Pinball FX 2

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 87 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 87
  3. Negative: 12 out of 87

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  1. Berq
    Aug 10, 2014
    7
    Zen Studios deserves credit for creating a game that has the potential to inspire enthusiasm for pinball: the first arcade game and a beautiful piece of Americana treasured by many worldwide. And though the Pinball FX 2 tables are fun and clever in their own way, they are distinctly and exclusively digital. As such, its flipper physics will feel strange to anyone who cut their pinballZen Studios deserves credit for creating a game that has the potential to inspire enthusiasm for pinball: the first arcade game and a beautiful piece of Americana treasured by many worldwide. And though the Pinball FX 2 tables are fun and clever in their own way, they are distinctly and exclusively digital. As such, its flipper physics will feel strange to anyone who cut their pinball teeth on a physical machine, or even the tables digitally recreated in Farsight Studios' Pinball Arcade (its chief competition), which mimic real-world feel and physics far more accurately. Old-school pinball players, such as myself, will likely find this to be PFX2's greatest weakness. Others will simply decide it's a matter of personal preference.

    On the flip side (pun intended), PFX2 enjoys the freedom from real-world constraints in a number of admittedly novel ways. The table "Rome," for example, features burning torches, a flowing aquaduct, and a shooter that uses ropes, pulleys and counterweights in place of springs for a tongue-in-cheek touch of first-century "realism." Other tables feature a wide variety of playfield toys that would be similarly impossible in a real-world table, such as the Tesla coil in "Tesla."

    For all PFX2's departures into the realm of the fantastic, however, none of Zen's tables rely on any device essential to play that couldn't be recreated on a physical table, at least to this reviewer's knowledge. Nor is there ever a suspension of "natural" physics (e.g. anti-gravity beams that float the ball). The ways in which PFX2 departs from reality are strictly cosmetic. The essence of pinball is the visceral interaction between the player and a physical device made of wood, steel, rubber, and plastic. This accounts for much of what makes pinball so enjoyable. Zen shows great wisdom and restraint in observing these facts, and is better for it.

    So, should you, the pinball afficionado whose love for the silver ball predates the PC, buy Pinball FX 2? Yes, if only to help keep the idea of pinball alive in the minds of younger generations, until the day when physical pinball machines once again rule the neighborhood arcade. You might even enjoy it.

    And should you, the younger gamer, who never experienced the brilliant rays of wonder and awe that shone from video and pinball arcades in the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s, spend your money on such an archaic form of entertainment? Yes. But don't be satisfied until you've found a real-world pinball table at a nearby bowling alley or arcade. Proceed to feed it quarter after quarter. And within $10 you will begin to experience the unparalleled, magic sensation of touching the soul of a machine.    … Expand
  2. starsh3ro
    Nov 26, 2013
    5
    well i got the tables cheap on an indie bundle, so i tried them all for about 10 hours now...
    i have to say that most of them are well made, and really addicting, you cant deny that.
    the main problem are the ridiculous high prices for additional tables. who is going to pay a price of 90€ for a few pinball tables? i would agree its a good game, and i would even pay 30€ to get all    well i got the tables cheap on an indie bundle, so i tried them all for about 10 hours now...
    i have to say that most of them are well made, and really addicting, you cant deny that.

    the main problem are the ridiculous high prices for additional tables.
    who is going to pay a price of 90€ for a few pinball tables? i would agree its a good game, and i would even pay 30€ to get all tables, but 90? sorry this is a rip off in my eyes and doesnt deserve anything about 5 points    … Expand
  3. Critical_Joe
    Mar 12, 2023
    5
    I'm not very good at this game and I feel a little ripped off too.

    But it is pretty.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. PC Gamer
    Aug 16, 2013
    83
    Pinball FX2 is still pinball, and pinball is still best played on a real pinball table. But this is so good that it takes an extremely close second place. [Oct 2013, p.75]
  2. COGconnected
    May 29, 2013
    90
    Pinball FX 2 is definitely a PC game that should be experienced by all gamers out there, from the hardcore pinball fanatic to the casual pinball player alike.
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  3. Eurogamer Sweden
    May 28, 2013
    80
    This PC version of Pinball FX 2 is just as great as the others. Its still one of the best digital pinball games out there with superb physics, great table design and good multiplayer features.
    Read full review
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