Zen Studios hasn’t had the smoothest ride bringing their pinball titles over to the Nintendo Switch, and Pinball FX – Williams Pinball Volume 8 illustrates some of these hiccups. The first question might be, “What happened to Volume 7?” Simple answer: it’s absent from the Switch lineup. This brings us to the current offering: how do these three tables stack up? Well, the verdict is a bit of a mixed bag.
Let’s kick things off with the standout of the bunch: Black Knight 2000. While the name might suggest a futuristic adventure, this table is a throwback, originally hitting arcades in 1989 as a sequel to its 1980 predecessor. It’s a vibrant showcase of its time, full of colors and lights that instantly transport me back to arcade memories, even if this particular table wasn’t part of my own arcade exploits. The real star, though, is the music. With lines like, “You’ve got the power (ha ha ha ha ha), you’ve got the might (no way), get ready for battle (give me your money), beat the black knight,” it captures the spirit of the era. This table does demand some practice, but it has a magnetic pull that keeps you returning as you master drop targets, ramps, and more to boost your score.
Next in line is Banzai Run, one of two tables from Pat Lawlor featured in this collection. Personally, I have a soft spot for Lawlor’s ’90s creations like Funhouse and Addams Family. The motorcycle theme in Banzai Run doesn’t really click with me, but what’s more troubling is how the table’s design ends up feeling somewhat lacking. The innovative vertical playfield idea unfortunately leads to a lot of empty space, making it both visually and gameplay-wise underwhelming. Coupled with a less-than-smooth performance on the Switch (is it just me, or does it stutter?), this table doesn’t entice much replay value, even with virtual coins at hand. The concept had promise and it certainly stands out for its uniqueness, but it falls short on that addictiveness factor.
Finally, we have Earthshaker, arguably the easiest table for snagging high scores. Its chief attraction is the multiball feature, which is married to the heaviest HD rumble I’ve ever experienced on the Switch. Some might call it gimmicky, but it fits remarkably well with the earthquake theme. Apart from that, Earthshaker plays as a dependable table, perfect for those new to the pinball scene. A quick note: if you’re using a third-party controller without rumble, you’ll be missing out on part of the experience.
This trio of tables from Williams Pinball Volume 8 is a bit of a mixed offering. Black Knight 2000 delivers a delightful slice of ‘80s nostalgia, but at the price of $14.99, you’d hope the other tables pack the same punch. Earthshaker rides on its HD Rumble gimmick, while Banzai Run feels like a prototype struggling on the Switch. It might be wise to snag this pack during a sale, or stick to exploring Pinball FX3 for now.
