Pinball FX2 PC Review

By – Omar Khan

I remember the days of being a child with a dial up connection. We could only go on the internet for a certain amount of time, lest we miss a phone call on our landline and my time with the wondrous machine we call a PC is still looked upon fondly.  Now, with smart phones and fibre optic connections,  it’s hard to picture a time in which we couldn’t play a video game on nearly every platform we own, in every room of the house, whenever we want.  But those dark ages really did exist, my friends.  Thankfully, there was a game that came with Windows you could play no matter what (unless the power went out, then God help you).   And that game was 3D Pinball: Space Cadet.

Bundled with Microsoft Plus! For Windows 95,  3D Pinball: Space Cadet was a pinball sim with surprisingly good graphics, great ball physics and fantastic sound effects.  All-in-all, it was a not-too-shabby game.  But after XP, Microsoft cancelled the game due to issues with the 64-bit version, and the world silently mourned.  Now, Zen Studios, who brought you such classics as Zen Pinball, Zen Pinball 2, and Marvel Pinball – Vengeance & Virtue, bring you their latest contribution to the virtual pinball world; Pinball FX 2.  The emphasis here is more surreal than a simple simulator.  Each ‘machine’ has its own personality.  The layout of each is so vastly different that they all feel quite unique to play on, despite the fact you’re just playing pinball.  The themes of each machine comes from pop culture icons; Marvel, Star Wars, Plants vs Zombies and Street Fighter. Of course, each table comes with its own unique soundtrack, largely taken from its source material.

As well as having their own soundtrack, some of the pinball machines contain voice acting and their own little story.  My favorite machine was the ‘Infinity Gauntlet’ which features Thanos and the Silver Surfer, who were both voiced surprisingly well. The higher your score gets in the game, the more story is told from the original comic book.  As a fan of the comics, it was almost like being told a bedtime story by the characters themselves.  There are also bonus stages if you complete certain objectives within the game.  These bonus stages are always pinball themed, but provide a ridiculous and over-the-top break from the repetition of always playing on a faux-pinball machine.  FX 2 was not without its faults, however.  While all the machines were fantastically detailed, and looked amazing, the sound effects felt rather un-exhilarating and unrealistic when compared to the graphics and voice acting.  It made certain things, such as reaching a higher score, or getting the ball into a secret area seem a tad unfulfilling.

Is It Worth Your Money?

You get the ability to play all available tables free of charge for a few minutes before being prompted to purchase.  In essence, the game is considered “Free To Play”, but in reality, it becomes one big demo.  While some of the machines offer great fun, others were substantially more mundane.  This causes FX2 to be a pretty hit and miss affair.  Despite some flaws, for $9.99 per table, you still get a good amount of enjoyment especially if you’re a fan of the source material.