Pinball FX2 (XBLA): "MARVEL Pinball: Vengeance & Virtue"

Zen Studios, the developer of all 'Pinball FX2' tables have once again allowed me to review their latest release. This time around they created four new tables in the 'MARVEL Pinball" series. This DLC set was properly titled "Vengeance & Virtue". The brand new tables feature 'X-MEN', 'THOR', 'Ghost Rider', and 'Moon Knight' themes. Each table has details that stay true to the corresponding comic book hero's, and villain's stories. As with any Pinball FX2 table there are 3D elements, impressive voice acting, and animated events that accent each table's theme. After playing each table for a while I found them to have a moderate to hard difficulty, and a variety of different features that take some getting used to. I will breakdown each table's pro's, con's and details for you in this review.

X-MEN

The "X-Men" table features the classic character story arch that involved the original X-MEN team. It features moving 3D character models of both Charles Xavier, and Magneto. The graphics on the table are a little busy for my tastes. They include the classic team of Iceman, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Psylocke, Storm, and Cyclops who is the prominent figure on the middle of the playing field. The ball launcher is actually Cyclop's optic blast which I thought was a really neat addition to the table. Ramps on the table are placed further back causing the ball to speed up a lot during gameplay. Accessing the ramps is fairly easy, but controlling the ball as it exits them is a little more difficult. The villain events included on the table involve The Blob, Juggernaut, The Sentinels and Mystique. During gameplay certain triggers will effect interactions between Magneto, and Charles Xavier. Bigger events such as Magneto destroying the Brooklyn Bridge, and Iceman creating a frozen version of it can be triggered when certain criteria are met. Zen Studios even included the Dark Phoenix Saga as a a major event, and the dialogue used during it kept true to the comic books (UNCANNY X-MEN #135 & #136).

When I did a playthrough of this table I found it to be the second easiest to score on in the set of four. The ramps are pretty easy to access. The events I mentioned above are all fairly easy to trigger. The only issue I had while playing was keeping the ball in control. Often times The ball would speed wildly across the table, because of the position and length of the ramps. As far as the graphics, and features of the table go it is the least attractive from the DLC set. It seemed to me that there was less actually going on visually than I witnessed on the other three tables. To be more specific the inclusion of only Magneto, and Charles as 3D models made the table seem more open/empty. The center of the table seemed to be more bare to me for some reason. Out of the four tables this was my least favorite, and less visited.

THOR

The THOR Pinball FX2 table definitely has a lot going on. There is a total of five 3D models that include Thor, Loki, Destroyer, Ymir, and Surtur. I would also consider the Midgard Serpent as a 3D model, but the fact of the matter is that it is simply an enhanced exit ramp. The center graphics of the table feature Thor, and some other comic book related characters in a more modern version. I even noticed a female character, but have no clue as to who she is since I never really got into the Thor comic book series. As for the 3D models they all seem to be visual replicas of the classic comic book series. At the back of the table is Asgard which stands as a main focus in all of it's golden glory. The Asgard temple is the event homestead in which you choose the event you wish to trigger after the pinball has entered it through a rainbow. The voice-overs on this table are well performed, but the dialogue can seem quite comical at times. Hearing "Asgard" repeated frequently made me giggle a bit due to the announcer's pronunciation of the word. There are a handful of events including a duel with Loki, Loki possessing the Destroyer armor, battles with the frost giant Ymir, and the fire lord Surtur.

The THOR table became one of my favorites as I did my playthrough on it. It is the easiest to score on of all the 'Vengeance & Virtue' tables. It has many events in which you can rack up some really impressive, and really quick highscores. The ramps on the table are very easy to access. The look of the table is very inviting, and surprisingly not too busy. The art on the table isn't the most impressive, but it adds a nice accent to everything else that is going on. The five interactive 3D models/characters are the most I've seen on a Pinball FX2 table. While I found the voice-overs, and dialogue to be a little humorous at times, I still believe Zen Studios did a great job casting the voice actors that were used. I revisited this table more than any of the others due to it's easy ramp access, and available scoring options.

