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SCENE
GENRE
GRAPHICS
SOUND
PLAYABILITY
VALUE
OPINION



REVIEW INDEX

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TRUE PINBALL

Developer

Options

Distributer

Ocean

1-8 Player

Game Type

Pinball

Mem. Card

Review Date

July 1996

Setting the Scene

Prepare to enter the closest version of 2D and 3D pinball ever created, or so goes the advertising blurb that accompanies the game. Can anyone ever truly expect to closely mimic the true experience of playing a modern pinball table on a computer, no matter how powerful it may be. Well lets see......

Genre

Pinball

Graphics

Included within the game is a top-down 2D version, a low-res 3D version and a hi-res 3D version of all four tables. The 2D table is a reasonable version of a top-down pinball machine, but to be honest has been done better on other formats. If used wisely its can be used to familiarize yourself with the layouts and features of each of the tables before entering the 3D modes.

Included within the game is a top-down 2D version, a low-res 3D version and a hi-res 3D version of all four tables. The 2D table is a reasonable version of a top-down pinball machine, but to be honest has been done better on other formats. If used wisely its can be used to familiarize yourself with the layouts and features of each of the tables before entering the 3D modes.

Sounds and Effects

There are over 50 samples and tunes that are used across all of the tables. From crackling old records on the Babewatch table to the futuristic sounds on the Law and Justice one. Both the samples and the music are spot-on for all of the tables and help to create the atmosphere needed for prolonged enjoyment of such a simple type of game.

Playability

When producing a game that is older than space invaders, it must be quite difficult of thinking of ways to keep the gamesplayer interested over the long term. You could not have a more simplistic form of game, I mean all you are doing is stopping a metal ball from rolling through any of the three gaps at the bottom of each table, is hardly DOOM now is it.

There are four tables to play:
EXTREME SPORTS. BABEWATCH. VIKINGS. LAW N JUSTICE

Each of these tables has at least TWELVE features scattered around it and all have a EXTRA BALL and MULTIBALL facility.

Up to eight players can take turns playing this game, great for a party, especially with older people and girlies, neither of which usually like video games, but will take to this like a duck to water.

A very sad omission is the lack of a save game feature.

The only other feature I would like to see incorporated would be the inclusion of a few sub games and links between each of the tables, as seen in the Megadrive game PSYCO PINBALL. Psyco transports you to mini platform, puzzle and shoot em up sections when certain features on the table are correctly activated, it provides a great new angle to a classic game. Lets just hope that they incorporate it into True Pinball 2.

Value for Money

Loads of tables and views are available. No save scores feature which is disappointing. The 3D Hi-Res mode is as close as you can get to playing a real table, you can even bump the table to stop you losing the ball. The sound and music are just as good as the real thing. You wont play this game for hours and hours at a time, but you will keep coming back to it again and again. For now this is the best alternative to paying thousands for the real thing.

Opinion

JIM

GRAPHICS:

Good

Worthwhile renting first. If it`s your game then True Pinball is certainly one of the better pinball games available on the Playstation.

SOUND:

Good

PLAYABILITY:

Average

VALUE:

Average

OVERALL
7.5/10

MARTIN

GRAPHICS:

Good

A worthwhile addition to any Pinball fans collection.

SOUND:

Good

PLAYABILITY:

Average

VALUE:

Good

OVERALL
7.5/10

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