Pro Pinball: The Web
1996 video game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pro Pinball: The Web (Pro Pinball in North America) is a pinball simulation video game developed by Cunning Developments for PlayStation, MS-DOS, Windows 95 and Sega Saturn. It is the first game in the Pro Pinball series.
| Pro Pinball: The Web | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer | Cunning Developments |
| Publishers | |
| Series | Pro Pinball |
| Platforms | PlayStation, MS-DOS, Windows 9x, Sega Saturn, Macintosh (Mac OS 9 or earlier) |
| Release | PlayStation PC Sega Saturn |
| Genre | Action |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Background
Pro Pinball: The Web uses graphics pre-rendered from an intricate 3D model.[4] Consequently, the game had superior graphical capabilities to other popular pinball games of the time, while playing at full speed on MS-DOS. The Web supports screen resolutions up to 1024x768 with 32,768 colours, and features Red Book CD-DA audio tracks.[5] The developer had initially tried to obtain the license for Star Trek: The Next Generation, but were unable to do so. The preliminary demo was reworked for this game, mirroring the layout. Elements from Rollergames and Black Knight 2000 were also incorporated.[6]
Gameplay
Pro Pinball: The Web is a pinball simulation in which players operate a virtual pinball table. Players can score extra points by making combos, i.e. performing a move twice in a row.[7] Hitting targets at the far end of the table activates the game's missions, in which the player must hit lighted ramps or bumpers to score bonus points. Completing a mission results in a huge point bonus.[7]
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |   (SAT)[8] (PS1)[9] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 5.125/10 (PS1)[10] |
| GameSpot | 5/10 (PS1)[11] 7.4/10 (PC)[12] |
| Next Generation | (PS1)[13] |
| Sega Saturn Magazine | 70% (SAT)[2] |
The PlayStation and Saturn versions received mixed reviews. While critics praised the realistic pinball graphics and physics[10][11][13][2] and the wide variety of scoring opportunities,[10][11] they criticized the voice samples[10][13] and the absence of a directly overhead view.[10][11] Some also concluded that with only one table, the game would get old very quickly,[10][11][2] though Next Generation remarked, "While many developers have tried to wow gamers with multiple tables, Empire went the other way - giving the player one table, but doing it right."[13] Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot concluded that it "is a convincing simulation of pinball, but it falls short when compared to other video pinball games."[11] Rob Allsetter of Sega Saturn Magazine assessed that "All in all, this is a decent enough interpretation of the game itself, let down only by the exclusion of different table to variate the action a little",[2] and Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly said, "It's a great board, but it'll get old real quick."[10]
Reviewing the PC version, Tim Soete highly praised the game's realism and summarized that "its high-resolution graphics and true table physics combine to make it one of the most immersive pinball titles out there."[12]
The Web was named the 64th best computer game ever by PC Gamer UK in 1997. The editors wrote, "Nothing else has quite come close [...] to Pro Pinball's utterly convincing physics and slick presentation."[14]