Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey

UPC: 744788401917

Platform: PlayStation

Publisher: Empire Interactive, Inc.

Developer: Cunning Developments

Category: Traditional

Style(s): 3D Pinball

Synopsis: Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey has many features one would expect to find on a standard pinball machine. You'll see bumpers, buzzers, bells, ramps, flippers, gates and plenty of lights. The machine also has a LCD screen where you see your score, current ball count and graphical outputs of on-screen adventure. An option is provided to make it a full color display or leave it in the traditional colors found on a standard pinball machine. Each of the machine's quests or adventures requires you to trigger spinners or buttons in order to advance; to even get a chance at a journey that will require you to hit a specific "lit" area of the playing surface. Several other features, such as multipliers and multi-balls have also been included. The game boasts accurate physics that allow the ball to spin, jump, roll and slide. Several external features have been incorporated in order to offer a more realistic Arcade experience. For instance, the machine can actually be nudged to simulate aggression or to move a ball one direction; too much abuse of this option can cause a "tilt," at which point the machine resets with your current ball lost. Several other options can also be selected, such as the difficulty of the game and selecting one of three different camera angles. Two other features are included in an attempt to heighten the realism of the game. The first is the customization of flipper power, which allows you to alter how hard or soft the flippers hit the ball during gameplay. The second feature, which is machine condition, allows you to decide how well the pinball machine is maintained and, therefore, how accurate and true your game will be. ~ Glenn Wigmore, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Registration Card

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The instruction manual is excellent and shows what one must do in order to complete the adventures and defeat the table. It also covers the entire table and offers in depth coverage of every customizable option. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

The ball looks realistic and the colors are vivid. When zooming in on the table, it looks clear and well detailed. Since it can be difficult seeing all details located on the table, there are different perspectives and the option of positioning the table to your liking. These options help a lot. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is virtually identical to Pro Pinball: Big Race USA. That aside, this pinball title is a well-done simulation with options galore. While there aren't multiple tables (only one is included), this simulation is like owning the real thing. Because both titles are similar, however, it becomes an aesthetic choice of which to purchase. At first glance, Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey doesn't seem like a great pinball game. The perspective takes a while to get used to, as it feels like you're playing a foot above the table. Once pinball fans have become accustomed to this perspective and the controls (moving the d-pad back while hitting a button can be awkward), the game becomes much more fun. Players can choose between three challenge settings (easy, normal and difficult) or tweak the slope and condition of the table. Putting the table in a worn state and increasing the slope makes the game harder since the ball spins more and the bumpers respond differently. You can also change the amount of extra balls received and the number of times a ball can be saved. While adjusting the flipper power might not make the game easier, it will change the feel. Because it can take a while to get used to the table, inexperienced gamers will find these tweaks to be helpful. Like Pro Pinball: Big Race USA, however, this title contains some features that hamper instant appeal. I'm not sure what the developers were thinking, but their choice of music is horrible; perhaps actual Arcade-based pinball tables contain this kind of music, but cannot be heard because of all the noise of other games. As is, the music is ancient sounding music is wretched. Modern or instrumental music could have increased the excitement level. For a console that is capable of CD music, the developers should have used this feature. Combining great music and sound effects with a pinball table seems like an obvious winning situation, but alas, 'tis not the case here. In other pinball titles that use movie themes such as Terminator or Batman, the music directors incorporated tunes and voices from the feature films. It would be a nice touch to use the theme of a popular movie and implement it with the Pro Pinball series. If this happened, armchair pinball fans would have incredible options and a more exciting premise. Understanding how to complete the four different adventures in this game involves reading the manual and learning what each section of the board accomplishes. For example, if the spinner isn't touched to increase steam pressure now and then, the adventure will come to a halt. When flashing arrows are contacted, tasks are completed that aid in the creation of various contraptions. All of this information is listed in a logical and adequate manner...all you'll have to do is figure out how to hit each area! You'll also have oodles of options to alter and change so that the game won't become boring. The zoom feature allows pinballers to zoom in and look at all portions of the board; this feature is located in the Options menu. This lets gamers learn the table's setup and what bumpers and ramps are used in completing adventures. Because the options and abilities of both Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey and Pro Pinball: Big Race USA are identical, it wouldn't have been that hard to put both tables on one PlayStation CD. As is, one must purchase both titles or another game to tackle new tables and themes. Other nice features include saving high scores, purchasing extra balls (when 100,000,000 points have been achieved) and protecting the world from an evil general. If these features sound interesting and you're looking for the best pinball title on the PlayStation, Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is the game to get. While the music could have been better, it's hard to beat the theme. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

Pinball is timeless in itself, but this title includes a plethora of options that makes the game different each time. There are all kinds of options to choose and missions to accomplish -- it's built for a rainy day. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

While the traditional pinball sound effects are fine, the soundtrack is pure cheese and lacks luster. On the other hand, the music changes moods depending on which area is currently being tackled. It gets a little more interesting when the music changes. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

Although it isn't as good as Microsoft Pinball Arcade or other Arcade pinball titles, Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey contains a lot of options and holds its own. Altering effects and various options that affect the pinball table is interesting and fun; the submarine that emerges once a specific area has been contacted is a nice touch. The adventuring feature takes virtual pinball to a new level and offers all kinds of fun challenges rather than defeating the highest score. ~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.