Pro Pinball: Big Race USA

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.

Pro Pinball: Big Race USA
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

Background

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It is notable for having a lot more "simulation" features than its predecessor Pro Pinball: Timeshock!, 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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Ward, Trent C. (1 February 1999). "[Pro Pinball:] Big Race USA (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  6. ^ Woods, Nick. "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. ^ Atkin, Denny (March 1999). "[Pro Pinball:] Big Race USA" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 176. Ziff Davis. p. 164. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  8. ^ a b "World Greatest Hits シリーズ Vol.1 プロピンボール ビッグレースUSA [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  9. ^ Liu, Johnny (September 2000). "[Pro Pinball:] Big Race USA Review (PS)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  10. ^ Shamma, Tahsin (22 February 1999). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  11. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (25 July 2000). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  12. ^ Adamsons, Matt (January 1999). "Pro Pinball – Big Race USA". Hyper. No. 63. p. 88. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  13. ^ Cleveland, Adam (5 September 2000). "Pro Pinball: Big Race USA (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. 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. Vol. 6, no. 4. Imagine Media. p. 139. 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. 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. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  19. ^ Rob (March 1999). "Pro Pinball Big Race USA". Playstation Plus. No. 42. p. 85. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  20. ^ CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Special Award: Quick-Fix Gaming)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. p. 104. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
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