38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fun diversion!, November 16, 2000
This review is from: 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride (CD-ROM)
Having played all of the other pinball games in the "3-D Ultra" series, and being a huge roller coaster fan, I was eager to try out Thrillride! I loved the way it looked more like a real pinball table for a change, and I marveled at the animations and details, which were crystal-clear and without distortions or hiccups during play. I enjoyed the flume and the wooden coaster on the two side-tables, and I had a complete blast flipping the ball about the table to see what would happen next. And then about fifteen minutes passed.
Don't get me wrong ... I think Thrillride! is a fun game, and serves as a good distraction from those graphics-heavy 3-D games, but it just gets old pretty fast. The main table is so small and crowded that there are only a few places to launch the ball, and it gets tiring to continue getting bonus points for refreshments. The bonus tables are interesting, but not quite as fun as they could have been. The design-a-coaster table, for example, is interesting in concept (hit certain bumpers to turn the track in a different direction), but you have to watch the ball to make sure you can stay on the table, and you don't get a chance to watch the coaster simulation as you play. It's a little too distracting.
Compared to other pinball simulations, Thrillride! is better than most, but when comparing this one with the other games in the "3-D Ultra" series, it pales. It's still fun, but it doesn't have the excitement or replay value that came with Creep Night or The Lost Continent.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
O.K. .... for about thirty minutes, January 29, 2001
This review is from: 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride (CD-ROM)
As a huge fan of pinball and it's subsequent rebirth on the PC, I have played most of the pinball sims listed on this site and enjoyed the experience(for the most part). This is definately one of the better looking ones out there, however, having said that, the way it plays is a bit lamer. After about thirty minutes or so, you've seen 99% of what this game has to offer and you're only on your second ball. Yes, that's right: second ball! Just about the only way to lose a ball is by falling asleep and letting it roll down the length of the flipper. Hitting the rides becomes redundant and stale from sheer simplicity. It stutters every time you do something signifigant and the ball pauses mid-roll, causticlly breaking the illusion of real pinball action. Replay value is just about non-existant. With the high price of the game, I expected a lot more, perhaps too much. This game may be fine for the little ones who only know pinball as "those big machines that keep Mom and Dad busy while we play Mortal Kombat 14", but if a realistic challenge is what you're looking for on your PC, try "KISS Pinball","Sci-Fi Pinball" or "Microsoft Pinball Arcade".
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolutely fantastic pinball game, October 4, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride (CD-ROM)
A wonderful pinball game with great graphics, fun sounds, and gameplay that keeps you coming back for more. The nighttime mode is a total kick. When the neighborhood kids come to our house, this is the game they want to play; so I have to get my time in after the kids are in bed. ... .
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