Download Microsoft Pinball Arcade (Windows)

Pinball games have been around forever it seems, and the Microsoft team has acknowledged this by creating the game Microsoft Pinball Arcade. Spanning right through the century from 1931-1992, Microsoft Pinball Arcade contains seven differently themed tables from the vertical tables of the 1930's to the more modernly themed ones of the 70's and 80's. Also included is the mandatory 90's table with its flashing lights, fancy sounds and multi-trillion scorelines!

Pinball machines were part and parcel of most arcades in the late seventies and early eighties and, although they never got as much recognition as arcade machines, the demand was always there. And now, as we approach the new millennium, their popularity hasn't waned at all with pinball machines still one of the most addictive machines available to play.

Microsoft has been very clever in their approach to this collection, concentrating wholly on the differences in pinball rather than simply releasing seven of the same. Here's a rundown of each table and the comparisons/changes through the years: -

Buffle Ball - 1931

Most people will not remember these when they first came out (those that do will no doubt deny it anyway), but basically, this was the first ever pinball machine. Standing upright and looking like a cross between an old wireless and a jukebox, the idea is that as the ball shoots up to the top (as in normal pinball) the player must redirect the ball down into one of the colored slots. The balls are all colored differently so obviously the more red balls that go in the red slots will reward you with more points.

Another significant feature (or not as the case may be) was that the flippers were not included, instead the ball would land in one of the slots at the bottom (all with different scores). There are ten balls in all and only one real bonus option. Buffle Ball is actually surprisingly good and highly addictive, although next to the more recent machines it does look a little lifeless.

Humpty Dumpty - 1947

Humpty Dumpty is the first recognisable pinball game included in Pinball Arcade, although the flippers are situated on the sides from top to bottom. There are three on each side, which does take a lot of getting used to.

Due to the fact that this table was one of the first which included flippers, the playability is somewhat limited and it can get pretty boring.

Knock Out - 1950

A more traditional table with a boxing theme, Knock Out was the first Gottlieb table to include the two flippers at the bottom. It also included a sub-game which consisted of a boxing ring at the top of the table in which, when a certain score is acquired, a 'knockout' is achieved and one of the boxers would fall over. This sort of feature went on to become an important part of pinball.

Although the table does has the two flippers at the bottom, they are extremely far away from each other with a metal bar in between them. This is included to make the game much harder as, when a player reaches a score of 300,000 the bar will disappear leaving a wide open space for the ball to fall into. It's a pretty enjoyable table though, apart from the impossibility of keeping the ball on the table after the bar has gone.

Slick Chick - 1963

As the sixties went a-swinging, then so did the pinball. Slick Chick kept the flippers at the bottom and opted for a much smaller gap between them, resulting in a much faster and more hectic game.

Out of the seven tables featured, this one (apart from Baffle Ball) is probably the one which requires the most skill as the ball travels very fast around the table. Really nice artwork on the table as well.

Spirit of '76 - 1976

Celebrating America's bicentennial year with pictures of the astronaut John Glenn and folk singer Davey Crockett, this table set the trend of pinball tables for the future. This table is much more playable then its predecessors mainly because of the more strategically placed flippers and bigger and better bonuses.

Spirit of '76 is easily the most original table featured in Microsoft Pinball Arcade. It is also worth noting that this table featured the new option of four players.

Haunted House - 1982

The pinball explosion! The eighties pushed the pinball phenomenon further than ever with arcades all over the world including them alongside the likes of Pac-Man and Asteroids. Haunted House is the first game in the pack to feature a game inside a game. In the middle and top of the table is a pinball game all of it's own in which you can double or even triple your score.

Haunted House is also the first table to include some funky music (I can't decide whether this is a good thing or a bad thing) as well as some more clever bonuses and power-ups. Another notable difference between this table and the last is the ball physics which are of a really high standard. You actually feel as though you are in control of the ball instead of simply thrashing at it. Very enjoyable.

Cue Ball Wizard - 1992

The final pinball table, Cue Ball Wizard has everything: accurate ball physics, great sound, loads of bonuses, ridiculously high scores, and even speech telling you where you should aim the ball next.

Cue Ball Wizard is definitely the best and most playable table of the lot, although it's not really surprising as it's the most up-to-date.

So, having played all seven tables, I feel as though I've been in a pinball time machine! Joking aside, if you are really into your pinball games and fancy taking a trip down memory lane then Microsoft Pinball Arcade is definitely the game for you.

Review By GamesDomain