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.

Pinball FX 3 - William's Pinball: Universal Monster Set

The guys, and gals at Zen Studios know pinball. This fact is continuously made evident with each new table set they bring to their pinball platforms. If you haven't followed them in a while you might not know that they've actually begun creating tribute tables of the William's variety as a sort of set extension to their main brand. Each pack which costs roughly around ten dollars for two to three tables comes complete with a table history via textual intro facts, and the usual embellishments that come with the Zen Studios line of original table creations. That as well as the original artistic design. For example with the 'Universal Monster Set' you get a sort of dual design option that keeps the original design in mind as well as an enhanced version complete with the added video game flair Zen Studios is more known for. Point pop-ups, animatronics, holograms, 3D models, and a side dot matrix display where table events unfold in real time along with your achieved high score. Such things as that. With a single pressing of  'CIRCLE' you can effectively switch on, and off visual enhancements as you play. Similar to the way you change the table views, but with a different button. In a way this dual branding gifts the player two different versions of the two included tables. Allowing said players to experience in a more historically accurate way or in the Zen Studios way.

Pinball FX3 ~ Universal Classics (PS4)

Over the years, and throughout the various genres of film making Universal Studios has brought to us some of the most memorable moments in entertainment. From the black & white monster movies of old to the 80's epics such as the ones this pinball DLC exhibits we've been taken in by the nostalgia born thereof as well as the modern day masterpieces that continue to be made in a similar vein, and focus. It is no surprise in light of Universal's longstanding reputation that Zen Studios jumped on board with them to create a new pinball table tribute to their already well established franchises. I think, for the most part the themed choices were well picked, but that some of them were executed more impressively than others. The "Back to the Future" trilogy inclusive table itself sets a new precedent with more interactive features than any other table before it. The "JAWS" table, while mildly representative in it's presentation in regards to the rated "R" source material still holds true the maneater, and iconic sailor who eventually lost his life in an attempt to kill the beast. Lastly, the "E.T." table does good in representing every memorable aspect of the film outside of that one censored brotherly insult (P**** Breath) spouted early on in the film, and understandably so.

Pinball FX3 (PS4)

The years 2007 through 2017 have been quite the journey for famed pinball developer Zen Studios. They've grown with the times creating, and innovating along the way while producing impressive results. They took chances with intellectual properties outside of their Zen Pinball, and Pinball FX brands at times branching out into VR gaming as well as into actual pinball table creation among other things. They've gone that extra mile to say the least. That's why it took me by surprise when I found out the studio was going to change their signature pinball setup. After what seems like ages since the last released Zen Pinball 2 tables I read about the soon-to-be released Pinball FX3. About it being more about the gamer, and more multiplayer oriented, or focused than ever before. A goal the studio obviously had in mind from the beginning.

Looking back I can kind of understand why the developer chose to go this route. Though the early iterations of their pinball franchise were praised by journalists, and created by their development staff with the utmost attention to detail the new video game releases outside of Zen Studio's company were stealing gamers' attention as new games tend to do. I knew this for a while now as I too migrated from new game to new game looking for my next video game fix. It never was that the pinball tables they produced were boring, or bad, but that new gaming experiences stole my attention. A gaming issue that plagues many indecisive gamers. Thankfully the crew at Zen Studios decided to not let their legacy fall to the wayside ...