Pinball Fantasies

"Considering that there are only two pinball games on the Jag, this one is better than Ruiner."

Pinball Fantasies has the distinction of being one of the two known pinball games on the Jaguar system and ultimately the better of the two. With a comparison to Ruiner Pinball, you have a game that has more tables, better setup on the options and a completely different style of game play that tends to make Ruiner look like crap. If you like the pinball games in the arcade, then you’ll find that Fantasies has everything that you would be looking for including multiple themed tables and several skill levels. As with most pinball machines, the points you earn are what you manage to hit during the game with the ball.

The themes that the game has to offer are what really set this apart from Ruiner. Where Ruiner does tend to have a larger display for the playing, you’ll find that Pinball Fantasies gives you more options and is faster in the way that it is played. Aside from that, you’ll find that the difficulty is slanted towards beginners and can be changed in order to give more experienced players the ability to make a more challenging game. Small differences such as this is what defines which of the two games is better and in the end, worth more in the eyes of a perspective buyer.

-The Game Play-

Fantasies has several things going for it in the game play department, mainly with the amount of tables that you have to play on. The difficulty of the tables can be selected from the start screen and does tend to have an effect on the physics that the game has to offer. You have four different tables that you can play, each one with their own theme and skill level, and you’ll find that the ability to earn points depends on how well you can time your shot. One of the most challenging tables that you’ll find out of the four is the Speed Racers table, in which you have several targets and missions that you have to accomplish in order to start the multi-ball!

The control that you find in Fantasies is easy enough to work with and you’ll find that the game depends on how well you can use the bump and tilt feature as well as the timing of the flippers. The left and right directions on the control pad work the left flipper while the B button works the right flipper. This can be a little confusing for a beginner to work with, but after ten minutes, it should be easy enough to learn and play with. The A button controls the bump feature which can alter the course of the ball, but if you use it too much, then the machine will tilt and you’ll lose a ball. The C Button controls the launch plunger and you’ll only use that when you go to start a game so you don’t have to worry about it.

-The Visuals-

Visually, Fantasies is appealing on the different themed tables that it has to offer. You’ll find that Speed Devils has a racing motif and has plenty of references to the racing world such as Pit Row. The Billion Dollar Game Show table is a cheesy game show that you can earn points on for hitting the correct answers that are shown on the simulated matrix screen and you’ll even find that the horror table is full of surprises that will catch your eye. One of the most interesting tables that I played is the Party Land table in which you have plenty of bright, flowing colors and lots of flashing lights, really showing what a real pinball table would look like.

-The Audio-

The audio depends on what table you happen to be playing on at the time and you’ll find that one of the best {in my own opinion} is the spooky horror music of the horror themed table. While most of the music has a low tone to it, it does have an upbeat quality bordering on hyper, especially with the Speed Devils table. The sound effects that you find throughout the game are your typical pinball sounds in the way of chirps, blings and bloops that will keep you in the theme of the game. All in all, this is impressive for a pinball simulation and nothing is left for granted here.

-The Verdict-

Pinball Fantasies is the better of the two available pinball games on the Jaguar, beating out Ruiner by a long shot. You’ll find that the amount of tables, real time physics and otherwise is something that is well worth taking a notice of. The different themed tables complete with music and missions really make for an enjoyable experience even if you’re not a die-hard pinball fan. With the amount of options that you have, you’ll find hours of fun and excitement all contained in this little cart for your Atari Jaguar.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/02, Updated 09/30/02