ROUND TWO.
Since I spoke about the options for the Williams tables in Pinball FX3 in my review for Volume 1, I will skip right into the tables in Volume 2 because the options for Classic and Standard play return here and operate in the same function. However, one complaint is that the tables are all put under the Williams tab in the menu but not separated by packs, so going right to the new tables is not as easy as it could be.
First table is Black Rose, a pirate themed table from 1992. The new 3D elements added are non-obtrusive, with the titular female pirate on the left side of the table being the main focus, however the functional cannon element from the table is rendered in full 3D. In the classic table the cannon is just a 2D graphic on the firing mechanism, but in the updated Pinball FX3 version even the camera shifts to behind the cannon to better aim it. There are a few basic timing based games that appear on the dot matrix display. This table is the easiest table to have a ball go to waste with seemingly one of the shortest ball saves and a channel too far left next to the flipper that seemingly has a gravitational pull. The table is great otherwise, but the fact that I could find myself done in seconds was irritating.
PLATFORMS: XB1, PS4, PC, SWITCH, MAC
MSRP: $9.99
PRICE I’D PAY: $4.99
Second is Attack From Mars from 1999. The theme is pretty clear; aliens from Mars are attacking Earth (as they do). The table features UFOs and aliens who shake during certain circumstances. The new 3D models include a general, some missiles and a UFO that flies around. The plunger in this is non-existent, so it’s a quick button press to shoot out the ball (which I assume is to mimic a missile launch). I found it extremely easy to have fun on this table partially because it was super easy to rack up large scores, including getting points for blowing up the main UFO in the top center of the table. There is at least one dot matrix game which is a copy of the old Atari game Sabotage, where I had to shoot down UFOs from a stationary turret in the center of the screen. The coolest element by far is the multiball, which is already crazy enough but the general commands the missiles to start firing so there’s a UFO darting around and explosions and missiles flying the length of the table (overtop of play) while I am juggling multiple balls. That might be the most satisfaction I’ve had playing pinball that had nearly nothing to do with skill. By far Attack From Mars is my favorite table from this pack.
The last table is The Party Zone from 1991. It’s a bit hard to explain the concept, but basically it is a table based around the idea that characters from other tables from Bally-Midway meet up at a place called the “Cosmic Cottage.” It’s a bit odd to see this table first because it sources characters from Party Animal (1987), Elvira and the Party Monsters (1989), and Dr. Dude and His Excellent Ray (1990). Outside of Elvira which would need to be licensed, the other two tables being released first would’ve made this table a bit more of a treat. The classic table has a large head of character Capt. B. Zarr in the center of the table, and as play continues he watches where the ball travels which mechanically must have been neat to see on a technical level alone. The updated version with 3D models does away with the head and replaces it with a spotlight with a full model of Capt. B. Zarr riding a rocket in front of it. To me that’s a downgrade, because having a head turn and follow my ball is almost horror material (despite it’s the party theme of this table). However, when losing a ball in the standard gameplay Capt. B. Zarr will fall off his rocket and the animation is pretty neat (the first time at least). The gameplay seemed fairly uninteresting and the sounds produced a cacophony of noise that was unbearable. There was a moment where a bit of The Who’s Pinball Wizard played which was nice despite it not sounding all that great. This was hands down the table I enjoyed the least.
Now after I wrote the review for Vol. 1 there was a free table released called Fish Tales. Because it is free, just pick it up. It’s a good table despite being nothing too special, but it is a great example of what Zen Studios brings to these old Williams tables.
On the other side, it also came to my attention that Zen Studios has been altering artwork to reduce some of the more risqué imagery from the tables. When I say risqué, I mean caricatures that would be fine in a Mad Magazine but are still editing in Zen Studios renditions of these tables. So this time I kept my eye out and low and behold The Party Zone had one female character’s cleavage painted over. This is bad for the archival aspect of these tables, making the now unavailable Pinball Arcade versions the more accurate renditions. The assumption is because Zen wants to maintain a low ESRB rating, however I would then question the licensing of adult material like Aliens or Bethesda properties if that was the case. To play devil’s advocate I would argue that none of these are wholly perfect, because The Party Zone is missing two licensed tracks in both the Pinball Arcade and Pinball FX3 versions. Regardless, for some of these tables this is the only way to get them now and I would argue it is the gameplay and not the graphics that is more important and to that Zen nails it.
Overall this pack wasn’t as great as Volume 1. Attack From Mars is by far the stand out and worth at least half the cost of the pack, but the other two tables just weren’t as much fun and it’s hard to recommend this to everyone. This isn’t because of Zen Studios ability to recreate a table, but because of the choice of tables to recreate. I’m hoping the next round of Williams tables maybe dives a bit farther back in time with things like Pin-Bot, where I feel their 3D models could breathe new life into a more simplistic looking table. I would recommend Volume 1 for anyone wanting to check out the old Williams tables before Volume 2 (and don’t forget to pick up the free table Fish Tales).
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