GHOST RIDER

I honestly believe that the Ghost Rider table is the most hardcore one that Zen Studios has released yet. It's hellish overtone, flaming appearance, and demonic voice-overs give this table a sinister appeal. Zen Studios actually went with the more recent comic books for this table's visual features including some art from the 2006, and 2009 series. There are a total of four 3D character models including Lucifer, Ghost Rider on his signature flaming motorcycle, Orb, and Zadkiel. Scarecrow doesn't really make an appearance but his event triggers a murder of crows to flock around the lower right corner of the table. The characters featured on the board also include Mephisto who has his own event as well. The ramps on the table are placed in a strange, and somewhat hard to reach manner. The launcher is a skull with chain accents, and the skill shot is the easy to achieve from it's launch. As you play you will constantly hear taunts, and sarcastic comments from Lucifer who stands as a prominent figure on the center of the table. Lucifer houses a few of the 'events, and even some bonuses. On the left side of the table is an interactive 3D shotgun that is triggered when the pinball enters it. Aside from the shotgun there's also events like the 'Death Race' which is won by landing the pinball in one of the initial launch holes in a specific order.

I'm a Ghost Rider fan, and have followed many of his comic books in my time as a collector. I believe Zen Studios did an overall outstanding job with this table. While it's definitely not the easiest to access it still offers fun gameplay that is accented by amazing art, visuals, and a rocking soundtrack. I absolutely loved Lucifer on this table. The voice actor for him did an amazing job, and had a very sinister voice that added to the table's hellish appearance. features like the shotgun, and gates of hell really gave this table a more mature feel. There were a wide variety of events that could be triggered, and a lot going on with this table that made it my favorite Pinball FX2 table of all time (at least for now ...).

MOON KNIGHT

In all honesty I have never read a Moon Knight comic book in my life. I did own one, so I know that Zen Studios went for the modern version of the series with this particular table. Mark Spector (aka, Moon Knight), and Khonshu (The Egyptian Moon God) are the main focus of this table. Moon Knight stands as the prominent figure of the table, and is located on the top right corner of the playing field. The Moon Knight table features five 3D models including Moon Knight, Bushman, Midnight, Black Spectre, and a ghostly version of Khonshu. Morpheus is also included as a special shadow effects on the table. Aside from the 3D character models the table also features the Moon Copter, and a Moon Crossbow. When the table first opens up it comes to life in the form of a living comic book panel, and is accented by Moon Knight's and Konshu's voice-overs. The entire playing field has this lunar appearance that features mostly white accents. During certain events the pinball will glow with a moonlit glow that adds to the playing fields luminescent appearance. The ramps on this particular table are arranged in a very unique, and intersecting manner. The Moon Knight table is one of vengeance, and in order to trigger certain events and boss battles you must increase your vengeance levels. This has something to do with the glowing orbs that appear out of the jeweled box on the tables center. There is plenty to do on this table, and many events to trigger.

The Moon Knight table is the most difficult out of the four table set. The ramps are odd, and are kind of hard to get used to. Access to the ramps can definitely prove difficult at times. The overall appearance of this table is the best out of the DLC set. Everything about it is of high quality. The comic book intro to the table is a first for the Marvel Pinball table series, and is executed quite nicely. Khonshu's voice-over is one of the best featured in the 'Vengeance & Virtue' set. It actually surprised me at how sinister this table actually seems. When I first saw a comic book of Moon Knight I thought he'd be something along the lines of Batman, but I was wrong. This table definitely has a more adult atmosphere about it, and the characters are some of the more menacing in the Marvel Pinball table universe. Overall I thought this table was highly impressive. It had lots to offer, but also has a steep learning curve. I would say that this table is for the more advance Pinball FX2 players.