Pinball Dreams HD

Yet another iteration of the fantastic Pinball Dreams has been brought to us, this time in HD 3D. Everything about the original game is here and the 3D visuals are, for the most part, pleasing. However, as mentioned in some other reviews, the ball physics is very unrealistic compared to other pinball games, such as Wild West and The Deep. This has the potential to be a fantastic pinball game for both newcomers and veterans, however it feels incomplete.

I love the tables and the basic logic of the games. What I don't like the ball is "rubber" rather than "steel,' which means it bounces off all surfaces the same. If the behavior of the ball were more standard, it would be much better. Also I haven't found any instructions at all. So close.

I played the MS-DOS version of these games, as well as Pinball Fantasies, on my first PC (dare I say it? . . . a Packard Bell). Everything is here (the sights and sounds), only better than ever, and the price is reasonable considering each original CD-ROM was over twenty bucks! The perspective view is a step closer to real pinball, and the silky-smooth animation and motion physics demonstrate what a Mac can do.OK, guys, I'm ready for Pinball Fantasies, too!

Well, this release was certainly quite unexpected. Pinball Dreams for iOS was one of the few reasons that pushed me towards the purchase of an iPod Touch some two years ago - along with some other exemplary games it has proven to me that iOS was a viable platform for gaming on-the-go - which has also remained one of my favorite games on that platform.Anyway, this version plays just as well if not better thanks to keyboard controls (nudging via shaking will always remain awkward) and the tables received yet another facelift to bring out even more detail, while retaining their classic audio charm. For instance, I love the weathered look of the Steel Wheel board. While the angled view is nice, I'm grateful a classic top-down camera option was included as well as the tables lose some of their luster otherwise. I only wished there was also a static full view for the classic camera; all it'd take would be a little zooming out. That's about the only niggle I have with the game.All in all, Cowboy Rodeo did a superb job on updating this game yet again. Here's to hoping the Pinball Fantasies will receive a similar update down the line... and maybe one day they'll even go for Pinball Illusions though that's just wishful thinking on my part. As it is, PD HD will surely remain as one of my favorite Mac games. Thanks so much.