Zen Studios surprises pinball fans with yet another epic trilogy of tables – this time from the Alien franchise including movies and the 2014 video game. These licensed tables can be hit-or-miss, often relying too heavily on sound clips, but in the case of these three Alien-infested pinball tables, design is front and center offering up some of the most enjoyable pinball action I’ve experienced in quite some time.
First up is a table based on arguably everyone’s favorite film, Aliens; perhaps one of the most quoted films of the franchise so you can imagine the incredible wealth of sound samples to draw from for this epic table. The pre-launch tour of the table reveals all the unforgettable set pieces from the film including the giant queen that dominates the top of the playing area. As your marine transport pulls in to the lower-right you launch your ball and help Ripley defeat the queen and escape LV-426.
This table design offers some great strategy elements like generous ball saves and kickbacks on the side drains. Spelling key characters names will grant upgrades like additional hit points and even a sentry gun upgrade useful when those aliens storm the table. There is even an elevated mini play area at the top of the table where you can spell RIPLEY to earn huge bonuses. And when that last ball drains you will certainly smile when Private Hudson exclaims, “GAME OVER MAN…GAME OVER!”
One of the more under-appreciated films in the expanded Alien universe is Alien vs. Predator and this table does a masterful job of recreating all those classic puzzles and traps from the movie with signature art design that puts you right inside that Predator hunting pyramid. Do you best to defeat the Xenomorphs and those ugly predators may just let you live to play another round.
Key gameplay elements on this table include multiple game modes, several of which include multi-ball, a roving alien tail that can earn you bonus points if you can manage to hit it or it may whip the ball around the table, and there is even a selectable kickback if you are fast enough to arm it. Speed is of the essence since most game modes have timers, but don’t get caught watching the clock. Danger lurks around every bumper and ramp.
The third table is based on the 2014 videogame, Alien Isolation. Borrowing visual and audio cues from the game, this is one of the more suspenseful tables in the set; especially when the 3D alien leaps onto the table and starts stalking Amanda Ripley.
Elements on this table mirror the complexity of the game that inspired it including health and ammo concerns as well as hacking and timed action sequences. You can even choose between stealth and guns-blazing play styles or use tactical gadgets like Noisemakers to distract and evade any pursing Aliens. This was easily the most difficult table to master, but also one of the most rewarding when you figure out all its nuances.
We played these new tables on both the Xbox One and the PS4/Vita and while both systems offer similar experiences the PS4 version was definitely our preferred format. Not only do you get the added value of it being cross-buy so you can enjoy on your PS Vita, there is also 3D support, and these tables really pop in 3D. Xbox One had some lag and occasional screen tearing on any view that required fast panning of the screen. Static views looked fine, and I still prefer the table interface on the Xbox One. Having a grid of 70+ tiny thumbnails, even on my 80” TV, is getting hard to manage. I can’t even imagine what people with smaller TV’s and monitors and a large table collection have to endure. It’s time for a frontend redesign on the PS4.
As always, the PS Vita version is cool in that you can play vertically, but the smaller screen size and physical buttons used for flippers aren’t the most intuitive for racking up high scores, and using the touchscreen only blocks your view of the table. It’s still fun to take and play this game on the go. As expected, there are challenging Achievements/Trophies for each table and local multiplayer as well as all the online score chasing on leaderboards and organized online tournaments.
In addition to all the expected audio clips from the various source material there is plenty of suspenseful music and sound effects; some of which are even keyed to the table lights to provide a futuristic lightshow. The only audio issue I had was with the Alien Isolation table which for some reason had all the sound effects playing as nearly twice the volume of the other two tables, and in some instances the sound would spike to 4-6x normal levels – super annoying for normal speakers and enough to make your ears bleed if wearing headphones.
Aliens vs. Pinball is easily one of my favorite pinball table sets of all-time, and not just because of my love for the Alien franchise, but more so because the designers actually took the time to create some intelligently designed tables that hearken back to the days of true pinball glory. If you love anything to do with Aliens this you will certainly appreciate the art and sound design for these new tables, but it will be the epically challenging gameplay that keeps you coming back for more.
