Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey
| Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Cunning Developments |
| Publisher(s) | Empire Interactive |
| Series | Pro Pinball |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Macintosh (Mac OS 9 or earlier) |
| Release |
Microsoft Windows PlayStation |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is an action video game developed by Cunning Developments, published by Empire Interactive and distributed by Take-Two Interactive for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. It is the fourth game in the Pro Pinball series. Elements of the game include combinations of Victorian era settings, steam powered machinery, steampunk style nautical adventures, and fictional islands.[1][2][3][4][5]
Gameplay
The player's perspective of the pinball table in Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is from approximately one foot above the table.[6] The pinball flipper and plunger controls are operated by joystick, gamepad, or keyboard, depending on the operating system.[6] Game options allow the table to play as if it were in an aged condition and at a slight angle, and players are also given the option to change the number of extra balls they receive, how many times a ball can be saved, as well as adjusting the table slope, plunger power, and general game difficulty.[6]
There are five adventures in the game, each requiring the user to trigger certain elements of the board to keep the game moving forward.[6] Levels of the game include tunneling to the earth's core, navigating to the bottom of an ocean, traveling to a fictional island setting, and flying through mountainous terrain.[7]
Reception
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Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey received mixed reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PC version 72.31% based on 13 reviews[8] and the PlayStation version 65.11% based on 9 reviews and 60/100 based on 4 reviews.[9]
Most reviewers rated the game poorly in terms of gameplay substance and originality, but gave high ratings to the game's graphic properties, physics engine, and overall very good pinball simulation.[6][1][2][3][7] One IGN author wrote of his experience playing the game: "I've had more fun watching my dog clean herself."[3] The same author also commented that the game's pinball simulation was superior, with physics, movement, and design that very closely replicated those of an actual pinball table.[3]
Awards
In 1999 Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey was recognized as the best puzzle/classic game for PC of the year in Computer Gaming World and Electronic Gaming Monthly's Game Blast 2000 awards.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey - About this game". IGN. 1999. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- 1 2 Cary Woodham (15 June 2000). "ELECTRONIC ADVENTURES". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. pp. 4F.
- 1 2 3 4 Cleveland, Adam (4 October 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Sure Midway stopped making actual pinball machines, but there's a reason. Introducing Pro Pinball.". IGN. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ Stone, David (16 June 2009). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review". GameZebo. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ "Pro Pinball Fantastic Journey - Complete the pinball adventures to save the moon". gog.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Woods, Nick. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review". AllGame. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PlayStation". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- 1 2 "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PC". GameRankings. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- 1 2 "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PlayStation". GameRankings. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ↑ Finn, Mike (27 January 2000). "WIRED WATCH - Tech news and previews". The Dallas Morning News. pp. 2F.