Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey

Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is an action video game developed by Cunning Developments, published by Empire Interactive and distributed by Take-Two Interactive for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. It is the fourth game in the Pro Pinball series. Elements of the game include combinations of Victorian era settings, steam powered machinery, steampunk style nautical adventures, and fictional islands.[1][2][3][4]

Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey
Developer(s)Cunning Developments
Publisher(s)Empire Interactive
Director(s)Adrian Barritt
Producer(s)Adrian Barritt
Roger Chueng
Designer(s)Adrian Barritt
Graham Rice
Programmer(s)Adrian Barritt
David Hunt
Adrian Page
Artist(s)Tom Beesley
Graham Rice
Peter Richardson
Composer(s)Jon Lowe
SeriesPro Pinball
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Macintosh (Mac OS 9 or earlier)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • NA: 31 December 1999
  • EU: 1999
PlayStation
  • NA: 17 October 2000
  • EU: 23 March 2001
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

The player's perspective of the pinball table in Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey is from approximately one foot or 30 cm above the table.[5] The pinball flipper and plunger controls are operated by joystick, gamepad, or keyboard, depending on the operating system.[5] Game options allow the table to play as if it were in an aged condition and at a slight angle, and players are also given the option to change the number of extra balls they receive, how many times a ball can be saved, as well as adjusting the table slope, plunger power, and general game difficulty.[5]

There are five adventures in the game, each requiring the user to trigger certain elements of the board to keep the game moving forward.[5] Levels of the game include tunneling to the earth's core, navigating to the bottom of an ocean, traveling to a fictional island setting, and flying through mountainous terrain.

Reception

The PlayStation version of Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8]

Most reviewers rated the same console version poorly in terms of gameplay substance and originality, but gave high ratings to its graphic properties, physics engine, and overall very good pinball simulation.[5][1][2] One IGN author wrote of his experience playing the same console version: "I've had more fun watching my dog clean herself."[2] The same author also commented that its pinball simulation was superior, with physics, movement, and design that very closely replicated those of an actual pinball table.[2] Jeff Lundrigan of Next Generation called the PC version "A pinball lover's dream. By all means, don't miss this one."[15]

Awards

In 2000-2001 Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey was recognized as the best puzzles/classics game for PC of the year in Computer Gaming World[18] and Electronic Gaming Monthly's Game Blast 2000 awards.[19]

References
  1. Woodham, Carey (15 June 2000). "ELECTRONIC ADVENTURES". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo. p. 4F.
  2. Cleveland, Adam (4 October 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  3. Stone, David (16 June 2009). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  4. "Pro Pinball Fantastic Journey". GOG.com. CD Projekt. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  5. Woods, Nick. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  6. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  7. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  8. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  9. Lombardi, Chris (March 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 188. Ziff Davis. p. 144. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  10. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 2000.
  11. Liu, Johnny (September 2000). "[Pro Pinball:] Fantastic Journey Review (PS)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  12. Dulin, Ron (6 January 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  13. Gerstmann, Jeff (28 July 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "February 4, 2004"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  14. Reed, Aaron (26 March 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  15. Lundrigan, Jeff (March 2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey (PC)". Next Generation. No. 63. Imagine Media. p. 94.
  16. "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. 2000.
  17. Williams, Jeremy (2000). "Pro Pinball: Fantastic Journey". PC Gamer. Future US. Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  18. CGW staff (March 2000). "The 2000 Premier Awards (Puzzles/Classics Game of the Year)". Computer Gaming World. No. 188. Ziff Davis. p. 85.
  19. Finn, Mike (27 January 2000). "WIRED WATCH - Tech news and previews". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo. p. 2F.
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