 Feels like I'm back in college! |
| Review Date: February 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Kelley, Boston, MA United States |
I have been waiting for this game for months and I finally got my copy one day after release thanks to prime shipping from Amazon. The main reason I wanted this game was becuase of "Funhouse". I was addicted to that game back in my freshman year of college (1991-92) as we had it in our dorm's common area. That game caused many people to skip classes and skip dinner just so they could put Rudy to sleep and nail him in the mouth with the pinball! So much fun!
So, to the game, my expectations were rather low due to the fact that it was delayed for so long. Usually, that means there are problems. Well, 5 minutes after opening it, I was back in college playing Funhouse again. Now, there is nothing like playing pinabll on a real machine but the physics employed by this game are rather astounding in my opinion. Everything that I remember about the original game was in this. The one thing that may have been different is the sound of Rudy's voice. Maybe its the simulated surround sound I am using on my home theater for the WII or maybe they just couldn't get the original Rudy!
As far as the other games, I was not too familiar with them but I did play a few including Gorkon and Space Shuttle. I enjoyed them a lot and found them to have their own interesting set of challenges.
The overall game has several modes to it. There is a simple go to the arcade mode where you can play most of the games (although I think some are locked). As you play, you have certain challenges to complete like get a certain score or hit this or that. When you achieve these, it may give you the opportunity to unlock another game or give you more credits (you need credits to play some games and you start with 20...but it is very easy to get more).
I played the Challenge mode where you play each pinball machine where you have to achieve a certain score before moving to the next machine. You get three tries on each machine to get the score or the challenge ends. I made it to the fourth machine (Funhouse) but, ironically, I couldn't get the required score to move on.
There is a tournament mode but I did not try that yet but it appears you can play with only one person. I assume you must play against AI somehow.
There is another mode that I could not open as I hadn't built enough credits yet so I can't comment on that yet. I will post an update as I progress in the game.
Overall, for $30, this is going to provide me with hours and hours of enjoyment. Funhouse alone is worth it to me but having the variety of games on there really increases the longevity of this game. The sounds make you feel like you are at an old arcade and the games seem to replicate the machines just like the originals.
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By Far the Best Pinball Experience on A Console
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| Review Date: September 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Matthew T. Weflen, Chicago, IL |
Disclosure - I am such a video pinball addict that I own Zen Pinball from the PSN as well as two other versions of this game, on PS2 and PSP. There is just something about pinball that feeds the hardcore "skill" gamer in me. It's punishing at times, loaded with lights and sounds, numerous biofeedback rushes of adrenaline from making shots and beating high scores - it's an "old school gamer's" delight.
So perhaps I was predisposed to liking this game. Still, I tried to evaluate it honestly and rigorously.
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Graphics: WOW. WOW!!!! I own this game on PS2 and PSP, and the PS3 visuals blow those games away handily. Running in 1080p at a silky smooth 60fps, The visuals are just spectacular. Jaggies are almost completely non-existent. No longer do we have to suffer through subpar textures - the playing fields are just exquisite, all text is clear and readable, reflections and lighting are realistic - it's just stunningly beautiful.
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Control: I have noticed absolutely no lag with my setup. The wireless controllers work fine with this game. L1 and R1 control the flippers, while the left and right stick control the plungers and tilt functions. The fact that there is no sixaxis tilt is odd, but I'd rather use the more accurate stick, anyway.
The camera controls offer a lot of choices - five views each for "smart cam" and "full view" which are dynamic and fixed views, respectively.
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Gameplay: If you've played another version of Williams Pinball HOF, you'll have a good idea of what to expect. Some tables are unlocked for free play, others require credits. Achieving table goals earns credits to unlock the pay tables. Tutorial videos outline the ways to achieve table goals.
The only wrinkle here is the Williams Challenge. In this mode, you are tasked with playing each table consecutively, beating a target score on each table, in three tries. The only way to unlock the Jive Time table is to beat the challenge - which is rather hard for even an expert, given the random chance involved in Pinball. Some tables are easy to meet the score goal on, but some tables, especially the older ones, drain much more easily and have fewer score multipliers, making them quite hard. Luckily, Jive Time is by far the least interesting table in the game - so if the Williams Challenge is giving you fits, don't sweat it too much. (NOTE! When you complete the table goals for a particular table, you will be presented with the option to instantly unlock a table for free play. Jive Time will be on the list - don't pick it! This seems to be a mistake by the programmers. It can only be unlocked through the Williams Challenge mode, but the game will still seem to "waste" an unsuccessful unlock on Jive Time. At a minimum, it will delay the unlock until you actually complete Williams Challenge. So it will probably be better spent on making a different table free to play.)
