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»Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection
"Zolten Says: "You will buy pinball and love it.""
In 1947, Gottlieb released Humpty Dumpty - the first pinball machine with flippers. This proved to be the turning point of coin-operated gaming. They weren’t the flippers that we know and love in today’s games. Instead, they were tiny flippers placed along the playing field. They were much smaller than the flippers of current machines, but revolutionary nonetheless. Gottlieb actually had a big part in developing pinball games as we now know them. They were even the first to introduce the “extra ball” concept to get around certain state laws that prohibited the reward of free plays as they considered this gambling. It’s really hard to believe that people would consider pinball a game of chance rather than skill, but in the early years, they did. Thankfully, we are at a more accepting time and age where one can play pinball when one wants to.
Earlier this year Gottlieb released a game by the same name for the current-gen consoles which was a decent game by all respects considering its budget price tag. It only featured 6 tables, but they were mostly great ones. The PSP version is still considered a budget title at $29.99 when all other games are $10-20 more. For the $10 difference between the console versions and this one, Crave has managed to fit nearly twice the game into the PSP’s tiny disc.
As in the console game of the same name, when you first access a table, a brief summary of that table’s history will be displayed and read verbally to you. Upon the conclusion of that, you are asked if you would like to view this table’s rules/goals. Answering yes brings up a screen with all the table objectives and details. It’s a really good guide for the beginning pinball enthusiast and a great option for the purists out there. After that, you are lead to a table menu screen where you can set options, view the history, view the rules, start a game, or go back to the main menu. This is the same formula for each of the game’s 11 tables.
Speaking of tables, the 11 included are: Ace High (1957), Central Park (1966), Big Shot (1974), Genie (1979), Black Hole (1981), Goin’ Nuts (1983), El Dorado (1984), Victory (1987), Tee’d Off (1993), Strikes and Spares (1995), and the infamous Play-Boy table where you can actually gamble your credits in a poker or black jack sort of game. As if to complete the simulated arcade feeling they seem to have gone for, Crave added in Zolten and Love Meter – two cabinets that acts as mini “games”. Each of the tables is faithfully represented with near photo-realistic images and absolutely astounding sound effects. My one complaint on the sound is a rather minor one. Since the games are all part of a simulated arcade room, you can hear the attraction sounds of other machines while playing a different game. Granted, the sounds are all much quieter than the table you’re playing, but I would like to be able to turn it off without turning off all sound effects.
Pinball Hall of Fame is a pinball purist’s dream come true for portable pinball action. With a great range of 6 camera angles and two layout settings, you get a total of 12 different camera possibilities. Some tables are easier viewed with certain cameras and Goin’ Nuts has a default camera until you’re down to a single ball. There’s an option to best suit the needs of most people and their play styles. I mentioned that there are two layout settings. What I mean by this is that you can play with the PSP in either Vertical mode or Horizontal mode. In Vertical, you use the Cross and Triangle buttons for the left and right flippers. In Horizontal mode, as one might expect, you use the L and R triggers for the flippers. In both views, the analog nub works as the spring pull (down) and as the nudge (left, up, right).
I stated before that the game accurately represents the games of yesterday’s arcades nearly flawlessly, but there are some minor hiccups here and there. I noticed some polygonal tears in some boards that happen quite frequently and the ball’s reflections are quite basic. Despite the impeccable physics engine this game uses, I found some rather unsightly glitches with some of the mechanics every now and then. In Genie, I launched my ball so that it just got to the top of the shoot where it should have fallen back down, but it was magically pulled out as if by a magnet. This only happens every now and again, but it’s worth noting as it’s something that you won’t find in the classic tables.
If this collection proves anything, it’s that while pinball games were originally large and clunky cabinets, they make for great portable gaming sessions. It also goes to show that these games stand the test of time. I’ve racked up a good 40 hours or so playing this game and I plan to play many more hours as it has become my PSP’s mainstay. You can also challenge friends on any table with only one UMD. If you’re a pinball fan of any sort, mild or hardcore, do yourself a favor and pick up this game. It’s well worth the rather low price point.
Article by: Bloodspoor
Posted on: Dec. 22nd, 2005 |
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Review Recap |
| Gameplay |
| What’s not to like about Pinball? Even more so, what’s not to like about portable pinball? With 11 different tables, you simply cannot find a better pinball compilation outside of a collector’s arcade room. |
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Graphics |
| Other than a few very minor issues, the visuals are nearly photo-realistic for every table. |
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Sound |
| The sound effects of each table are accurately represented, but I wish I could turn off the ambient effect of other tables. The elevator-like music that the game sports is also really cheesy. |
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Replay Value |
| Again, if you like pinball, you’re going to be playing the hell out of this title. I do wish there were more unlockables to earn. Little extras here and there would have been nice to earn. |
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Comments |
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January 15, 2006 |
punk |
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I feel like that score is too high. were you high?
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January 24, 2006 |
Bloodspoor |
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No. Why do you think the score is too high? What don't you agree with? I believe that its something that all comes down to opinion. I happen to think pinball fits portables perfectly and this game is the best portable pinball game I've played in a while. Flipnic 2 would be nice though.
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February 7, 2006 |
paul |
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MEDIEVIL!!!!IMAGE ON TOP!!!!
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February 14, 2006 |
punk |
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February 16, 2006 |
la la LA |
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February 16, 2006 |
paul(medievil crazy) |
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