Pro Pinball Timeshock

While I've been quite late to enjoy the Pro Pinball series, the games are still a joy to behold, especially since unlike some other titles of their time they have aged very well. As it is, Timeshock! is without a doubt my favorite table of the bunch: best table layout, great theme, and some superb rockin' music, which I think is much more well suited in comparison to PP's other tables. Sure it may not look as fancy as the later tables, but it's infinitely more fun. In a way, Timeshock! feels like the only table that could very well have been made into a real pinball machine. It's just spot-on. If you're going to take dive into Pro Pinball land this is the one I recommend you try first. As some may have mentioned, the DOS version does have some limitations, but I'd be hard-pressed to really notice when I'm totally in the zone (which is pretty much every game I play). Some may consider it a difficult table, but that's completely relative. You know, they did include nudging for a reason - I've saved a lot of balls from premature death that way.

I don't know if it's tied to the GOG Galaxy install version but when I had it add the shortcut to the desktop, it included the Windows version. I opened up the install directory and sure enough, there it was. I had to set the .exe for compatibility mode for Windows ME/98 for it to run and the music didn't work for me, but it's the Windows version. I was able to set the higher resolution and color options and map my controller just fine like with Big Race USA and Fantastic Journey. I can only speculate if this version is still being tested to work on all systems. As for Timeshock itself, the physics are great and the gameplay silky smooth but I just don't like it as much as Big Race USA. Maybe it's the darker color style of this table, but I just have a harder time being absorbed by this one. Personal taste difference aside, this is still a nice table and I wouldn't leave it out of my collection. Windows version definitely helps with controller compatibility and crispiness of the graphics. Give it a go!

I bought this... I don't know, over the years, 5 times? I bought the DOS version, I bought the Windows version, I bought it in a pack version with all 4 of the games (that includes "the Web" which isn't here on GOG, sadly) and I believe I had it for both the Playstation and the Dreamcast. I _love_ this game. I love Pinball, but this game is just the one I love most from the DOS days - because it combines both FUN and ACCURACY. Music is pretty darned good, I actually have thought it would make a nice tune for a videogame remix, or to cover live. Sound effects don't have much lag, though sometimes switching music tracks is a bit laggy. You don't really notice, and if you remember back in the day when we had no music in pinball, you remember the first games had that lag anyway (: The table itself is built for both novice and pro players - the skillshot, and hidden skillshot, are good spots to start; and the various ways to get things like the magnet, video mode, and such are all well displayed. Once you learn how to trigger them, which is still not the easiest thing to do, you can get pretty far... and then lose a ball and go "AAAAUGH" just like a real table. Video Mode is FUN. It has levels as well, and progressing them isn't the easiest thing to do. I think the thing I like about it most, though, is how similar it is to the bobsled on the c64 version of Winter Games (Epyx.) I loved that, and this is... well, better (: More navigable, but there are more obstacles... it's just good. The various 'continents' all have good backdrop graphics; a friend of mine (Lobster, where ARE you) worked at Williams and did these for a living at one time, and he would go over the work that went into them. This is of that quality of work. I just wish I could make this a real table. Maybe one day when I have time...

In my view, there are only a handful of pinball tables that stand out as far and away the best pinball experience on the PC, and every one of them is in the Pro Pinball series. And while Big Race USA is quite possibly my favorite, Timeshock comes in a close second. Timeshock is possibly one of the most detailed, most varied, and most authentic pinball tables that I have played, and in fact contains more detail and more modes than any number of actual, physical pinball machines that I've used at the arcade. Admittedly, it's not the easiest table out there, but the sheer amount of stuff to do means that you'll rarely get bored, regardless of your skill level. I've played some variant of this on many computers from back when I was running it in actual DOS, and it still holds my interest even now. $6 is an absolute bargain for the amount of fun you can get from this game. If you are a fan of pinball, each and every game in the pro pinball series, including this one, is a must-have for your collection.

What a game if you enjoy the thrills of pinball then you must buy this game. For a game that is over 12 years old the graphics are still of very high quality that dosent look out of place today and the music that accompanies the game is first rate but the main thing is the game is addictive with the just one more go feel to it. For $5.99 this is a steal amd well worth the purchase. Go on you know you want to buy this.