As far as bugs go, they seem to be further and fewer between than the PS2 and PSP versions of the game. Multi-ball play is much more stable than the previous versions of the game - there are no frame rate hitches and gameplay hiccups as in the other versions. In about 10 hours of playtime, I have had a ball pass through a bumper once, and balls "leave the table" twice. Every once in a while, a flipper will "wiggle" on its own without input from the player. So three or fours bugs in that time frame is not so bad, and is probably on par with how many real-life bugs you'd encounter on a physical table with all of its mechanical parts and potential for malfunctions. Should it be perfect? Probably. Is it game breaking? Not at all.
New to the game are online leaderboards and PS3 trophies. Leaderboards finally replicate the real thrill of pinball - trying to top some other real person's score. I will say, the high score implementation is still not perfect - the lists are quite sluggish to scroll through and sorting options are non-existent in the leader boards (e.g. by friends, top scores, etc.), and no higher-level data is available as in Zen Pinball (e.g. best score minute, best this week, best single ball, etc.) The trophies, sadly, are rather lame - there are only 15, nearly all of which are tied to high scores, with only one gold and one silver, no platinum - which leads me to believe this title was intended for download on PSN but somehow it was decided it would earn more money as a disc game. Why the trophies are not tied to the in-game table goals (as they are in the 360 version) is truly beyond my understanding.
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Tables: The following are the 13 included tables, in chronological order:
Jive Time (1970) - A very simple table with few extraneous features. Probably the most "old-timey" of the group. This table is a serious "drain monster" though, with huge center and outlanes and tiny bumpers, and it has been set to 5-ball mode by default to compensate. Pretty frustrating, but good for a nostalgia trip.
Gorgar (1979) - A relatively simple table with a few extras, such as a magnetic "snake pit." Well balanced and fun, but not overly complex. This table can seem crushingly hard to a beginner, but once you master some judicious table bumping, it can become a joy to play. You'll really build your skills on this one, it's hard-core.
Firepower (1980) - a simple but compelling table with two ball locks, some pop bumpers, targets to light them, and an orbit lane to get back up top. Apparently, this was the first table to include "lane change," and boy is it a nice step up from Gorgar to have it. Well balanced, cool sound effects, nice art.
Black Knight (1980) - A fun, 4-flipper multilevel playfield with several ramps and two ball locks for multi-ball. This game is very multi-ball heavy and is thus lots of fun. The flow on this table is amazing - a good hard toss with the flipper can send the ball through both levels and back again in one smooth flight through the ramps.
Space Shuttle (1984)- A fun table with a lane changing word array, two ball catches, two ramps, a space shuttle model, and a bonus readout on the table. Midway between the very complex tables and the more simple ones. This one is pretty easy to earn the extra ball on, so you could be looking at a marathon session. I will say it can get a tad repetitive at higher levels of play.
Sorcerer (1985) - some cool ramps and an fun adjustable word-slot target make this a pretty fun table. The arrangement of targets is quite a bit of fun to hit. Multiball is not too difficult to engage, but is not as easy as Black Knight. The art on this one is quite fetching - the reds, blacks, oranges and purples really pop on a nice HDTV screen.
Pin*Bot (1987) - This table is a lot of fun. A robotic "visor" lifts up during the game, allowing you to lock balls into the eye sockets for later multiball use. Several ramps and a skillshot mechanic off the plunger make this one a keeper. It can be a bit of a "drain monster," though, as the left outlane is shaped in such a way that it frequently diverts the ball in that direction.
Taxi (1988)- This talking table strikes a nice balance between simplicity and gimmicks. While there is no multilevel flipper, a skillshot spiral is off the plunger, a two-way ramp goes around the top, and a ball lock for multiball play on the right side. Adding somewhat to the complexity are five "passengers" you have to pick up and take to their destination (for a big bonus). The passengers include Gorbachev, Pin*Bot, Dracula, Santa Claus, and a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. This one is very balanced fun for both beginners and veterans.
Funhouse (1990)- a VERY fun table with loads of features. You work to advance a clock on the game field by hitting bumpers. A talking ventriloquist dummy gets whacked by the pinball and complains - if you advance the clock far enough, you can put him to sleep and launch the ball into his snoring mouth. Lots of ramps and special features, and a third flipper for multi-level play. Probably the best table in the game.
Whirlwind (1990) - Incredibly fun, up there with Funhouse. This talking table gives you warnings of hurricanes/tornadoes. A third flipper makes this a multi-level game. A lot of cool ramps litter this one, and the middle of the playfield features "storm" pinwheels that alter the path of the ball. The special shots on this table are a lot of fun. The extra ball is devilishly placed, and the million plus is right there for the taking if you light it. The graphical quality helps make the objectives clear on the table even without deep study - just like seeing a target light on a real table!
