| VIDEO PINBALL |
  Before arcade games, there was the Bally Table, the Midway Mile, the elongated mechanical stretches of entertainment found in the back of your video arcade somewhere near the ski-ball ramps and the coin machines - pinball. And of course, because "VIDEO" was all the rage in the late 70's/early 80's....video killed the radio star, music videos, I guess Atari just could not resist to convert an already pre-existing form of entertainment to a watered down video version....video pinball.I get it, the goal was, to lure kids out of those dangerous drug den arcades full of n'ear do wells, but truth be told, I have to wonder how much people actually played this, because it is sort of a fun game you would not expect to be fun. It really does capture a 70's pinball vibe, albeit more of a man with an electrified tennis racket and a space suit fashion, or The WHo's Tommy set in outer space (now that would make for one insane Elton John appearance during the theme song). Anyway, one of those "filler titles" that's actually quite good. That Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Kid, Sure Plays Mean (Video) Pinball - My Experiences I pulled it out of a Smith Corona electric typewriter box when I was 7 and gazed upon the pretty 70's artwork. Oncce I had my bespoke woody 4-switcher, I played this thing for awhile...boong...boong....hiccup...hiccup....hiccup.....and then got bored of it and switched to Air Raiders. But I keep coming back, and I never quite know why. It's not that remarkable, not bad, but not awe inspiring like either Pitfall or even Trick Shot. I dunno if it's the vibe of the game overall or if it's the fact it's actually quite fun to play, not on the same level as other titles, but it's still fun, I guess that's it. YouTube Video(s) |
