User Rating: 8.4 | Pure Pinball XBOX
I always liked Pinball, playing at the arcades when I was a kid. Then, the machines were normally hogged by older guys (20+), while I waited for the opening for a 14-year old to play. Over the years, I've played quite a few different computer pinball games, but this one has to be one of my all-time favorites. The High Points: The graphics are excellent, giving a great view of the table, lights, bumpers and other items. The camera angles allow you to zoom in, pull back, use an overhead camera, chase-ball camera, and more. You can change angles on the fly, so expirementation is quick and easy. The physics in the game is spot-on. Everything just "feels" right, from the flippers to the bumpers. The only thing that doesn't seem to work well is the ability to nudge the table. I never really got a great chance to do much of that as a kid (being too small to really bang the things), but other computer pinball games seem to handle this a bit better. However, all the other physics are fantastic and as close to a real pinball machine as I've ever come. The tables themselves are great. While only four, each of them has enough detail and things to discover and unlock to keep a fan busy for a long while. There is nothing earth-shattering here, and no remakes of classic machines, but most players will find nothing to complain about in terms of the playfield. XBox live is supported in the form of online scoreboards. While live competitors would have been great, the ability to post your score and compare yourself with other players around the world is a great motivation to keep playing. The Low Points: The music is very poor, so most players will end up turning it down or off. No custom soundtrack support either... so have your stereo sitting close by. There is some nice ambient noise (other players talking and gaming in the background), but after a while I found that distracting and turned it off as well. There is no option to play with more than one player. While each person at a party could take their turn, doing hotseat swapping each time you lose a ball is great fun and something I miss from the older computer pinball games. It seems a real oversight here. The interface, the loading screens and other misc graphics in the game are quite bland and poor. While the four hot women on the cover may inspire some sales, they show up on the initial loading screen, and then never again. I'm not sure if I was expecting to see them leaning over the table while playing, but it would have been nice to see them included somehow. Then again, this isn't a Team Ninja game. Closing Comments: Despite a few shortfalls, this pinball game delivers a solid experience with excellent graphics and outstanding phyics. If you are a fan of pinball, then this budget-priced game should quickly make it into your collection. 
