The "quick hit" game phenomena seems to be dying out. For the retro-heads amongst you, you'll know the type of game I mean - load it up and play without having to worry about saving the level you are at, or having to wade through vast arrays of already played levels.
Pinball Dreams was one such gem in the classic Amiga library. The idea of converting a pinball game to a computer was oft scoffed at - you'd never get the same atmosphere or thrill level.
Yet the 4 tables in pinball dreams where designed so well, that many a gamer would sit for hours just trying to get that high score.
Each of the tables in Pinball Dreams gives you a different experience; and not just through the visual elements either. The first table Ignition is seriously fast paced - you'll be starting again on this little fellow more times than you'll ever imagine. That doesn't distract from its playability though. Just be ready for some mega eye melting action!
Steel Wheels is slightly more sedate with long winding tracks (pardon the pun), giving you slightly more breathing time between flips. The scores you obtain reflect this however, so don’t expect to get on that high score table after only a few minutes
play!
While possibly the weakest of the four tables, Beat-box is still very playable; even if it's simply for the sound effects. The layout and the colors never really attracted me to this table much and I found it a slightly annoying table to play. Still, get your rhythm right and you'll be up there in the top 4 in no time.
Finally my favorite is Nightmare. Fast paced (although not in the same league as Ignition) and chocker full of available routes. Fill up the lights to midnight and you suddenly hit panic mode as you desperately try and get that silver ball flipped around the top loop to collect the mega bonus. It's a tricky table, and some of the bounces can be very misgiving, however the entertainment value on this one is second to none in my opinion.
Overall, a classic Amiga title that should be in any dedicated retro-gamers collection! As an aside, incase you weren’t aware - Pinball Dreams, and its successor Pinball Fantasies was written by the people who bring you the Battlefield multiplayer games on the PC.
