Bethesda Pinball

Zen Studios always do a good job of adding an amazing amount of detail to their tables, and 'Bethesda Pinball' is no exception. From the giant 3D model of the Cyberdemon in the 'DOOM' table to the Pip-Boy toys found in 'Fallout,' there are references all over the place. All three of the tables also look distinctly different as nobody will confuse 'Skyrim's fantasy world with the dreary apocalypse of 'Fallout 4.'

Sound design is another strong area as sound effects from the games are re-used here to good effect. Using the BFG on the 'DOOM' table is highly satisfying just like in the shooter, and hearing the chainsaw revving up every time the player launches the ball is awesome. Each table is treated with care, and the only complaint I have is that there isn't more music from the games. 'DOOM' and 'Skyrim' have especially memorable soundtracks, so it's disappointing that there's not a wide range of tracks that play. In fact, one of my longest 'DOOM' runs had the music end and then I was just left with ambient noise. It really kills the rocking vibe that the table started off with, and it's disappointing that more tracks weren't licensed all around.

'Bethesda Pinball' is easily Zen Studios' most ambitious project yet. They really went all out making sure each table feels like the game it's based upon, but that leads to mixed results when it comes to digital pinball. 'DOOM' is the real standout addition, with the two role-playing game tables getting too overly complicated. While it may not pull off every idea it attempted, I'm glad that Zen Studios isn't afraid to take risks, and that's exactly why this is still a pinball pack that is worth checking out even if it's not the developer's best adaptation.