Software:Pro Pinball: Big Race USA

From HandWiki
Pro Pinball: Big Race USA
Pro Pinball Big Race USA.jpg
Developer(s)Cunning Developments
Publisher(s)Empire Interactive
SeriesPro Pinball
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Macintosh (Mac OS 9 or earlier)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
PlayStation
  • EU: 1998
  • NA: 31 July 2000
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Pro Pinball: Big Race USA is an action video game developed by Cunning Developments, published by Empire Interactive and distributed by Take-Two Interactive for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. It is the third game in the Pro Pinball series, and is themed around travelling around the United States in a car, similar to the Williams physical table Red & Ted's Road Show.

Background

It is notable for having a lot more "simulation" features than its predecessor Pro Pinball, such as ability to configure table angle, flipper strength and how "worn" the table should appear to be. It also features a skill level setting, perhaps in response to Pro Pinball: Timeshock!'s difficulty. It also has improved graphical features including a subtle texture on the ball (so you can see how the ball is spinning) and motion blur.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS
AllGame4.5/5 stars[5]3.5/5 stars[6]
CGW4.5/5 stars[7]N/A
FamitsuN/A22/40[8]
GameRevolutionN/AC+[9]
GameSpot8.7/10[10]6.8/10[11]
Hyper79/100[12]N/A
IGN7.4/10[1]4.8/10[13]
OPM (US)N/A3.5/5 stars[14]
PC Gamer (US)88%[15]N/A
PC Zone83%[16]N/A
PSMN/A3/5 stars[17]
The Cincinnati Enquirer3.5/4 stars[18]N/A
Playstation PlusN/A89%[19]
Aggregate scores
GameRankings79%[2]71%[3]
MetacriticN/A69/100[4]

The PlayStation version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] In Japan, where the same console version was ported and published by Syscom as part of the World Greatest Hits Series on 13 June 2002, Famitsu gave it a score of 22 out of 40.[8]

The PC version received the "Special Award" for "Quick-Fix Gaming" from Computer Gaming World in 1999. The editors wrote that it "set a new standard in PC pinball" and "proved so incredibly addictive it might as well have shipped with a set of cranial meat hooks."[20]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ward, Trent C. (1 February 1999). "[Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PC)"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/02/big-race-usa. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  2. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603184229/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198354-pro-pinball-big-race-usa/index.html. Retrieved 7 February 2020. 
  3. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190527084724/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/342118-pro-pinball-big-race-usa/index.html. Retrieved 7 February 2020. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PlayStation Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/pro-pinball-big-race-usa/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation. Retrieved 25 May 2017. 
  5. Sutyak, Jonathan. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116184608/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17600&tab=review. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  6. Woods, Nick. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PS) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141117072025/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26058&tab=review. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  7. Atkin, Denny (March 1999). "[Pro Pinball: Big Race USA"]. Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (176): 164. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf. Retrieved 7 February 2020. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 "World Greatest Hits シリーズ Vol.1 プロピンボール ビッグレースUSA [PS"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4923&redirect=no. Retrieved 7 February 2020. 
  9. Liu, Johnny (September 2000). "[Pro Pinball: Big Race USA Review (PS)"]. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906143108/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/big-race-usa. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  10. Shamma, Tahsin (22 February 1999). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pro-pinball-big-race-usa-review/1900-2538175/. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  11. Gerstmann, Jeff (25 July 2000). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pro-pinball-big-race-usa-review/1900-2607412/. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  12. Adamsons, Matt (January 1999). "Pro Pinball – Big Race USA". Hyper (63): 88. https://archive.org/details/hyper-063/page/88/mode/2up?q=%22Brunswick+Circuit+Pro+Bowling%22. Retrieved 5 August 2021. 
  13. Cleveland, Adam (5 September 2000). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/06/pro-pinball-big-race-usa. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  14. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis). 2000. 
  15. Renninger, Dean H. (April 1999). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 6 (4): 139. https://archive.org/details/PCGamer199904/page/n155/mode/2up. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  16. Shoemaker, Ritchie (1999). "PC Review: Pro Pinball: Big Race USA". PC Zone (Future plc). Archived from the original on 20 January 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070120225238/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3317. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  17. "Review: Pro Pinball". PSM (Future US). October 2000. 
  18. Bottorff, James (1999). "Detailed 'Big Race' leads the pinball pack (PC)". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 27 August 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010827043609/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/bigraceusa.html. Retrieved 8 February 2020. 
  19. Rob (March 1999). "Pro Pinball Big Race USA". Playstation Plus (42): 85. https://archive.org/details/playstation-plus-42/page/84/mode/2up?q=. Retrieved 5 August 2021. 
  20. CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Special Award: Quick-Fix Gaming)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (177): 104. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf. Retrieved 7 February 2020. 

External links