Pro Pinball: Timeshock!

There Aren't That Many Games knocking about that inspire saddoes (Er, better make that aficionados - Ed.) the world over to get all excited and start their own unofficial Websites, brimming over with hints, tips, cheaty codes and suchlike. But Pro Pinball: The Web was one of them. Now we have the next table in the series. And it's better. In fact, it's better in every which way. But before we launch into why...

What's new, pussyface? (Whoa-oh-oa-oa-on)

Basically, the whole game has a 'plot' which is based around a revolving time crystal, set in the top of the table, which spins around and takes you to different time zones, each of which has different objectives and different sub-game sequences. Just by sending balls up ramps and into holes at the right time, you'll find yourself climbing Mount Rushmore, winning a chariot race, or even digging the Channel Tunnel - although apparently the opportunity to later set fire to the opentopped goods trains travelling through the tunnel has been overlooked.

New features include a Challenge mode, in which whatever wonderful multi-ball bonuses you've spent hours setting up for yourself are passed on to the next player if you don't capitalise on them. (Now that will certainly help spread harmony among your chums.) There's a Novice mode that lets the complete morons among us learn more about the table. Like a prominent Nazi leader, you only get one ball, but you're allowed a minimum of two minutes on the table no matter how many times you cock up. And there's a Tournament mode for ninjas, with no random awards or bonus balls.

Anoraks can access a pretend 'operator's menu', which lets you customise game elements and check fascinating facts, such as the average game time. You can even 'test' the lights. Best of all, though, is the return of "The Voice" — voted World's Dirtiest Computer Game Voice of the Year. The way she says: "Don't move! ... Now, lock those balls..." is obviously intentional. But we're suckers for it.

Shine those balls

As I said, Pro Pinball: Timeshock! is better in every way. It looks better - the table can be viewed at up to 1600x1200 resolution in Truecolour if you have the hardware, at which resolution you can practically see your face in the balls. It plays better - the game is more structured, and you have a much better idea of what you're supposed to be doing at any given point. The mechanics are better - you can even trap a ball behind a flipper. It even sounds better, thanks to Dolby Surround Sound and sampled effects taken from real pinball tables. Unfortunately though, Bruce Foxton and Jake Burns are once again responsible for the music. But you can't have everything.

To Say That The Chaps At Edo Are into pinball is a bit like saying the Pope's a bit religious. In fact, they're totally obsessed with it. Their development hq situated just outside Oxford is crammed with pinball machines, bits of pinball machines and more bits of pinball machines that they've taken apart and measured, textured and probably cracked in their teeth to check the authenticity. Basically, they're all pinball mad.

Pro Pinball - The Web (we'll just refer to it as CThe Web' from now on, shall we?) was clearly the best pinball game released for the pc ever, and it was quickly adopted by pinball addicts all over the globe as the definitive pinball sim. This was largely due to two factors: a) it was very, very playable and b) the developers, all being pinball mad (as we've already mentioned) clearly knew better than everyone else what it is that makes a good table. Some shallow types criticised it for being too samey because there was only one table, but real pinball fans thought this was irrelevant. Accurate ball physics, realistic flipper movement and a classic table design counted for a lot more than five or six tables which were essentially the same, and that was why The Web cleaned up.

Not being anything of a wizard on the flippers myself (suffice to say my scores on The Web were more akin to my yearly income than Paul McCartney's) I just thought it was a nice pinball game. Lead programmer Ade Barritt agrees, but admits that compared to Timeshock! the original game was very basic. I'm actually a bit embarrassed by it now. When you play Timeshock! and then go back to The Web it just feels really primitive. That's why we've basically rewritten everything: the ball physics, the whole flipper thing. That's something we're really proud of now. Previously, the flippers would affect the ball; now the ball actually affects the flippers as well. As far as we can tell this is unique. It's all a lot more subtle now, which means you can do all sorts of different tricks and shots. The balls now spin and actually roll -they can even bounce and hit the glass. It's a lot more realistic.

They're nutters!

As well as overhauling the mechanics of the game, it's also changed a lot graphically. The ridiculously hi-res mode options are still intact, and consequently the table is incredibly detailed. It took over a year to draw, and when Ade tells me that the bulbs have filaments and the microswitches have diodes and wires, I'm not in the least bit surprised that it took so long. You'll need an 8mb graphics card to appreciate this detail in 1600x1200 in 16-bit colour, but the premise is that it's there if you want it.

To ensure that Timeshock! remains the king of all tables, they've also introduced new lighting effects, heaps more animation, drop magnets, a magno save feature, an indulgent new plot based on time travel, a very comprehensive play editor that allows you to fully customise the game, and the option to play on-line against other pinball junkies.

In other words, if you liked The Web. you'll just melt when you get your hands on Pro Pinball - Timeshock! later this year - it's without a doubt going to be the most impressive pinball sim ever (again).

Timeshock may be the sleeper hit of the holiday season. On a virtual pinball trip with futuristic flair, you must complete typical pinball objectives such as hitting ramps to warp to different time zones. Along the way, expect multiball situations, an interactive video mode, four styles of gameplay, hidden levels, and more.

The game's biggest drawback is that there's only one table. Fortunately, the graphics and detail on that table are impeccable. Timeshock has great in-game sound effects, but annoying music. The tight controls are configurable. Pinball addicts should definitely give this game a shot. It's a blast.