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The original Pinball dreams (released on the Amiga way back in 1992) revolutionised pinball gaming with a solid physics engine and structured tables that could feasibly be built in real life. These two elements, combined with the then state of the art graphics, formed arguably the first true pinball simulator. But can a game that won over its fans with ingenuity still be ingenious almost 20 years on?
Pinball Dreaming: Pinball Dreams is the latest instalment of the Pinball Dreams franchise and arguably the most playable since the original Amiga release. The greatest enhancement of Pinball Dreaming over previous versions is the vertical layout; there is now very little camera panning as the ball moves up and down the virtual table, allowing for a more fluid gameplay experience. Graphically Pinball Dreaming is a near enough direct port of the original Amiga release with the only differences coming from a slight colour upgrade (purists fear not, the original colour palette is available through a setting in the options menu).
Touching anywhere on the left or the right of the screen controls the relevant flippers while a quick shake of the iPhone will “nudge” the table. The controls are tight enough but it does detract somewhat from the experience by not having physical buttons to control the flippers (which in fairness is a limitation of the hardware not the software). Having your thumbs on screen also throws up the problem of the action being partly obscured which isn’t always a huge concern but it is a definite misgiving over the original title.
The game is presented nicely with the four stages being offered up on a select screen that’s akin to the iPod’s cover flow aesthetic. It’s a shame that there aren’t any bonus stages, but the four on offer are diverse enough, each with their own beautifully garish soundtracks to boot.
Pinball Dreaming’s attempt to marry retro gaming with a modern control mechanic works with limited success. It’s still fun to play and a worthy addition to any Pinball Dream fan’s collection, but it’s not quite the refinement of the series that we were all hoping for.
