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Almost as good as you can get on a PSP

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Being a huge pinball fan and having played all the tables featured in this game in real life, I can attest to how close they've managed to capture the gameplay and the feel. The only thing missing is a change machine that won't take my 1$ bill.

There are a few minor issues I have though... The documentation is kind of minimal. There are many dynamics of the games you simply have to figure out - not all the game logic is outlined and what is, is very shallow. The PSP display is very small and you cannot always make out the minute details of the game board. For example, if extra ball is lit, it may be very difficult to tell where the extra ball target is - you surely can't read a little "extra ball when lit" tag in the playfield. Also some of the physics are predictable. For example, when a ball is kicked out of a hole, there isn't any randomizing of its nature. If you know a ball will kick out of a hole and you can trap it on an up-turned flipper, you will always be able to do that. The velocity or angle of the ball coming out of the drop will always be the same. This would normally be a very bad thing, but since the playfield is so small on the PSP, it probably evens things out and gives you time to make more accurate shots so I don't mind it that much. There's also a bug with the plunger... sometimes if you pull the plunger so that it's not all the way back, it will still rocket forward as if it is pulled all the way back. Another annoyance is if you meet the table goal in the middle of a game, a big message is plastered across the playfield, obscuring your view, which usually results in the ball draining just as you've been told you're doing well. But the worst thing about the game is if you accidentally hit the start button during gameplay, the "do you want to quit this game" menu pops up, but the game is not suspended so if you happen to accidentally hit that button, you've probably lost your ball. It should suspend the game at least.

All in all though, this is a very good game and recommended for pinball fans. The main reason why I'm being critical is because this game does come very close to being the perfect pinball game for the PSP.

Great game. Realistic ball physics. Highly addictive.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing the PSP version of "Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection" approximately 4 hours/night for the last week. It's really addictive! I've already unlocked all of the tables, unlocked the slide show, posted a number of high scores, and achieved several "Wizard" goals on a few of the tables. Looking forward to the "Williams Challenge" next.

Overall, this game is a blast. The ball physics are very realistic, and it's bringing back a lot of memories of when I used to play pinball machines in arcades as a kid. The crappy introductory movie was probably the worst part of the entire game. Although I've run across a few game-play bugs (e.g., a ball occasionally shooting through a flipper, or getting hung unplayably in an exit ramp), I haven't found any significant problems that have dampened the fun I'm having. I have 10 PSP games in my collection, and while this one isn't as good as Tekken - Dark Resurrection, Syphon Filter - Dark Mirror, Metal Gear Solid - Portable Ops, or God of War - Chains of Olympus, it's definitely a keeper.

Pinball Games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you grew up when pinball machines were everywhere then this game is for you ...it will bring back memories...I love this game...I am a big fan of pinball games and can't wait for more old time pinball machines to be turned into games...

Incredible bargain - great recreations of classic tables

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoy pinball, you really cannot beat this game for value and enjoyment. Some of the best tables of the past 30 years are on here. The sounds, the gameplay. This brought back some powerful memories of arcades during high school and college. Especially rare tables like Whirlwind and Funhouse. It was a treat to play those after not seeing those anywhere in more than 15 years. I hope Crave continues this series. I'll be first in line to buy any other pinball releases they come up with.

Crave does it again!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I am a huge fan of pinball games on all platforms and this is the best of the best! I also own The Gottlieb Collection and was excited about the new tables and they are great, but the I think the graphics are even better! This is as close as you can get without having the actual pinball machine in your house! Realistic play, sounds, physics, everything is 5 stars! Great value too, if you like pinball get this game!!!!

Back To The Old Days!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 06, 2008
Author: Amazon User

At the age of 37, I love the new gaming of today. But it is always great to go back and play the games of yesteryear when pinball machines ruled. Williams Pinball game is perfect mock-up of the old style machines. Great detail.

Great Pinball Simulator

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Pinball fans will be delighted with this fine collection of virtual pinball tables from the Williams catalog. I don't recall ever playing these particular tables back when, but the ball physics here are right on, and the sounds and graphics capture their models accurately. New to this title is the ability to play a friend in ad hoc mode. Cool! The controls work very well; I especially like the analog stick as your "table nudger". What doesn't work as well is the vertical option: you can turn the tables to take advantage of the PSP screen's width, but then the controls -- the flippers notably -- are in the wrong place. At any rate, this small drawback doesn't mar a great gaming experience on the PSP. And those who don't understand the appeal of pinball -- just try this game and see. Speak about addictive behavior!

Great fun, great challenge, For the Pinball wizard in us all.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Okay, let me start off by saying that I love this game. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not looking at it through rose colored lenses, I thought long and hard about how to describe this game.

