One of the games I was most excited about when anticipating my new Oculus Quest 2 headset was Pinball FX2 VR. I’ve long been a fan of Zen Studios’ pinball releases, and with this game being exclusive to the Oculus platform I knew that it would be one of the premier titles for this piece of hardware.
For those unfamiliar with Pinball FX2 VR, it is essentially just like any other pinball game you’ve played in your life, but instead, it has been given a virtual reality spin. As usual, you’re trying to rack up as many points as possible by hitting bumpers and avoiding getting your ball drained while navigating around demonic skulls, ice caves and outer space. The controls are delightfully simple: all you have to do is hold your controller in one hand and use the other to give the table a push when you’re ready to launch your ball
Each different pinball machine represents a different mission-based table, such as saving the world from alien invaders or stopping an evil sorceress, and all of these tables have been lovingly crafted with attention paid to every detail both in terms of graphics and sound design (something I can’t say for many modern video games). If you’ve ever wanted to own a real pinball machine but don’t want the inconvenience of having to set it up then Pinball FX2 VR is, without doubt, the next best thing.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had playing this game on the Oculus Quest 2. The pinball physics were as realistic as ever, and I found myself immersed in the fantasy world that Zen Studios has created for this game based on what they’ve released so far (I’m assuming there’s more to come as this is an ongoing project). There was also a surprising amount of entertainment to be had just from playing around with the virtual reality headset itself- it really is something that needs to be experienced first hand because you’ll instantly understand how cool it is.
From a pricing standpoint, I’d say Pinball FX2 VR is definitely worth $10. This might seem like an overpriced port of a mobile game but the visuals and soundtrack alone justify the price tag. There’s also plenty to explore and achieve here, especially if you’re looking for that perfect high score- there’s nothing quite as satisfying as pinball wizardry.
It would be nice if we could play more than one table at a time (you can only choose whether to open additional ones as you complete each mission), and some people might not like how short the experience is (I can see myself replaying this many times over though) but those are my only complaints with this title; everything else about it shines through brilliantly; from the voice-over work to the responsiveness of the controls and the depth technically involved with creating such a natural virtual reality environment.
Personal note: I had some fun writing this one; we’ll see what we end up doing here in terms of style and formatting things etc. sometime later down the line. Have a good night everyone!
P.S.: Sorry if it’s not your cup of tea
Zen Studios have continued to prove their excellence when it comes to digital pinball and no other company comes close in terms of nailing that classic arcade feel, and Pinball FX2 VR is another fantastic title that makes me excited for future releases. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but what Pinball FX2 VR manages to do is take one of my favorite hobby’s and make it even better. This game comes highly recommended for anyone who loves pinball whether you’ve got the Oculus Quest 2 or not.
Rating: 9/10