Pinball FX2 (XBLA): "MARVEL PINBALL: The Avengers Chronicles"

Out of all the available XBLA titles I'd have to say 'Pinball FX2' is my absolute favorite. I have spent numerous hours trying to best my friends top scores, and have even entered several of 'Zen Studios' tournaments in the process. Pinball FX2 is the kind of arcade game that never gets old, and is always fun to play. It is a game that I highly recommend every Xbox 360 owner buy. You will definitely not regret it. You'll find that each, and every table/set that has been released has been of top quality. While some tables are better than others none of them are horrible. This is also true for the latest set of 'MARVEL PINBALL' tables ("The Avengers Chronicles").

As a reviewer I have been very fortunate to gain the support of the developer of Pinball FX2. To be able to review each and every table set that has been released has been one of the best highlights of my job. With that being said I would like to take a moment to thank Mel Kirk for his support. "Thanks Mel!". Getting back on track ... This latest set of tables features various tales from the 'Avengers' universe, and also includes new table designs and innovations that have never been seen in an arcade style pinball game. Out of all the 'MARVEL PINBALL' sets I think Zen Studios has outdone themselves this time around with "The Avengers Chronicles' pinball set. Each table in the set is not only unique, but is extremely well made. I found that I absolutely loved three out of the four available tables, and that the fourth one wasn't that bad. Without further adieu though allow me to share with you what 'MARVEL PINBALL: The Avengers Chronicles' is all about.

THE AVENGERS (Movie)

With a theatrical CG intro that pays homage to the movie of the same name, 'The Avengers' table makes itself known in a big way. This team based table has several different features that stay true to the team based scenario that it is based on. As with the movie all characters featured on this table (Loki, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow) all look a lot like their Hollywood counterparts. What makes this table truly unique though is the pinball set that is based around 'The Avengers' teammates. For every Avenger there is a pinball that sports some resemblance to their outfit/person. Aside from these said similarities each pinball also has a set of unique functions that are character specific. For example you have the Captain America pinball who's functions include the "Ball Save" feature. On the other end of the spectrum you have Black Widow who's pinball deals with mission objectives, and the Quinjet multi-ball event. With the pinballs being setup in this manner it requires you to utilize the full set as if they were an actual team, and play the game with a strategic mindset.

As far as the table goes it is adorned with graphics very reminiscent of the movie's theme. At the heart of the table you have Nick Fury who looks like a spitting image of Samuel L. Jackson. Hawkeye, Captain America, and Black Widow also star in the table's artistic display. There are six ramps within the table's playing area that each have an emblem corresponding to each of the six avengers. The core scoring, and event triggers are based on getting the appropriate Avenger to enter the appropriate ramp. Some things like the bumpers correspond to specific characters such as the Hulk. In fact the bumper set in this game deals with a "Thor vs Hulk" event. Only certain characters can trigger this event by bouncing off of the group of bumpers. As far as the multi-ball event goes I've only been able to trigger one. It happens when you trap the usual three balls via the Quinjet mini-game. The multi-ball phenomenon seems to be specific to the Black Widow pinball. If you were wondering about the animated 3D character models Loki makes an appearance as the game's centerpiece villain. You'll also see Iron Man doing some tech operations, and Hulk giving Loki the proper beatdown. Thor also stands at one side of the table, and if my guess is correct he probably fights with Hulk after the proper event is triggered.

This one is one of the best tables in the set. Scoring is not that hard to do, but there is one slingshot style ramp to the left of the table that will catch you off guard if you are not paying attention. Since this is a team oriented table strategy, and the choice of Avengers pinballs plays a huge role in scoring big. You'll definitely need to consider using Captain America, and Hawkeye to setup the "Ball Save", and "Kickback" functions so you can last for the long haul. Using Hulk to gain more points on the bumpers is definitely a useful tip as well. To advance your scoring it would be a good idea to send in Iron Man on occasion since he deals with multipliers. The best tip I can give you though is definitely use 'Black Widow', and the Quinjet multi-ball event as frequently as possible. If done correctly you can score multiple 6,000,000+ points each time you hit the appropriate ramp during the multi-ball event. In conclusion this table is one of the easier ones to score on if you know how to play it properly. It's also one of my favorites out of this latest set.

WORLD WAR HULK

Zen Studios brings to us one of Marvel's most epic tales of revenge ever told. Taken from the pages of "Planet Hulk", and "World War Hulk" this table brings to life all of the events that brought the Hulk back for revenge from his exile on planet Sakaar. It's main focus though are the events of "World War Hulk" where Hulk has landed back on Earth with the intent of seeking revenge on the Illuminati, and all the superheroes he blames for his wife and unborn child's untimely demise. The tale of destruction unfolds in a way that pays homage to the gladiator stories of old. This time around though Hulk is the gladiator, and the dictators just so happen to be some of Earth's mightiest Heroes. Will hulk's friends be able to talk sense into him, or will he destroy the world with his rage? It's all in your hands as you guide this disgruntled behemoth through the battlefield that is now Earth.

