Pinball Parlor (PC) Review

When it comes to presentation, Pinball Parlor succeeds on all fronts. The table is very authentic in terms of construction and art design. It definitely wouldn't look out of place in arcades of yesteryear. All of the objects, from the bumpers to the flippers, are modelled well and react accordingly to the on-screen action. However, seeing everything in the highest possible fidelity requires a fairly beefy PC. Thankfully, there is a "light weight" version for anyone rocking older processors and video cards. The difference between both settings isn't too dramatic, which is nice.

Despite the fact that the player is given five balls, the average session goes by very quickly. The table has a high drain rate, so careful management of every shot is a must. The key strategy is in nudging the cabinet in order to produce the desired results. A slight tap won't make a massive difference, but it might be the .1% chance someone needs to keep their ball in play. The cabinet can also be slightly pushed or firmly shoved in one of four directions. This is a much more effective technique, but pushing too hard results in the loss of one "tilt warning." More of these lifesavers can be earned through skilful play. Be careful, because once they're gone, the machine will tilt the next time it's shoved, which is an immediate game over.

Obtaining a high score depends on one's ability to manipulate shots, while making full use of their limited resources. There are also specific bonuses to work towards in every session. One of them, the "Generation Advance" bonus, involves hitting the lettered bumpers that spell out "PARLOR." Alternatively, hitting the drop target located just under the "L" is a slower but more consistent method for earning that specific award. Anyone interested in collecting letters should also focus on getting "AGAIN," which replenishes the ball stock. Finally, using the last ball to hit the baffle hole causes the player's score to double. In short, there are a handful of objectives to shoot for in every session.

The first few hours are going to be somewhat discouraging. Until they get a handle on everything, someone is liable to play through countless sessions, but have little if any progress to show for it. The high drain rate tends to be really frustrating as well. There's a kickback on the left side, but most drains happen because the ball falls in-between the flippers, which is rather surprising. It takes a lot of practice to get a handle on the finer points of the game. Utilising the analogue stick to nudge the cabinet in just the right way is exceedingly important. This requires a very careful hand, but eventually it'll become second nature.