Reviewed: 08/1996

Multi-table package with six themes. Beautifully rendered graphics with ball-lock video animations and dot-matrix score display (including some video modes for which I generally don't care much ). Supports multiple views - scrolling 2D planview, 3D scrolling and 3D non-scrolling full-screen view - and multiple resolutions (all three in 640x480, 3D scrolling also in 320x200 and 3D non-scrolling also in 800x600). Each one has its advantages and disadvantages but scrolling 2D planview is almost unplayable. I find that the three different views distract my focus on the game. I'd rather have one view only, kinda like "this is how it's intended to be and how you have to master it". Multiball forces to non-scrolling view anyway. Fun and distinguished sound effects. Supports ThrustMaster Pinball Wizzard! Effective left/right nudges. Tables have many similar target features but offer some fun and rewarding mission-like challenges. Ball/flipper estimation problems with scrolling playfields and 3D views (e.g. in Roadking U.S.A. you can't tell if the ball is going into the in- or outlanes). More action than simulation value but bonus points for superb graphics. Highly flawed ball physics with unrealistic high gravity/acceleration and odd ramp behavior and other problems especially at the flippers. Also, bonus points are not in proportion to the overall scoring scheme and certain challenge points are awared at end-of-ball rather than in "real-time" as they should be, IMHO. If you have a ThrustMaster Pinball Wizzard and can decide between 3D scrolling (best target detail view, less control accuracy) and 3D non-scrolling (better control, targets less visible) you will feel as close to a real pinball machine as it can get. The question is how much you would enjoy that real pinball machine. In Europe, Hyper 3-D is marketed as "Tilt!".

Released/Copyright: 1995, NMS Software Ltd.