LADYDRAGON.COM - Pinball Arcade

Microsoft brings us not only a pinball game, but one with a little historical backround to it. Pinball Arcade, comming this fall, includes 7 of the most popular arcade pinball games of their time. From the 1932 Baffle Ball to the 1993 Cue Ball Wizzard, there is surly an era for you. The 7 pinball games included in Pinball Arcade are Baffle Ball - 1932, Humpty Dumpty - 1947, Knock Out - 1950, Slick Chick - 1963, Spirit of '76 - 1976, Haunted House - 1986, and Cue Ball Wizzard - 1993. From the time that pinball started, to modern day. Pinball Arcade includes all of the most popular pinball games of their decade. Gameplay is similar to most any other pinball game, though the commands can be reconfigured to fit your costom needs. Most of the older (pre-1986) pinball games in PA are just plain, regular pinball. With no digitized sounds or graphics. These may seem rather boring at first glance, but I assure you. What they lack in asthetic apearance, they make up for in gameplay. The pre-1986 pinball games are very challanging due to the enormus gap in between the two flippers. In modern pinball games, the gap is about 2 inches wide, and has a snall steel pin in the center to prevent the ball from directly rolling out of play. This is not so with the older games. In the older games, the gap is about 3-4 inches and has nothing obstructing the center.	This makes the game MUCH more challenging, and though at times frustrating, it adds play value, and makes you want to try again and again. As for the newer post-1986 games. They seem geared toward the asthetical, fast action type game, with multiple objectives and digital sounds and graphics. When I say, 'Multiple Objectives', I mean exactly that. For example, in the game Cue Ball Wizzard, when you hear the someone say "Go for the ramp!", and you hit the ball up the ramp, you get double the points, and progress through the game. There are several modes or play that you can achieve by progressing through the obsitcales. The farther you get, the more points you get. The objective, as with other pinball games is to accumulate as many points as possible. Graphically, the game is superb. One of the best available. My only complaint is that the graphics are obviously 2D, rather than some of the more advanced 3D pinball games. Though this works both ways. While it may not look as good as some other games, it runs faster on slower computers. Sounds are also very well done. Everything from the bells, buzzers, and even the hum of electricity when you hold a flipper in the up poistion are all accurate, and sounds very real. This is a great game for anyone who enjoys pinball games, and especially for someone looking for authentic pinball games that actually exsisted in real life.	Companies Developer Microsoft www.microsoft.com Publisher Microsoft www.microsoft.com Category Arcade Notes Originality: 91% Gameplay: 87% Interest: 85% Graphic: 90% Control: 88% Sound: 94% TOTAL: 89% Requirements Operation System Windows 95-98 Processor 90 MHz Pentium Memory 16 RAM Hard Drive 15 MB CD ROM 4x Sound Card Direct X 6.0 - Compatible Video Card Direct X 6.0 - Compatible 1 MB SVGA Input Device Mouse Multiplayer 1-2 Players Rated by ESRB "E" Everyone DEMO