Though it’s odd that we’re getting the Pinball FX Williams DLC packs with significant gaps in the collection (with volumes 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 now available), it’s always a genuine thrill to have classic, real world tables so beautifully recreated in VR.

Especially when said real world tables are, especially by pinball standards, positively ancient. There’s always a mix of joy and trepidation when encountering pinball machines IRL; it’s wonderful to see them, of course, but they’re so often in varying states of disrepair that it can be ultimately heartbreaking to see.

That isn’t a problem with tables faithfully recreated in VR of course. And Zen have done their usual, spectacular job of cleverly enhancing the experience, though of course you can play each table without its fancy embellishments. Let’s check out the three tables included in Williams Pinball Volume 10.

Comet

First up is 1985’s Comet, a rollercoaster and carnival-themed table. It’s a great example of how Zen add to the audiovisual experience with these VR recreations, with a rollercoaster that hurtles around a track above the table’s glass at appropriate moments. I love the open design, the speed that allows and the clear table goals of Comet. The lighting effects of the rollercoaster car’s eyes on the backglass are pretty cool too. I’ve never encountered this table for real, and it’s become a highlight of my VR pinball experience already.

Fire

Less successful is 1987 machine Fire. That’s nothing to do with Zen’s recreation or additions, however; I found the visual design of the table’s surface to be overly busy, and didn’t particularly enjoy the overall flow and design of the table itself. It has a neat theme, but I wasn’t particularly enamoured with Fire.

Diner

Though it looks and feels older, Diner is a 1990 release which adopts the  satirical style of 1988’s Taxi (which features in Williams Pinball Volume 9) in a different setting. There’s more in common with Taxi here too; in that game, you’re picking up political and pop culture caricatures and driving them to their destination; here, you serve similarly caricatured customers their requested order. It feels a lot like Taxi gameplay-wise too, which isn’t a bad thing at all. This is a great game, and if you want a properly 1950s style nostalgic experience, pair it with Creature from the Black Lagoon for a drive-in movie after your meal!

All in all then, two really strong tables and one that I personally found disappointing. None of which I’d ever played for real, so even with the disappointment of Fire, I’m still glad I’ve had the opportunity to take it for a spin.

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