To start off, I must say that I bought this thinking it would be kinda fun, but I swiftly became addicted, and I now carry it in my psp as the staple of my gaming fix. In this game, you basically recieve a pinball arcade. You start with a generous amount of credits from the very beginning so you can play the machines that take credits without delay.
Now, I use an old Playstation portable, the fat black, and I can say the loadtimes for this game are not even close to the longest on this system.
Very easy to endure.
I love the physics for this game, and give them a thumbs up. the ball moves with weight, and is quite realistic in it's behavior. I must also note that out of all Pinball video games I have played, the nudge function, applied by a twitch of the analog nub, is very convincing and very intuitive. Although, nudge the wrong way, and you could possibly send your ball straight down the chute, and do it to often and you will "TILT" the table which quite simply, shuts off your paddles, and forces you to lose your ball. Why? Because you were cheating, so do one, maybe to nudges at a time and you'll be fine.
As far as graphics go, I definately applaud the detail put into these tables. It truly feels genuine, and accurate to these classics. The sounds also are quite enjoyable. From the classic ping sounds of the bumpers in "Jive Time" to the voices used in both "Taxi" and "Gorgar" tables, each table feels very different in terms of sound, and you'll find your favorite table in no time. I myself find the "Sorceror" table to be my favorite. It is challenging as well as satisfying. And the Multiball is very fun and frantic.
Now I must talk about the faults of this game. Glitches can happen, but I myself have only experienced one such glitch, where on the "Gorgar" table my ball passed right through the flipper. This is the only glitch I have experienced, and I have only experienced it once, and have not had any other occurance to it or any other glitch. One fault that I can overlook, but feel is necessary to say... is that some of these tables were designed to be "Quarter bandits" These tables have certain features that make ball loss all to easy to the inexperienced. "Gorgar" for example has paddles that are just a bit further apart than the width of the ball, which means a fall from the very center most likely will mean certain death. Or "Pin*Bot" which has side alleys that make it all to easy to lose the ball that way (My most frequent way to lose at that table)
But, if the player realises this, and simply keeps trying, they will learn little tricks to help over come such pitfalls (pardon the pun)
But by far, the oldest table "Jive Time" circa 1970's is the most notorious table for such quarter munching. It has paddles far apart, and alleys with easy access, ball loss WILL happen on this one I am afraid, but thankfully, they implemented a rare mode for this table. Per credit, you get five balls instead of the normal three, which makes all the difference.
Now, I haven't completed every objective just yet, but I do know that once you acquire 100 credits, you can unlock freeplay on a machine that takes credits. But you can also beat a set of objective from a table to do the same. Also, once you beat the standard objectives, a more difficult "Wizard" list of objectives appears. I have yet to beat these, but I am having a lot of fun trying.
Speaking of objectives... each table has a goal. Sort of like how to win, per se. Or for mose tables, how to score insane points. They give a tutorial for each table, which explains the in's and out's of high scoring tactics for each table. They are thorough and very easy to understand if you know basic pinball table terminology, such as drop targets, and such.

Multiplayer in the game is good, but no infrastructure sadly. But they allow you to gameshare a great deal of the tables, meaning, with one copy, you can share tables with people and try to outdo each other's scores.

For those seeking a worthy challenge, or seeking to remember an era that sadly seems to be fading fast, then I highly reccomend this wonderful game. You'll find me on the "Sorceror" table. I hope that those who truly give this game a play, will be thrilled, and addicted, but most importantly, as happy as I was to be playing it.

An Excellent Pinball Sim

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I had almost given up on Crave Entertainment after sampling their Gottlieb Pinball Collection offering. There is a special place reserved in the Netherworld for companies that rush their product to market without properly debugging their games. The Gottlieb Collection was chock full of annoying glitches that were so disadvantageous to the player that I alomst swore off pinball sims altogether. Fortunately, Their Williams Collection shows that Crave really can put out an excellent product. I have always preferred Williams games in the arcade, with so many outstanding video and pinball games that have since achieved legendary status.

As you have read in other reviews, features such as "The Williams Challenge" and some of the unlocking bonuses that are earned for gameplay really help to keep the player engaged. I had originally purchased this collection for the "Black Knight" emulation, but have discovered the joy of such games as "Funhouse" and "Taxi" which really were superior in physical form. The simulations are so close to accurate in so many ways that it is hard to find much to complain about, except for the tendancy for the balls to bound about in identical patterns. This does not hamper gameplay, as it doesn't happen in most situations and when it does, it can often serve as an advantage to the player. The original music that plays between table choices is well done and very evocative of the late 80s and early 90, having a very live sounding feel and displaying excellent music compositional ability. Crave Entertainment has won me back and I look forward to their next offerings. In the meantime, you should give this pinball sim a whirl...you won't be disappointed.

Great big fun on a little screen

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

What a great game! Crave has done a masterful job of assembling these vintage tables in one game. The game play is fun and furious, the sound effects dead-on and this game has great replayability. Being able to rotate the game view 90 deg. to take advantage of the PSP's 16:9 aspect ratio is genius - tables display perfectly (I use table view #3) without the annoying "follow the ball" camera actions of other pinball sims. The only drawback to this is that the plunger / nudge functions are controlled from the analog stick, requiring the user to make a somewhat awkward reach...

Did you know that you can beam tables to other PSP owners in ad-hoc mode?

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