One of the first computer games I played Pinball Construction 
Set. It was a work of art. While the 'game' itself was fun, making your 
own pinball machines was simply a blast. Sadly, video pinball never again 
reached that level, although the hardware surpassed it greatly.
	There were Alien Crush, and Devil's crush (Dragon's Fury for 
Genesis owners). All were fun, lively games, that took pinball a little 
further (with bonus 'rooms') There was even a pinball constuction-style 
game for the Genesis, but that lacked something. (it even had a gore mode 
with blood and screaming) On the SNES front there was a ho-hum pinball 
game marketed by Nintendo, Behind the Mask, nothing specacular and a 
lesser game than The Crushes.
	As you probably figured out by now, I love pinball and when I saw 
Extreme Pinball for my Playstation, at $36.99, I jumped at the chance. 
The Electronic Arts game boasts "SGI Artwork", "4 machines" and "a CD 
soundtrack". I poped in into my Playstation.
	First thing I notice is about 4 interlaced title screens. They 
look nice, like a 3DO game. Then comes the "Loading Screen". I stare at 
it for a good minute (maybe more)
	Ok, here's the options screen. Again, interlaced, and looking 
very nice. Easy to figure out, too...I choose a machine...and then the 
wait comes...
	I'm not kidding, a full minute! I never waited so long for a Sony 
game before. I've played Viewpoint and I thought that had a long load 
time. Oh well I thought, once it's loaded, it stays loaded.
	I start a game. Man, I'm having trouble following the ball. You 
see the ball is always in the middle of the screen (vertically). 
Sometimes the screen moves pretty fast to simulate the ball moving 
around. The screen almost blurs. It's really hard to tell what the ball 
will collide off, and what it will pass through when it's moving so fast.
I play on, regardless. Here's my review:
	Graphics: Well, not everything looks SGI rendered. I mean certain 
spinning things, like the guitar in one machine or the monkey head are 
obviously, but the tables look hand drawn for the most part. The ball is 
hard to follow because of the speed of the game. I do LOVE the 
re-creation of the dot-matrix screens, however. These give the game a 
real pinball feel.
	Sound and Music: Sound effects are great for the most part, esp. 
in the "urban Decay" table. Music is good, but is repetive.
	Replay: One thing I like about pinball is trying to beat my 
personal best. Taking risks to beat the high score. Now I don't 
understand why EA can't put an option in to save the High Score table to 
the Memory Card! C'mon it would only take a block!!! At least give the 
player the option. I HATE games that don't allow to use the card. Are you 
listening makers of Thunderstrike 2. I hate writing down passwords! That 
why Sony made the memory cards!

	My diagnosis: I like the game very much. The music, the table 
layouts look like a lot of work went into them. Sadly though, the game it 
not that much fun to play, because you can't see the ball. You can't 
react whether the ball is going to bounce or go through object on the 
screen. Maybe if you study the boards, but I never did this in real 
pinball, why should I in video pinball. I believe the type of video where 
the screen doen't scroll, would work here.
	Rent it before you but it!
	- later,
	Rob