ZEN Studio's continuous post-release support for Pinball FX made it feel like a platform more than a stand-alone game, and Pinball FX 2 embraces that notion from the start with magnificent results.
Pinball FX 2
For: Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade
From: Zen Studios
Rating: Everyone (comic mischief)
Price: Free for client; $US2.50 for individual tables; $US10 for four-packs.
PFX2 is a free download, and players are free to download tables and four-packs a la carte for $US2.50 ($NZ3.20) and $US10 respectively. The tables from PFX1 have been freshened and transported over, and any tables you owned in that game are free to play in PFX2, which also provides free demos of every available table.
Each table comes with its own set of achievements, providing achievement junkies significantly more ground to cover than your typical Xbox Live Arcade game.
As a pinball sequel, PFX2 is similarly satisfying. The tables - older tables included - look nicer, the camera angles make more sense, and the ever-so-slightly-slower ball physics better emulate the real thing.
The newer tables are considerably more elaborate than their predecessors, but every table gets a major playability boost if you have a healthy Xbox Live friends list. Beyond four-player online (and offline) multiplayer with optional video chat, PFX2 makes great use of leaderboards, constantly showing players which friends rule which tables and even rewarding those who compile the best total score across all tables.
Zen declared its intention to support FX2 with special online competitions as well as more tables, and its track record makes it easy to believe PFX2 will have legs for years to come.
