked pinball, YOU MUST GET THIS PACKAGE. Failure to do so is a severe disservice to yourself. Those $15 will easily outlast any other PC game you've got. I've played and permanently shelved countless more expensive PC games -- but I still play Pro Pinball. And those tables are just as fun now as they were when I first bought them.

Rating:
Summary: An INCREDIBLE value!
Review: For anyone who likes computer pinball this software package is like a gift from heaven. If you're a pinball fan and haven't played any of the titles published by Pro Pinball, you will be blown away by the realism, depth, and sheer FUN of these tables.

This package contains full versions of Cunning Developments' first three pinball tables (in chronological order), 'The Web', 'Timeshock', and 'Big Race USA'. Of the three titles, only 'The Web' shows it's age in the graphics and physics during play. The table is still incredibly complex and has an excellent musical soundtrack.

Truth be told, I have spent most of my time playing the two later tables, 'Timeshock' and 'Big Race USA'. 'Timeshock', according to most pinball sites you come across on the web, is the best and most entertaining pinball simulation in existence for the PC. I heartily agree. With a sci-fi storyline, your mission is to collect crystals from four different time zones and put them together to travel to the dawn of time and prevent a "timeshock", which will happen in the future. The table is a perfect balance; challenging yet not impossible, complex but not unintelligible, and most importantly, very addicting! I have played this table probably over 200 times and I have only gotten 3/4 of the way to the final goal. But does this discourage me? No! Through practice you will improve and learn strategies to get better, which is the best part. The graphics and sound are incredible, and the level of control and custimization you have over the table is vast indeed. A classic worth the price of this package by itself.

'Big Race USA' is the newest table in this package, and carries on the tradition of quality that Timeshock brought to the PC market. More light-hearted in theme than Timeshock, in Big Race USA you play the part of a taxi, cruising across the United States from New York to San Francisco, and then back again in the "Big Race". Along the way you undergo challenges from 4 different other cars (dragster, sports car, monster truck, and mini-beetle, each with their own charming personality and voice), as well as the imperious Police Car, which has a hilarious Darth Vader fetish and wheezes lines like, "You're old and weak, taxi", or "I have you now". The table is a bit more complex than Timeshock, but reading the manual (included on the CD) will give you the necessary tips to start racing your way to success! The graphics and sound are top-notch, and this table is a nice change of pace and a worthy successor to Timeshock.

When I found out amazon.com was selling this software package for this price I had to do a double-take. You cannot beat this price! This software package is the best pinball value for the PC I've seen to date. If you are a pinball enthusiast and want the best pinball sims on the planet, get this software package, you won't be disappointed!

If you'd like to try before you buy, check out the demo versions of any of these tables to see how realistic and fun Cunning Developments has made these games. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A great game for Pin-Ball Lovers
Review: This is a real 3-D pin-ball series. A GREAT VALUE indeed.

You can even see the reflection of the environment on the surface of the stell ball as it moves -- so cool are the graphics.

But there are hiccups / delay in rendering when loading another module.

Good overall game. Grat for family/friends too -- upto four players can play.

Rating:
Summary: A nice deal but here is a warning...
Review: This is still a great deal for Timeshock and Big Race USA but despite the earlier review be warned that there is apparently no cd music (or any music at all) on The Web. It DOES have a great soundtrack as I had this on the Mac some time ago but according to Interplay there are no music tracks offered in this version. I don't understand this but no explanation was given. It is the weakest table in any case but without music it makes a good coaster. I don't think it is a "tease" either as the game seems unavailable by itself. This seems to be a trend as Timeshock was also offered in "pinball madness 2" and it too turned out to be a stripped-down, no-music affair. In both cases this was never mentioned in the game description. So first you fiddle with your settings all night to find the problem... then you find out they just didn't bother to sell you the whole package... nice. Still a decent price indeed for the TWO working games.

Rating:
Summary: A nice deal but here is a warning...
Review: This is still a great deal for Timeshock and Big Race USA but despite the earlier review be warned that there is apparently no cd music (or any music at all) on The Web. It DOES have a great soundtrack as I had this on the Mac some time ago but according to Interplay there are no music tracks offered in this version. I don't understand this but no explanation was given. It is the weakest table in any case but without music it makes a good coaster. I don't think it is a "tease" either as the game seems unavailable by itself. This seems to be a trend as Timeshock was also offered in "pinball madness 2" and it too turned out to be a stripped-down, no-music affair. In both cases this was never mentioned in the game description. So first you fiddle with your settings all night to find the problem... then you find out they just didn't bother to sell you the whole package... nice. Still a decent price indeed for the TWO working games.