Wizardly- Pinball FX 2 Review

Rising from the ashes of a discarded stack of plungers, springs, flippers and drop targets, the pinball phoenix is in the midst of rebirth. With titles as diverse as Crave’s Williams and Gottlieb collections to games such as Metroid Prime Pinball and Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon, the mechanical machines which once filled bowling alleys and bars are being gradually replaced with electronic recreations.  One of the development houses at the forefront of this movement is Zen Studios- a firm responsible for Flipper Critters, Pinball FX, and Zen Pinball.

As the fourth steel-balled title on Zen’s resume, recent XBLA release Pinball FX 2, illustrates the studio’s commitment to refinement. With a convincingly accurate physics model,  a host of social features, and the promise of a steady stream of new tables, FX 2 is certain to win over a flood of flipper-frenzied gamers. The most persnickety pinheads may be disheartened that the game only offers original compositions, yet there’s solace to be found in the team’s table design capability.

While Pinball FX 2‘s delivery might be slightly unorthodox, it’s worth acclimating to. Available as a free download, players can the main platform- which grants the ability to demo any of the currently available tables for a few minutes. For gamers who wish to purchase tables there’s a few options. First, is the Core Collection, which offers four new tables for 800 Microsoft Points. There’s also the Classic Pack, which presents the four machines found the original Pinball FX; the pack cost 800 points, but is free for gamers who bought the previous game. Finally, there’s a quintet of original tables, which sell for 200 points apiece. Although FX 2‘s menu system makes all these intricacies comprehensible, it does have one quirk- currently, there’s no way to perform a background download of the trial tables.

For aficionados, the Core Collection is the most alluring path into FX 2. While the title’s standalone tables are all solid, many are holdovers from the PlayStation 3 iteration of Zen Pinball. The returning machines of the Classic Pack receive a visual facelift and are endowed with the game’s remodeled physics system, but they generally lack the minutiae found in the latest tables. From Pasha‘s bumper-minarets and concealed sub-playfield to the Centurion toy and working onager in Rome,  FX 2‘s newest tables are the most graphically lavish and contain enough elements to captivate for players for protracted periods. Still, those seeking a simple, retro-tinged game on pin might enjoy Rocky and Bullwinkle or Nightmare Mansion.

What distinguishes  Pinball FX2 from similar collections is the title’s robust leaderboards, which constantly prod the player toward a new hurdle. From realtime updates which alerts gamers to how many points they need to beat a friend’s score to the incorporation of avatars to parade a ‘Pinball King’, the game cleverly constructs friendly rivalries. Some might take issues with the title’s ‘Wizard Score’ which calculates a total based on the number of tables you and your friends have- in essence, it’s thinly disguised marketing motivation.

Visually, FX2 presents a near photorealistic interpretation of the pastime. With highlights that include subtle lighting flashes, reflection and motion blur on the ball, and optional score indicators when targets are hit, the game is consistently eye-pleasing. Regrettably, the strength of force feedback when the ball strike an objects has been weakened, diminishing the game’s sense of immersion. Each table has signature LED animation, soundtrack, and sound effects, endowing each machine with a specific personality.

360 owners with the slightest interest in the venerable conflict which pits a steel ball against the merciless laws of gravity should definitely give Pinball FX 2 a try. While Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection‘s meticulous ball physics and real-world table recreations render it top dog, FX 2‘s assurance of new tables and multiplayer challenges work to prohibit stagnancy. By offering respectable pin simulations at a reasonable price, steel orbs may be drained, but wallets are gratefully spared.