Pinball FX3 | William's Pinball Vol. 5 (PS4)

William's Pinball Volume 5 under the Pinball FX3 label continues the tribute trend by treating the players with a trio of new yet old tables. In this collection you'll find two tables by John Popadiuk, and one by Pat Lawlor. Each table in question hailing from the late 1990's, specifically around 1996 and 1997. John's tables are both interesting selections focusing on a more magical set of themes. One table is the "Cirqus Voltaire" Bally release, and the other the "Arabian Nights" table that most of you will be familiar with. Pat's table tribute is one lesser known, but definitely inspired table called "No Good Gofers". A table that reminds me an awfully lot of the old Bill Murray inclusive film, "Caddyshack". As a collective the set of tables is one of unique quality with each table bringing something notably different to the player. Of course the challenges with each also vary as do the many scoring opportunities made available.

At the head of the set selection lies John Popadiuk's, "Cirqus Voltaire". A table release that sold a little over 2,700 units back in October of 1997. Deemed as having "Electrifying Excitement" this table focuses on a character known as the "Ringmaster" who appears both as a spring loaded toy head target, and as a newly added animated 3D model. The table's standout feature seems to be the fact that it has upwards of 12 multi-ball events that can be triggered by various means. Most of which center around activating the Ringmaster head target by striking the center "W", "O", and "W" panels behind the head's magnetic plate, and following up hitting the risen head toy until you can send the pinball underneath it or up the ramps, and into other targets. As you send the pinball up ramps including a right elevated wavy lane accented by a neon light with color change options available in Classic mode, into bumpers including a raising balloon pop bumper, and everything else of boinking value you will cause the animated full body Ringmaster to react, supposing you have the Zen Studios filter on. Sometimes he'll be juggling balls in accordance to how many you've got going in a multi-ball event, and other times challenging you to complete the activated events in a sort of fisticuffs stance. At times he'll even dance crazily as he laughs out loud maniacally. The table itself is a dreamlike array of colors set to neon greens, blues, purples, and red. Making it look like something out of a Twilight Zone episode. Even the Ringmaster harbors a sort of sinister, and devilish appearance. The stuff of nightmares. In the way of additional events the table backboard doubles as a cannon launcher that will catch balls in a spinner which will reward you according to which shoulder button you pressed to land the ball, and in what sequence. The goal being to fill up all spinner capture scoops. There's that, and Dot Matrix events like the Roonie one where you'll be making a cycling Kangaroo jump over obstacles with the left, and right shoulder buttons. Overall it is a very busy table with plenty of scoring opportunities. Accessibility and ease of access, as it were, is of an intermediate challenge requiring the player to get a good rhythm going, and to get used to the table's target/ramp positions.

Next up is Pat Lawlor's, "No Good Gofers". A table released in December of 1997 with a total of 2,711 tables sold. As the title suggests you will be facing off against a duo of mischievous Gofers as you try to golf your best game. The dastardly dirt digging duo which hurls vocal insults in the direction of the player go by the names Bud & Buzz. One being the brains of the operation, and the other the goofy gofer of the group. While the Gofers don't have any on table models or toy targets they are represented by bumper art, and stand up panel targets that appear in the middle upper three lanes/ramps when a specific event is activated. That and cameos on the dot Matrix displays. Hitting their bumpers will result in badgering, and insults as will other associated targets. One event in particular, the "Chicken Mode', is an event where the duo dares you to strike them down as chicken dance music plays mockingly in the background. There's that, and a light malfunction mechanic tied to a center spinner where Buzz is caught chewing the wiring of the table offscreen causing the lights to go out. Ultimately adding to the unique presentation that the table offers. Let me not not also forget the "Hole-In-One" scoring opportunity that utilizes a specific slam ramp to send the ball airborne, and into a hole for bonus points. Something that is top tier among scoring achievements. As far as table models go there are a few. Zen Studios models come in the form of an aggravated, and animated golfer who tries desperately to score a good game. A score which is tallied on the Dot Matrix display, and shown after each ball loss. The golfer will bend, break, and throw his irons in fits of rage after you lose a ball. Sometimes having the iron bounce back, and hit him in the head. He also acts as a visual ball capture reference along with a separate pile of golf balls that appear at the bottom flipper side of the table. Other than the golfer there is also two newly added 3D golf cart models with a rocket strapped to them that plays into an event that is played out on the Dot Matrix. In comparison to the other two tables this one is the most colorful, and the most difficult to master. The placement of the ramps/lanes, and the playing field obscuring targets make flipping the ball to where you want it all the more trying. That, and the addition of a third middle-right flipper will have you minding a lot as you send the pinball pinging around the table's interior.

From second to the last we find another of John Popadiuk's more recognizable tables. This table which was released in May of 1996 saw the sale of 3,128 tables in total making it the highest grossing table of this set, and rightfully so. The table in question being "Arabian Nights". This table is one that embodies the more mature book, "1,001 Arabian Nights". It incorporates everything from a Genie toy target, to a rotating lamp target, and Dot Matrix Events tied to harems as well as the tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights themself. It's key feature comes in the ability to easily enter wizard mode as all you have to do is complete events, and choose the jewel reward until you have all six jewels. Also to note is the female, and male audio announcers tied to the genie, and the female wish granter. It is these voice-overs of classic origin that keep the original creation's integrity intact, and adds in that Middle Eastern mystic vibe associated with the given theme. As far as events on the table go you will mainly be doing different tales events that result in the usual Dot Matrix, and multi-ball missions. There are those events, and the ones associated with striking the Genie target toy as well as spinning the lamp in a certain directions. The skill shot on this table ties in with the launcher, and three holes within the launcher lane. Landing the ball in the upward third hole will earn you a skill shot. As far as ease of access goes this table is vastly more player friendly than the rest, and quite honestly the most attractive of the set. I should probably also tell you that the version of the Genie will change from the Zen Studios animated version to a more traditional target toy when you press "CIRCLE". That toy, and the lamp that sits atop the table glass towards the main flipper area are the only digital add-ons outside of the Dot Matrix display, and the digital pop-up points.

The Verdict ...

This set has enough going for it to warrant a purchase from Pinball FX3 fans, in my opinion. It has a distinct variety, and tables that are fun enough to play on. Though the difficulty varies, and feature accessibility is different with each experience you can master the tables if you spend enough time with them. It's all about learning the little tricks, and workarounds that coincide with flipper usage, and targeting. Things like dual flipper use, flipper holding, and the timing at which you choose to flip the pinball. Out of all the tables in the set I will say that I liked the Arabian Nights table the most though. It is a table that's been done before by different developers, but this version seems to play a lot more smoothly. I also like the theme of it, and the fact that the original voices were kept intact. If this table or the others strike your fancy then maybe you'll enjoy the set as much as I have. I personally think it's worth a buy, and is definitely a good addition to the growing Pinball FX3 library of tables.