Pinball FX2: A PC Twist on an Arcade Staple

I didn't really grow up in the era of the arcade.  Maybe the very end of the era, but I never really got to experience the fun of spending a roll of quarters on games.  The few times that I did get to visit those relics of a past age, the games I enjoyed the most were always pinball.  It didn't really matter what the theme of the pinball table was, I wanted to try it out.  I remember playing tables themed with movies like "Jurassic Park" or "Indiana Jones," and some tables with rock 'n' roll themes like "Guns n Roses."  My family has always had a soft spot for pinball, my Dad and I both enjoy playing.  I had purchased a few pinball games on Steam, but they were pretty lackluster.  I finally found one I really liked in the form of Pinball FX2.

One of the best things about Pinball FX2 is that it is free.  Well, sort of free. (There is one free table "Sorceror's Lair" which is a sort of magic themed table) You can download the base game for free but the individual tables cost $2-3 each.  Some tables come in themed sets with three or four tables in the pack (but cost $9.99).  For example, the Marvel Pinball pack includes Iron Man, Spider Man, Blade, and Wolverine tables.  Each table plays differently--some have many ramps to navigate, while others can include unique obstacles or goals.  They all have their unique challenges including multiball stages.        You can also buy individual table like Plants vs. Zombies or Deadpool.

The Deadpool Table.  Quirky fun.

There are a wide variety of tables for fans of video games, comics, and movies to choose from.  If you're not into any of those things, you can download the Zen tables which are unique tables from the publishers of the game--they aren't tied to any movie or game franchise, but still feature the fast-paced pinball action of Pinball FX2.

Maybe I'm just getting older, but Pinball FX2 is very fast.  Your reflexes have to be pretty fast and some of the tables take some getting used to.  The tables also feature cool features like characters from games or series.  Sometimes these features can be distracting but that's part of the challenge, being able to continue playing while Anakin Skywalker does a fancy lightsaber move on the bottom of the table.

If you're a fan of comics from Marvel, Star Wars, or just pinball in general, I would highly reccomend picking up Pinball FX2.  You can get it for PC on Steam, but also on XBox and iOS.