E3 2011

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection Hands-On

We may not be the Pinball Wizard, but that didn't stop us from getting these impressions.

Last year, Crave released the critically acclaimed Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, a collection of real-life pinball tables faithfully re-created for play at home. Now the company's bringing The Gottlieb Collection to the Wii. We were able to go hands-on with it at the E3 2009 booth, and what we saw impressed.

After starting the game, we were able to explore a virtual arcade in which we could select one of four available tables, though the final game will reportedly feature 12. We decided to start things off with a space-themed table, because let's face it, space-themed stuff is awesome. With the table chosen, the game presents several options, such as exploring the history of the table more in-depth, checking out a scanned version of a flyer used to advertise the game, or watching a video walk-through of the table's features, which pointed out high-scoring locations. In addition, we could adjust how the game played, such as by varying the amount of tries that we had or how many balls were in play at once.

To get things started, you first need to launch the ball by pulling back on the control stick, like a plunger, and then releasing it, snapping the ball into play. At this point, the triggers on the Wii Remote and Nunchuk become your right and left paddles, respectively. In a particularly neat feature, you can tilt the table simply by shaking the controller, very similar to the real thing. We found the game particularly enjoyable to play when we tilted both the remote and Nunchuk so they faced inward, with the triggers on the outside. This more closely mimicked the way you play actual pinball, making it even more immersive (and yes, we know we're dorks).

Given that the game is produced by the same developer as The Williams Collections, we weren't surprised to find that the physics felt spot-on, with the ball demonstrating proper momentum and bounding around the table realistically. Keep an eye out for more on this game when it launches this fall.

14 Comments

  • ocannon

    Posted Nov 24, 2009 8:25 am GMT

    If crave ever gives games like super mario bros, T2, addams family, etc it will be for download on all three systems in my opinion. Lord willing.

  • hellstorm25

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 11:24 pm GMT

    it would be pretty cool if nintendo gave crave permission to make the gottlieb pinball machine (super mario brothers) especially for the nintendo wii. the real machine is sort of tough to find these days.if there is anyone out there who can pressure nintendo to allow this please do so, even if it is exclusive for the wii.

  • ocannon

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 9:46 pm GMT

    CRAVE is the master of pinball of all time of PSP, Wii ,xbox ,PS2 & soon 360 PS3

  • ocannon

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 10:13 am GMT

    hall of fame want can i say YES ok look hall of fame is best pinball game's EVER!!!! for system nobody can touch nobody!!!

  • Distinctive_Fin

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:36 pm GMT

    Did the Williams collection have Black Knight? What great tables will this collection bring anyway? Can anyone confirm if Joust is or will be a table? That was the best table based on the fact that it was two player!

  • threedown

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 8:57 am GMT

    yes yes, the williams collection was awesome, cant wait for this one!!!!!

  • RandyAU93

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 5:14 pm GMT

    I've been playing the Gottlieb Collection on the PSP, and it's great, but after I tried the Williams Collection on the Wii, I really prefer the Wii Remote/Nunchuk control scheme. Maybe it will include a new table or two (just as the Xbox 360 edition of Williams Collection is said to include some new tables, too).

  • AndreSegers

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 2:56 pm GMT

    @Gelugon_baat
    I'm only 24 *sobs*

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Jun 8, 2009 7:10 pm GMT

    "This more closely mimicked the way you play actual pinball, making it even more immersive (and yes, we know we're dorks). "

    Someone is an un-apologetically old person.

  • JJBSterling

    Posted Jun 8, 2009 6:59 pm GMT

    I'm surprised Brendan didn't get to write this preview.

  • Jaysonguy

    Posted Jun 8, 2009 2:59 pm GMT

    Wha?
    Someone actually said pinball was casual?

    A community that would buy machines the size of a fridge to play just one game is casual?

    Great news for the game

  • Sancroff

    Posted Jun 7, 2009 11:14 pm GMT

    This is great news. I love the Williams Collection.

  • nintendo-naut

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 10:36 am GMT

    I love pinball. Williams Collection was awesome.

  • pakhair

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 3:12 am GMT

    Good casual game.............