The playing field on this table is literally the ruined city of Manhattan. On it you'll not only find the Hulk in his gladiator attire, but at his feet and all around him you'll see the destruction he has caused the city of New York. You'll find Liberty's head fallen on the ground, and busted at the bottom of the table as well as her hand that is strewn somewhere north of that. There's also a shipwreck, and broken pavement where the Hulk stands. The arena he has constructed for the purpose of making Earth's superheroes fight one another is nothing more than a mini-game that takes place in a basketball court. Some of the events that can be triggered involve an animated fights between 3D models of the Hulk, Wolverine, Dr.Strange, Iron man's Hulk Buster armor, and the Fantastic Four.

There are a total of 11 combo friendly ramps that make scoring fairly easy. At the top of the playing field lies two electrically charged satellites/bumpers that involve their own event. The playing field itself has an artistic display depicting gladiator Hulk, various superheroes/heroines, and the events of the story. The in-game audio also tells the story through pre-recorded, and often repeated dialogue spoken from Hulk's perspective. Occasionally you'll hear a female announcer's voice during such events as the "Arena", and multi-ball events. One really cool thing I noticed was that when you reach each 10 millionth milestone "The Watcher" from the "What If?" Marvel series will pop up in the digital display announcing your achievement. It's a cool little feature for all of those Marvel comic book fans out there.

When it comes to scoring on this table there are multiple ways of doing so. The main way you'll end up racking up points is through the ramp combos. These combos can get you 600,000+ points an unlimited number of times if done correctly. As far as the character battle events go they are not that easily accessed, and as such do not provide many good point earning opportunities. I very rarely was able to trigger them due to their location on the playing field. The "Arena" event is much easier to trigger though, but in all honesty isn't much good for scoring high amounts of points either. If you're good at multi-ball events then there are a few of them available on this table that can easily increase your score. With that being said though losing your pinball/s during any multi-ball event is rather easy on this table, so you definitely need to keep the balls in check.

After spending some quality time with the "World War Hulk" table I found it to be one of my favorites, and possibly my favorite out of this entire set. I'm a diehard fan of "The Incredible Hulk" series. I have read the comic books including some of the series that this pinball table is based on. I've even enjoyed watching the television series when I was younger. Overall I think Zen Studios did the story arc justice. The table is amazing, and features details that really make it pop. While I do enjoy the looks, and feel of the table there are some minor issues I have with it though. The repetitive storytelling gets kind of annoying, and honestly seems to be mismatched at times. Other than that the table is truly awesome to behold. I think you guys, and girls will definitely enjoy this one!

THE INFINTY GAUNTLET

As a comic book collector I actually owned "The Infinity Gauntlet" mini-series, but as a collector I also never removed them from their protective covers. All I can say is thank goodness for wikipedia, and the internet! It's amazing what all you can find on the world wide web these days. Getting back on track though ... Zen Studio's rendition of "The Infinity Gauntlet" series stays true to the comic book source. The epic, and universal battle between Thanos, Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock and the various other superheroes involved are displayed through artistic presentation, story related dialogue, and visual battles between certain characters of the story. If you have no clue as to what the story arc is about I'll break it down for you. Basically Thanos is infatuated with Death (The Mistress of Death). He is so extremely obsessed with her that he not only creates a glove made of the six Infinity Gems (Time, Space, Reality, Mind, Soul, Power), but he also constructs a monument to her. In the end he winds up wiping out almost all of the universe's population along with a good portion of superheroes, entities, and villains. It's a massacre the likes of which the Marvel Universe hasn't seen in a while. The good news is that eventually the wrongs were made right after Thanos gloves were removed by his supposed granddaughter Nebula. That is the story in a nutshell.

While the story arc is a tad bit dated, and comes from the early 90's it looks brilliant as a next-gen pinball table. Zen Studios ended up taking a different path with the ramp designs, and events in this table. One thing you'll definitely notice when you start up the table is that the center of it is almost completely bare. The ramps themselves are transparent in more ways than one, and actually branch off from each of the Infinity Gems located on Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet at the top left hand corner of the screen. The pinball will pass through the ramps as if the weren't there at all making certain situations quite aggravating. Only when you enter a rampy directly will the pinball even acknowledge it's existence. Aside from the ramps you have three 3D character models including Thanos himself, the Silver Surfer, and Adam Warlock. Each character has their own unique roles, and interactions to play in certain events, but don't really brawl with each other as in other Marvel Pinball tables. As in the story arc there is a monument to Death at the center of the table. You can destroy it by striking the gate a few times, and completing certain event requirements. It will rebuild on it's own though so multiple scoring opportunities are available via the monument.

