Original Release: Sierra, 1995, PC
Sierra’s first foray into pinball, not only a fairly fun game but also noteworthy in that it founded a fairly popular series that still hasn’t been picked up by one of the digital distribution platforms yet
3D Ultra Pinball (PC, Sierra, 1995)
Where to Buy: eBay
How to Emulate: MS-DOS Emulation Guide (will need to run Windows 3.1 in DOSBox or a virtual machine to play, does not appear to work with more modern Windows versions)
Review by: C. M0use
This Sierra-Dynamix pinball title sent off Windows 3.1 with a last hurrah of some early 3D modeling prowess, but it also founded a fairly popular series that would stretch into the 00s.
Each entry in the series has some sort of theme which is usually spelled out in a subtitle, this 1995 entry kicked things off with a outer space colony theme (apparently a tie-in with the forgotten Outpost strategy games that emphasized just building and managing your little Moon Base Alpha instead of fighting off reggae aliens or whatever).
There are only three tables, but all are pretty elaborate and have a lot of stuff to do. The Outpost influence lends an almost RTS element as you construct different buildings on each table that open up new objectives. You also earn continues as you go to keep all this progress rolling, but you’ll have to complete everything in one sitting. All three of the tables eventually contribute pieces to a starship, and you beat the overall game by building it.
The biggest criticism is a usual one for vidya pinball games, that it only kinda feels like actual pinball; the ball is definitely a little more loose and floaty, and takes pretty crazy/unpredictable caroms sometimes. It’s close enough for the game to be fun to play but definitely not in “authentic” territory.
An absolute ton of stuff to do (and surprising Gradius-like rockin synth tunes) really helps to forgive the fact that the physics are a little sub-par and there are only three tables. I’m not saying it’s some forgotten gem, but I think it’s good enough that pinball fans will want to give it a spin. I found it fun and entertaining at least.
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