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Thomas the Tank Engine Developer: Spidersoft
Publisher: 21st Century
grade

Reviewed: 1997 

- The pinball

This pinball is just adorable. It is one of a few pinball sims directed only to children. It actually feels like a pinball for children, but still as one elder people can play. The layout of the tables are very easy in the way the ball doesn't drain so often and also it isn't that hard to figure out what to do to score. The tilting is very effective, the ball flies high up in the air and you have to press space a big number of times before you loose the ball, not very realistic but in this case acceptable. The ball and flipper physics are rather simple but enough to give some playing value to the tables.

You can among other things change, tilt sensitivity, number of balls (1-9) and what keys to use when playing.


- The tables

- Thomas

This table is by far the easiest table (sort of, they are all rather easy). The layout is nice without things you don't understand what they are for. In all, no one should have problem understanding the meaning of this table. The table is not in any way modebased (none of the four tables are), you shoot around trying to collect extraballs, special points and jackpots. The table has (for me) not that much of real playing value but I still find it enjoyable. Since the pinball is directed to children I understand the simplicity of the table theme and layout. But I still wish some modes had been added, as it is now the table is very easy and not that lasting (but as said, enjoyable).

- James

Lots of ramps fills this table which is a little harder than the Thomas table, it takes a little more time to get the hang of what the ramps activate and so on. Still there is no modes to start, you simply play to get jackpots and increase your bonus and similar. The table is rather enjoyable, it is just so charming fun to play the table even though it doesn't take that long to have done everything of interest.

- Percy

Ahh, this table is green (the color green), I like that color somehow ;) This is one of the more complex tables featured in the pinball. Don't know why it is more complex, but the layout is good with a spinning wheel (wow!, ;) in the middle and a layout that somehow stands out from the rest of the tables. I find this table most lasting of the four since you feel you can do a lot in it.

- Toby

Maybe the most serious table, it doesn't have anything the other three tables haven't got, it just has a different layout which you must play a little to understand (in the Thomas table you only have to look at it to know what to do, well almost ;).


- The feeling

The feeling is not all to good but it is more than enough to lighten these tables up, and after all it is directed to children and not so many children bother to explore the depth of the flippers physics. The feeling is very simple so aiming and doing special tricks is nothing you can do here. The programmers seem to have concentrated on doing the layout rather simple to understand and also making the ball easy to steer and shoot. So as you understand the feeling doesn't qualify as realistic but is good enough to make these tables playable.


- The whole

A pinball directed to younger players and therefore has a easy to understand layout, some of the tables takes a little longer to complete but you will not have to spend weeks or months play to complete a table. But as this pinball is intended to children I find the feeling ok and also think that the table layout/themes are good. Even though I don't doubt that elder players will find this pinball enjoyable I belive it wont take them long for them to complete the tables and after that there is not so much playing value left. So this pinball is recommended for younger players and not professional players looking for a big challenge and a pinball to play for years.


system requirements

Platform: PC
Operating System: DOS

Also available for: -


Screenshots:
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