Tales of the Arabian Nights (1996) - Probably the most "beautiful" table in terms of artwork, but the art is so busy that you may get lost in it, especially at certain camera angles. This one is more of a skill table, with more difficult shots to make. The transparent ramps are very cool and create a "magical" effect on the ball returns. A long set of "missions" make this a good table for a long game session.
Medieval Madness (1997) - a good beginner table. Easy to score in the tens of millions, with several easy targets and very difficult drains to fall into. Also a good table to master - it's deceptively simple. When you figure out the rule set, you'll learn that you can destroy the castle seven times for ever-increasing millions. This seems to be the most popular table online, the leaderboard keep getting longer and longer! I will say, this table is more of a "marathon" than a "skills" table. To break 100 million, it involves a LOT of repeating shots over and over, lather, rinse, repeat.
No Good Gofers (1997) - a table which seems to be based on "Caddyshack," this has a lot of ramps and tons of sound effects. Extremely frenetic, not altogether difficult to engage multiball or score relatively highly.
If you want to research these tables some more and see real photos, check out the Internet Pinball Database.
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Summary:
Keep in mind, any flaws such as those mentioned above are secondary to the main appeal of the game. What you're getting here are 13 classic REAL tables, with great physics, and incredible, nearly photo-realistic graphics. Playing these tables in an arcade, let alone finding them, would take a lot of time and money. Owning them would be even more expensive and effort-intensive. Instead, for the price, you get unlimited access to some prime arcade heritage at a very high quality of simulation. Of course nothing beats the real thing, but the price comparison is huge. You just can't go wrong with this game if you are even a marginal pinball fan. If you have a PS3/360 and a HDTV, it is a must-purchase, pure and simple. |
A must own for pinball fanatics
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| Review Date: April 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: N. Durham, Philadelphia, PA |
| Emulating pinball in the world of video games has never been an easy thing, but somehow, someway; all of the games included in Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, are emulated nearly perfectly, and perfectly capture the feel and enjoyment of the classic game. Featuring tables including Taxi, Gorgar, Black Knight, Funhouse, and Pinbot among others; Pinball Hall of Fame also features a variety of modes, unlockables, and goals to achieve to hold your interest. The pinball physics are dead-on as well, and the game's overall presentation is a pleasent surprise as well. The only real flaws with Pinball Hall of Fame is that more games weren't included on the disc. It just feels like more tables should have been included here, or at least something else. Other than that, the Wii motion controls work very well here, although one may wonder if that is reason enough to justify the price tag of the Wii version of the game being doubled. All that aside, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is a sheer blast, and for Wii owning pinball fans, you can't go wrong here at all. |
greatest collectiion Of Pinball games ever!
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| Review Date: March 4, 2008 |
| Reviewer: GLENN LEVY, Chicago |
Wow I love this game game, I ordered mine Sat the first of March and have gotten it today the 4th that's pretty amazing in itself. This Collection of pinall has some of the all time greatest pinball machines ever created, and it does them all well. I have played 9 of the ten machines selected here in real life. I have to say they are as close as I have seen in the video game medium. The controls with the Wii version are the best emulated pinball controls yet. Everything works perfectly with both hands controlling the action and shake of either the Wiimote or the Nun Chuck to shake the table. I also like that the games do not tilt as easily as the Gottlieb version of PBHF.
The only gripe I have is I would like to see some of those acrade video games as unlockables or a hidden pinball machine or two, that is a fairly minor gripe as this is an amazing pinball collection. It just seems its awfully bare for an arcade and all those fake machines are kind of an annoyance. They could easily add a dart board or pool table as extra unlockables, just in case you want a break from Pinball. But hey this is pinball hall of fame, just putting out a few Ideas. Anyone who loves pinball owes it to themselfs to check this game out. It really is flippertastic! Well worth the full retail price. |
The Williams Collection Hits a Home RUN!
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| Review Date: March 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kahres05, Robesonia, PA |
Just to give some history of myself, I belong to a pinball league and we currently have over 40 titles the games include makers from Williams, Bally, Stern and Data East. I never expect a video game to replace the actual thing but for $14 bucks; The Williams Collection is the most realistic video Pinball ever! Two hours of playing this title and I couldent stop playing it. The designers did amazing work; from the artwork to the sound to the light shows.... from what I can tell everything is spot on. The ball physics are as real as real could get without being in front of the real thing. I own an Attack From Mars, like all pinball machines they need lots of care and maintenance. The beauty of a title like this is the pinball machines will never break, no lights to replace, no weak flippers and no playfield ware. I could buy 278 copies of this game for what I paid for my AFM. This is a no brainier; if you love pinball this is the game to get. I hope Crave keeps the ball rolling and brings out a Bally or Data East Collection; Stern would be nice but they are still making pinballs so I doubt that is even an option.
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