Hey iPhone! Where is my pinball app?

Mike Bantick
Friday, 31 July 2009 11:17

Opinion and Analysis

Pinball Dreaming: Pinball Dreams (A$5.99) is the one I was directed to originally, and on the surface this looked like the app to have.  Four different tables, lots of – literally – bells and whistles, ramps, themes, slick presentation and more.

Pinball Dreams recreates – and updates - the 1992 Amiga pinball simulation.  Whilst it is an enjoyable experience, with reasonably smooth game-play, authentic sounds and great physics, it is soon noticeable that all of the four tables touted as a feature are largely the similar in design.

Whilst they are all themed differently, with differing layouts, the scoring systems and table features play out much the same way.  It is good traditional pinball fun however, and even if the variety is an illusion, you can while away a few hours here.



7.5 drop targets out of 10

Whilst there are a few other pinball games I haven’t looked at, and a few masquerading as pinball games (that were more or less just Peggle in disguise), I finally latched onto Wild West Pinball (Free) and was very pleased I did.

Wild West presents a traditional themed pinball table (right down to a wood grain surface)  with excellent ball physics a good layout with plenty of shootable targets and unlockable locations.

One of the best features of Wild West is the camera control, with a close up of the action at appropriate moments and only a slight hitch on the zoom-out, which is just a tad too slow on occasion to fully prepare the player for a fast ball.

Whilst the Western theme with its crackable bank safe, railroad, Indian village and Dirty Harry shoot-out is fun enough, a multi-ball option would have been enjoyable as well.

Wild West looks, plays and sounds great, and is well worth the download.  It will take real dedication and practice to get your name into the online high score list though .



8 drop targets out of 10