User Reviews (1 - 11 of 35)

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Arguably one of, if not the best arcade game out there for the PC

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I first came aware of this game when in LA trying to find work in 2002 while living with friends and came across the game when I installed an old hard drive from an old PC into his new one and that's how I became aware of it and loved it.

I liked the older games such as slick chick, knockout was a very fun game and I will agree, although it's been a few years now since I've played the full game that Humpty Dumpty is kind of confusing and not as easy a game to play due to it's design.

What I do love and others have said as well is that this game is a realistic representation of these old pinball games, down to the reflections, action of the balls, flippers, bumpers etc - and not to mention the sound of said games too. Having lived through pinball games over the years, I was thrilled to have stumbled on this game. Sadly, Microsoft seems to have stopped selling this game a few years back.

I just this morning bought a used copy via Amazon for my own enjoyment and I will agree that it would be nice to have versions for Williams and Balley as well.

While the games represented here are not necesarily the best of the best they are quite fun to play and give a decent history/overview of how these games evolved over the years begining with Baffle Ball in 1931.

Sadly, the heyday of the pinball machine is over but thanks to games like that one can keep the memories at least alive in the virtual world, if not in the real world.

Kudos to MS for coming up with this game.

Excellent execution - why only Gottlieb?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

As a fan of pinball my hat is off to Microsoft for giving us such a quality pinball game that is based on tables that actually existed.

The physics are very close while the graphics and sound are spot-on (which is no small feat given the size of this ROM). Kudos on the execution Microsoft.

My only beef is that Microsoft chose to use only Gottlieb machines. Gottlieb tables have a place in pinball history but do not represent pinball at it's best. While there are only about 5 Gottlieb machines I would ever pay a quarter to play, there are at least 20 Williams or Bally machines apiece.

The early Gottlieb machines were top notch, Knock out and Slick Chick are included and rightfully so. However, Gottlieb machines migrated to a point beyond challenging in their table designs with very few exceptions. When Columbia bought Gottlieb in the late 70s, their games finally began to refocus on the player instead of the vendor. It proved to be too little too late because Bally and Williams continued to build machines that were arguably more fun.

Microsoft PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE see fit to continue this project and include some really great Bally and Williams machines from the 70s and 80s for us nostalgic folks!

Not what you would expect or is it?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: May 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

The graphics for the game are amazing. If you like the old style pinball machines, you'll like it. You don't have a lot of flashing lights or bumpers, there is not much control. Frankly, if I wanted to play the old style machine, I would rather locate an arcade with these machines. With a plethora of pinball games out and most of them using more modern style games, I would recommend something more in tune with them. It is definately for the pinball fanatic, if they don't want to play on a real machine. Go figure.

Ex

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: October 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Cool game. 7 fun "machines". Great price. Yay!

Great Graphics-- Not Much Fun

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: February 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This pin ball game has wonderful graphics and sounds, but it is missing an important piece: FUN! There is not much going on and not a lot to do. If you are looking for an addicting game that will entertain you for hours, this is not the game for you!

Microsoft Pinball Arcade

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: June 07, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I received this software not too long ago, and I must say that from Microsoft's point of view, this is one of their shunned products. My love for pinball games had given me reason to take a look at Microsoft's Pinball Arcade, but it was for the wrong reason.

After getting the program on my computer, I eagerly tried it out with literal disappointment. Slow frame rates, less-than-expected visual graphics, and set schemes in the pinball really didn't appeal to me very much (although I must say the their haunted house did give me reason to like it).

Before getting this, give second thought to other pinball games before coming to this one, but if you enjoyed the 1950s version of "Knock Out," go right on ahead.

So real it's scary!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: April 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing real pinball machines for 40 years, and leave it to the geniuses as Microsoft to replicate this effort. I have actually spent many a Friday night at the local tavern back in the 70's playing the spirit of 76 game, and sometimes I keep forgetting that I am actually on the computer. The sights, sounds, feel, graphics, it's all there.

I also have the 3-d Ultra Thrillride, which in case you didn't know is modeled after Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa. about 10 miles east of where I live. That, too is excellent, yet different.

The funny thing is my wife can clean up on the thrill ride machine but she thinks that the MS machines suck. I'm not the best pinball player in the world, and I do agree these are tough.

I'll give it stars, but be advised, it tends to load slow between tables. All in All great fun.

Boring

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 10
Date: October 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Boring! Not worth the price of the CD it is on. Only a nostalgic pin-ball junkie might appreciate this.

FANTASTIC

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is by far one of if not the best pinball games out there. I know. I wasted plenty of money on many others......Fantastic, Real Tables from yesteryear. When you play some of the olds ones......like knockout and slick chick....they can seem rather difficult and not much to hit. But if you learn how to use your nudge buttons they can be FANTASTIC. And you can set the nudge buttons for CAPS LOCK AND ENTER which make them much easier to use. Def have to use nudge on KNOCKOUT, because to big a gap at bottom. But its a challenge to keep it in play.....after the bar goes down at the bottom learn to try to put the ball in the side holes with your flippers...The ball doesnt move too fast or slow...maybe a little on the slower side but remember this game is and oldie. You can make some shots and control it which you need with this type of table.......Slick chick is great also with lots of targets and plenty of bumpers....I grew up playing the 70's and 80's tables, but i think these are terrific if you put some effort and use your nudge buttons........CUE BALL WIZARD....Love the sound track. They may overdue the saying " Get the ball up the ramp" but still think it is dynamite. I found as i went along to do more bank shots to the back and you score extra balls and games. Also love it when it says " Hurry get the 9-ball" for half a billion.......Microsoft has done a great job....great tables views as if you were standing at the table, unlike most CD PINBALL GAMES I'VE SEEN. Well worth the money.....I would have paid a 100 dollars for it if i had too. I'm just hoping they eventually put out some more......Microsoft are you listening....LOL. BUY IT. If you like PINBALL YOU WILL LOVE IT..........

Very disappointing

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: December 25, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I am very disappointed in this pinball collection. The games have a very 'clunky', awkward feel to them and are totally lacking in excitement. There appears to be very little need for any amount of skill on the players part. The "Space Cadet" pinball found on almost all new Hewlett Packard PC's beats this game easily. Why is it so hard to find a decent PC Pinball game?

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