The last update of the Zen Pinball reserved a nice surprise for all pinball fans. Four new tables were ported to iDevices. All four existed previously on other platforms and their adaptation to iOS was a matter of time. They are graphically superb as you can judge for yourself. We have,
Secrets of the Deep
Biolab
Rome
and Pasha
I was waiting for this last one since I have seen the table on the Zen Studios website and I purchased it right away. The game is nice, the graphics rather unobtrusive (not like the graphics of some other Zen pinballs). I would have liked some more heavily oriental-accented voices and, to tell the truth, the musical background is pretty lame. But all in all the game stood up to my expectations.
I did not purchase any other table and, since there is no demo, I cannot give a precise opinion. You have to find out for yourself. But they are not that expensive and you could let yourself be tempted.
A new pinball table accompanied the update of Pinball HD, Tanks. As a rule I do like the pinballs of Gameprom but this time I must draw the line. This game is nothing but a slight modification of their Navy Seals table. You can judge for yourself. Here is Tanks
And here is the 2013 Navy Seals table
Yes, the Tanks table is really nice graphically but as far as gameplay is concerned it is not worth its price.
You don’t have to take my word. Since you can play the game for free for over a minute you can try it and shape your own opinion.
I cannot think of another magical month for digital pinball, like the one just over. It started with the Zaccaria pinball series new addition: Spooky.
I did not report on that table. I did try it and it has the usual qualities and imperfections of the ASK-Homework/Zaccaria line: a not bad pinball, without many bells and whistles but one which shows its age. Anyway, the month was on a good start.
The very same day Gameprom published two tables: the long-awaited Red Planet and Pirates. I did like both tables (although my friend Marco was of a different opinion).
Soon afterwards the Kickstarter for the Addams family table was successfully funded, which means that in a few months we'll get to play this classic of classics.
Just after this successful kickstarter, Farsight launched the fourth season of tables with Phantom of the Opera.
Zen Studios followed suit with two South Park inspired tables, which I purchased for the Mac (and never regretted).
Since Halloween is approaching, Farsight published a table independent from the Pinball Arcade line, inspired by the movie Ghostbusters.
Count them: we have 7 new tables and a quasi-certainty for a big classic to come in a near future. When have we seen an activity even remotely comparable? Yes, October 2014 was indeed a mensis mirabilis for digital pinball.
Ah! If only Littlewing had not folded ...
I was hoping that on the very last day of the month, Timeshock alpha would arrive on iOS. People at Barnstorm games have been hinting about this alpha being almost ready and I was counting the days hoping that they would indeed release it before the end of October. Alas, there has been another delay. The wait is getting longer and longer.
