PRO PINBALL: THE WEB (PS)
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Publisher: Empire Interactive.
Developer: Cunning Developments. Released: 1996. Genre: Pinball. Other versions: PC; SAT. Posted 10th July 2012. By Tom Clare © 2012 |
Whilst perhaps not the kind of game one can discuss at length, Pro Pinball’s PlayStation debut was nevertheless a bit of a cracker. Cunning Developments’ showcased a rich appreciation for the finer points of the activity, resulting in a wonderfully intricate, accurate simulation that’s totally absorbing. The Web’s only real shortcoming, and something that would similarly blight its three successors, is that it sports just a single table, meaning a standard retail price-tag would have been a lot to ask.
The table in question is outstanding. It looks an absolute peach in all of its pre-rendered, high-resolution finery. There’s a nifty pixel display above the table that caters for everything from score counting to mission progress and the odd mini-game too. The experience is enhanced by silky-smooth, realistic ball movement, meaning it plays about as authentically as fans could wish for outside of the real thing.
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The Web is a real labour of love, and you’re never in any doubt that the game is crafted as a special commodity, with the pinball anorak in mind. Whilst this can sometimes result in games feeling a little staid, it’s an approach that reaps dividends, thanks to the sheer amount of craft that’s gone into every aspect of the experience. The simple nature of the controls (essentially two paddle buttons and tilt) means even beginners will be able to get into the swing of things pretty quickly, and discovering the routes to the most lucrative scoring targets and means of racking up huge multipliers is incredibly moreish.
The quality of the sound effects is middling and the music a tad nondescript, but of greater concern is the options, which are in disappointingly short supply. There’s just a modest selection of tweaks and table views with which to alter gameplay from one play to the next. Nevertheless, despite a lack of structured long-term appeal, The Web harbours the kind of immediacy and instant high-score gratification that will see it returning to your PlayStation as a passing fancy for weeks on end.
The quality of the sound effects is middling and the music a tad nondescript, but of greater concern is the options, which are in disappointingly short supply. There’s just a modest selection of tweaks and table views with which to alter gameplay from one play to the next. Nevertheless, despite a lack of structured long-term appeal, The Web harbours the kind of immediacy and instant high-score gratification that will see it returning to your PlayStation as a passing fancy for weeks on end.
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So, if pinball is one gaming niche that you haven’t closed your mind to, then The Web is most assuredly deserving of your attention. Beautiful to look at and mega-addictive, it’s an evermore scare example of gaming made for a specialist market, and stands as a shining example of what developers can achieve when they show a passion for their project. The Web is bags of fun for pinball newbies, and a rewarding treat for aficionados. There’s no question it’s build as a qualitative experience, and a little more content would have been the icing on the cake, but even as it is, you’ll be hard-pushed to find another pinball experience that comes close to it on the PlayStation.
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VERDICT
Visual: 9/10
Audio: 5/10 Gameplay: 9/10 Longevity: 7/10 OVERALL: 8/10 |