Epic Pinball
Description official description
Epic Pinball is a pinball video game played from a 2D top-down view within a scrollable window. The game was distributed on floppy disks in three separate packs of 4 tables each:
- Pack 1 (Android, Pot of Gold, Excalibur, Crash and Burn)
- Pack 2 (Magic, Jungle Pinball, Deep Sea, Enigma)
- Pack 3 (Cyborgirl, Pangaea, Space Journey, Toy Factory)
The shareware version of the game (and an early retail version) included only the original "Android" table (later versions contained an updated version called "Super Android"). Some tables were available as a separate releases as well as in much bigger compilations.
Each table has up to four flippers, giving the player the possibility to control the ball uniquely during the game. The tables are themed, making each table individual on its own way.
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Screenshots
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Credits (DOS version)
14 People (9 developers, 5 thanks)
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Pot of Gold Design | |
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 88% (based on 9 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 51 ratings with 5 reviews)
The Good
As the title says, this is what I consider to be the best pinball on computer. The majority of the tables are fantastic to play, and do not become tired after many plays. The high number of tables is a joy, and is good to see variation between them. Different themes, a few 'vintage' tables, the Enigma table, etc. As well as this, the graphics and music are very high quality.
The Bad
There are a few bugs with the game, if bug is the right word to use. A few of the tables (in particular 'African Safari' and 'Space journey') are difficult to play because the ball is lost far too easily. When I play, the ball is lost regularly after just a few seconds because of bad placement of objects.
Also, the bumpers bounce way too hard. This isn't that much of a problem, but can be a bit annoying.
The Bottom Line
Even though a few of the tables are a bit difficult to play, there is still so much here that it is one of my favourite games. Great table design!
DOS · by Adam Holman (3) · 2005
The ratings only go up to five and I want to rate it eleven
The Good
This was the first game I ever owned that was released in installments. Each package contained the basic game and menu system together with four or five tables. I had packs 1 & 2 so that meant nine tables in all.
I must have owned it back in 1994/5 and the whole family played it. There was competition to set the highest score on each table and at one point this led to rationing access to the PC in one hour sessions. It was the ideal game for us at that time, easy enough for any of us to play, interesting enough that we all wanted to play it, and with enough bonuses and mini games to remain challenging for ages.
It's now 2012 and I've just loaded two tables that I can play using the DOSBOX emulator and they still hold my attention.
The music in these games is excellent. I played the game again today, just the Jungle and Enigma tables, and it still holds its own against other pinball games I've played, and uninstalled, over the years.
The Bad
Only two things really, one being that eventually the rest of the family had better scores than me on all tables, and the other being that my wife eventually got such a high score on the Deep Sea table that it was stored as a humongous negative number.
The Bottom Line
An oldie and a goldie. It runs in DOS so you'll probably need an emulator to play it but, if you get the chance, give it a go.
I've just re-installed two tables and would not hesitate to install more when I can.
DOS · by piltdown_man (236159) · 2012
Brought addictive pinball to the PC masses.
The Good
For pinball fans, Epic Pinball was a godsend - the fast-scrolling screens were a big
improvement over the tiny screens of older PC games. The variety of pinball tables
made for hours of enjoyment - if you got bored with one table, there were many
more. Some tables like Deep Sea and Pangaea had excellent pixelled graphics.
The Bad
Even if "nostalgia" tables like Magic were reflective of gameplay at their time, they
did get quite dull to play after awhile. I at least credit Epic for putting them in.
Also, the music is perhaps a little "cheesy", at least compared to what the PC MOD-scene
was creating at the time of its release.
The Bottom Line
If you've ever played the classics Pinball Dreams or Pinball Fantasies on the Amiga
(or their PC ports), you will find Epic Pinball comparable. All these games have
demoscene roots. Somehow, I just haven't found the more recent "3d-rendered"
Windows pinball games as enjoyable, probably since they take a step backward in
that the table doesn't move.
For the record, Epic developed two other pinball games: Silverball, similar to Epic Pinball except a commercial release, and Extreme Pinball, a sequel of sorts which was also released commerically (expect reviews for these two games in the future).
DOS · by Andy Voss (1861) · 1999
Trivia
Artwork
Artwork for the tables Space Journey and Toy Factory was done by a member of the demo group Future Crew.
OEM version
Acer used to package Epic Pinball in their early to mid 90's desktop PCs. It came with three tables: Toy Factory, Space Journey, and Pangaea.
Registered version
The floppy disk 'registered version' does not contain Epic Pinball Pack 3.
Shareware version
The original Shareware version lets you play only the Android table, although all of the others are included on the menu. Selecting the other tables shows them, but tells you to contact Epic to access them.
Information also contributed by Andy Voss, Brandon Odorn and Garcia
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Tomer Gabel.
Additional contributors: Patrick Bregger.
Game added September 6, 1999. Last modified January 17, 2024.