Pinball! Fallout! It's fall!

This week I was excited to find out that my favorite pinball game was getting an update!  PinballFX2 offers a wide array of different tables--fanboy/girl tables of various comic book heroes, TV shows, movies, and video games as well as a number of Zen originals.  The newest version, PinballFX3, looks to add better graphical features and gameplay to the world of pinball.  The best part of it all is that the tables that you owned in FX2 will carryover into FX3!  There are a bunch of new features to keep you flipping those flippers and enjoying some pinball.  Here's what I've observed in a few brief play sessions:

More pinball fun!

1.) They have added a sort of RPG element to the game.  As you play you earn experience which can be used to unlock special perks.  These perks could include things like 30% bonus scoring during multiballs or multipliers that increase faster with each additional level.  You can choose 2 perks as well as unlocking one more powerful boost (I haven't unlocked those yet).

2.) The physics and graphics are improved.  The tables look better and I have yet to experience any weird lagginess which I would occasionally experience in FX2.

3.) Challenge mode offers several unique challenges that increase in difficulty as you master them.  In single ball mode you are challenged to earn the highest score with just that one puny ball, the 5 minute challenge gives you just those few short minutes to score a certain number of points, and the survival challenge pushes you to earn a certain number of points or else it's game over.

4.) New multiplayer and community challenges.  Players can set up their own tournaments and challenges.  There are worldwide leaderboards for all the different modes.  If you're extremely competitive this will definitely interest you.

5.) The release of three new Universal Studios tables.  Fans of the classic movies Back to the Future, Jaws, and E.T.:  The Extra-Terrestrial will be thrilled to have the opportunity to explore these stories in pinball mode.

PinballFX3 is available for free download on Steam.  One thing to be aware of is that ALL the tables you originally purchased for FX2 should show up in your library.  If they are showing as being locked, start FX2 and allow your library to load.  Exit and restart FX3 and all your tables should show as unlocked.  DON'T PANIC AND RE-BUY ALL THE TABLES YOU ALREADY OWN!

Fans of 90's RPG's also have reason to rejoice--the original Fallout is available for FREE until midnight tonight (on Steam).  Fallout in its original form was an amazing turn-based RPG and is a great introduction to the Fallout universe for those who have only seen it in its modern open-world form.  Get it before it's gone!

Now that it's fall and the weather has cooled it's the perfect time for sweaters, pumpkin spice everything (yuck), and more time spent cuddled up with our favorite games.

PinballFX2--New tables!

Zen Studio's PinballFX2 is one of my favorite casual games.  It's nice to be able to sit down and play a game (or ten) of pinball.  Once in awhile I find myself drifting back to the many pinball tables I have accumulated as part of this modern take on a classic arcade staple.  I hadn't played any pinball for awhile and recently decided to check out some of the new additions to the line-up of available tables.

Trying to control my desire to binge purchase all the new tables I ended up settling on buying just one (I'll wait for a sale to come along and then hopefully get the others).  After viewing the movie Guardians of the Galaxy and enjoying it, I decided I understood enough about the universe as depicted in the movie to buy the pinball table.  The table features all of the unlikely heroes from the film--Peter "Starlord" Quill, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Drax.  There's a really challenging sequence at the beginning of each game featuring a five ball multiball that is supposed to represent the attack on the space prison known as the Kyln.  It's basically complete chaos where you do your best to keep all the balls in play for 30 seconds.

After you finish the multiball chaos the game resembles a regular pinball table with missions, goals, and special events.  The missions on this table match up to the heroes and each one has a different goal.  You shoot lit ramps and hit targets in an attempt to take down Ronan as he fights Quill or you help Rocket, the genetically engineered raccoon, attack and defend.  Each character has a different set of goals and your job is to try to accomplish them all.  Fans of the movie will appreciate the many references to the events from the film.  Fans of seventies music will appreciate the seventies themed music that plays (no actual pop hits, unfortunately) in the background.

There have also been several other tables released that look fun.  There is a new two-table pack that are themed around the hilarious Comedy Central adult-cartoon South Park.  One table follows the show itself while the other is themed around the character of Butters.  A Spiderman themed Venom table is a solo addition that can be purchased by comic book fans.  The most recent additions are two new Zen tables (not tied to any comic books, but just themed) dubbed "Iron and Steel."  The "Iron" table is a Wild West themed table complete with a lady cowboy and lots of shootouts. The "Steel" table is a medieval fantasy/RPG themed table featuring goofy knights battling different baddies.