Some of the most unique events in this table include the ones related to the individual Infinity Gems. The "Time" gem involves a duel between Thanos, and Silver Surfer. You'll find that during this event the pinball will change to the color of the gem as well as slowdown as if time were being stopped. Adam Warlock has his own event as well, but it takes the player to a new dimension where Adam Warlock stands trial. You're goal here is to use the magnetic bumpers/paddles to knock out the letters to the word "Guilty" that are located on each side of the playing field. The most impressive event by far though is the "Reality" gem event. In this event the pinball table is literally flipped upside-down! Controlling the pinball can become quite challenging when playing upside-down, but it is manageable. Keep in mind that most events are timed on this table, so the effects won't last forever.

While I loved the appearance of "The infinity Gauntlet" table there were some things that just bugged the heck out of me. The biggest thing though would be the fact that it's extremely easy to lose your pinball. One example of this is that if you choose not to flip the pinball as it hits the top left flipper from the initial launch you will likely lose the ball right down the center. It is very annoying, and I did end up cussing a little because of it. Aside from that "issue" the table plays quite well. I like the upside-down event a lot! As far as scoring high on this table goes that will likely be near impossible unless you're one of Pinball FX2's grandmasters. I definitely think this was the most difficult table out of the set, but that's not a bad thing.

FEAR ITSELF

This is what I'm talking about!!! This table is the STUFF!!! If you thought the 'Ghost Rider' Pinball table was hardcore just wait until you see this thing! When it comes to truly "hardcore" pinball tables I've never seen Zen Studios venture into that territory. While the 'Ghost Rider' table did feature some more mature subject matter the 'Fear Itself' table ups the ante. While I have almost no knowledge of the goings on in the 'Fear Itself' story arc I did do a little research. Basically one of the former Asgardian god's (Cul), now known as "The Serpent" was freed from his underwater prison by Red Skull's daughter "Sin". Sin later on becomes "The Serpent's" herald, "Skadi" who is a prominent part of this particular pinball table. The Serpent who deems himself as the "God of Fear" sets out to wreak havoc on planet Earth, and reclaim his rightful throne from Odin. The only thing standing in his way is a handful of Marvel superheroes including Captain America, and Thor. The outcome is grim, ending in a final battle against "The Serpent", "The Worthy", and Skadi resulting in the loss of Thor and Bucky.

This table opens up as if it were an epic battle about to take place. Skadi who resides at the bottom left hand corner of the table announces her master as a true herald would. As her voices screeches out the words "HAIL! THE SERPENT! HAIL THE ALL FATHER!" in a most "metal" way you can tell the s*** is about to hit the fan. All across the table there are images of the characters involved in this genocidal battle. At the heart of it though lies the images of the two Marvel characters that this bloody skirmish is truly about, Thor and The Serpent". Aside from the fantastic visual display that is shown there are also a few 3D character models that grace the table's presence. Among them are "The Serpent" (riding on a serpent), Skadi, another Asgardian, and the Blitzkreig Mech. The ramps on this table are emblazoned like the fires of the sun, and the rest of the table seems to be resting somewhere in the cosmos. The most unique feature of the table is the half-moon shaped magnetic path located below the bottom flippers. This feature is used in a couple of events on table mainly involving a couple of the 7 "Worthy" (Kuurth, Nul, Skirn, Nerkkod, Mokk, Angrir, Greithoth).

Scoring on this particular table can be a difficult task, and is quite complex in nature. There are a variety of events that can be triggered including seven different events that happen when "The Serpent" summons "The Worthy". One of the more unique events involves Thor's hammer, and an Arkanoid style mini-game which has "The Serpent" playing the role of a moving target. In the mini-game you control an energy paddle that reflects Thor's hammer as it is hit. Another less significant event involves the Asgardian who stands at the top right hand corner of the table, and infuses the pinball with some sort of magic. To trigger this event you have to hit the life lock magnet a certain amount of times. Aside from those character based events there's also an event that can be triggered where a mech which is located on the right hand side of the table marches onto the battlefield/table spraying gunfire all over the place. I'm not sure what the significance of the mech is to the story, but I'm sure it's in there somewhere. If you're a multi-ball event fanatic then there's some of that in here as well.

The only thing keeping me from claiming this table as my favorite was the fact that it's difficult to obtain a high score. This is one of those Pinball FX2 tables that is geared more towards the expert players. It's not bad by any means, but it's definitely a more challenging table. In that sense I think the more "hardcore" theme definitely goes along with the difficulty. As far as the table itself goes it looks absolutely amazing, and sounds amazing as well. The visual presentation is one of the best yet. The heavy metal soundtrack even adds to the table's "hardcore" theme. The audio dialogue from the "Skadi" character is also one of the best I've heard. It adds to the intensity that "Fear Itself" offers. I'd say this table is definitely a close second favorite of mine out of the set, the second being "World War Hulk".

VERDICT: MUST HAVE!!!