GameCube

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection

Despite the fact that a new company has risen to release all-new pinball machines, by and large, the pinball industry collapsed, along with arcades, a few years back. While you can still find machines in some out-of-the-way locations, it's getting harder and harder to see a fully functional pinball machine in its natural habitat. Over the years, this has given rise to a variety of video-based pinball simulations that tried to accurately mimic the ball physics and general gameplay of the real deal. Some, such as Crave's recently released Pinball Hall of Fame, even attempt to emulate actual pinball machines. With eight tables from several different decades, and good gameplay to boot, Pinball Hall of Fame represents a nice budget-priced collection.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection offers a decent experience overall by providing seven classic boards. The physics feel a little wonky, mainly due to the ball's lack of weight, but it gets the job done in the end. The game also packs a history lesson through authentic game flyers and factoids, so those looking for a bit of nostalgia will find it. But is it worth spending 20 bucks over? That depends. If you’re a crippled pinball nut without real tables at home, then definitely go for it. Fans of virtual pinball will also find a lot to enjoy. Otherwise, The Gottlieb Collection is a rental at best.