Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball logo AGA

Reviewed by Andy Maddock

After a season of Thomas the Tank Engine repeats, the famous steam engine's career must almost be at a close. The only thing left after years of showbiz fame is the inevitable drink - or daytime television. But no, none of these will ever happen to him.

Not because he's simply an animated character who has no real existence in the world, it's because he's coming to the Amiga. Not only has he already featured in a racing game, he's following it up with one of the most unpredictable of titles, Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball.

Yep, Thomas, James, Percy, Toby and that bus are coming to the Amiga in a series of titles from Alternative Software. We can't wait!

I was never a big fan of TTTE because I never used to get home from school in time to see it. However every Christmas, sure enough, under the tree there would be a large, book-like package with a small bulge in one corner. It had to be, and was, a Thomas the Tank Engine colouring book with about three crayons stuck to the front cover. Ooh, it was endless hours of fun, and this is the exact point where my hate for the show began.

The most annoying fact about the cartoon was that it was one of those alliterated animated titles such as Percy the Pigeon that's supposed to make cartoons more to watch - so they say!

I have to admit that I did find playing TTTEP enjoyable becaue of the excellent novelty effect

It's difficult to believe that so may people were captured by a blue train trundling around all day doing absolutely nothing useful apart from trying to find little Percy. Why did he always go missing! He must have been working for British Rail or something. Not only that, but why did the hardest and mot arrogant train, James, kick up a fuss all the time and end up doing something naughty and dangerous. Ad what's that fat bloke all about... jeeeeez. You can give me Tom and Jerry any day of the week!

The idea behind this rather promising title is to bypass the oh so, cool and trendy feel which as Pinball Dreams, Pinball Fantasies, Pinball Illusions and Obsession - apart from the fact they all sound like famous fragrance from a famous French company could well spark up some interest. I wonder what it would smell like? Essence of steam engine? Hmmm.

I suppose I'd better let you know that I'm not the greatest lover of Pinball - I believe it's a dreary old game that's for less than popular individuals who prefer to hide away in a dark corner of a drinking residence gladly plunging their coins into what seems like an arcade machine with about three inches sawn off the front legs. It seems fitting that once, some guys had 100,000 steel balls drop on them from above after the main machine upstairs had overloaded! I hope that persuaded them to try somewhat far more worthwhile.

Right, back to the subject in hand. As usual there are these tables with funny buzzers and things, and the idea is to spring a steel ball into the main area and blast hell out of it with these oddly shaped bats - collecting as many points as you can in the process. There, I summed that up quite well, don't you think?

You can play on the Thomas, Percy, James or Toby Tables and each one has its varying amount of buzzers and point scoring bonuses. As there are only four tables, more experienced players will become bored after a short while.

Other than that, TTTEP features some excellent presentation along with gameplay, and should offer you a new novelty feature which is far more enjoyable than the other Pinball creations.


Universal appeal

I can't see a point in explaining the rules of Pinball and the actual object because I know deep down you don't really care. However, I have to admit that I did finding TTTEP quite enjoyable because of the excellent novelty effect. It says on the box it's for age three and upwards years, but it'll probably appeal more to the older amonst you because of the authenticity of original theme music, along with the eight-player option and the three levels of difficulty.
Final word

Just take no notice of the age range on the box. It doesn't matter how old you are, you're still get your money's worth - it's all a matter of personal opinion. If you really are a massive fan of Pinball, then the other series of Fantasies, Illusions and Dreams would probably suit you more - probably because it feels more like real Pinball. However, if you're looking for something a little different with a novelty effect, look no further than Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball - it's a treat!

Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball logo AGA

Being aimed at threee-year olds upwards,we decided to get Richard Jones to take a look at this game; he is the biggest kid we know.

I have got a problem with computer pinball games. Football, golf, cricket and darts. I have played and enjoyed on the Amiga - but pinball? Nah. To play all the other games involves some measure of organisation and effort (both physical and financial - yes even darts_ but pinball? If you have got a pound in your pocket and are in the centre of a large town, you will be surrounded by all manner of real silver ball opportunities in arcades and pubs.

And I am afraid no Amiga games can come close to the thrill of the real thing - not Pinball Dreams, Pinball Illusions, Pinball Mania and, no, not even the cute Thomas The Tank Engine's Pinball.

Now I will readily admit that if you are three years old (Thomas is aimed at age three upwards), you are unlikely to find yourself with a pound in your pocket in the centre of a large town with time to kill. If you do, you are lost, or your parents have abandoned you. Find a policeman immediately.

It is a bright and colourful (kids are bound to like it), perfectly functional kids' game.

So, in that sense, I suppose comparisons with the real thing are a tad inappropriate. Anyway, what is it like then, this steam-driven pinball affair? Well, it is OK, but not much more than that.

There are four tables (Thomas, Percy, James and Toby), multi-player options and it all works reasonably well - the ball rolls towards the flippers, you hit it and it bounces around the table until it goes out.

Some of the shots are very difficult, and some are virtually impossible, but that is not different to other 'adult' tables. It all scrolls reasonably well, it is bright and colourful (kids are bound to like it) and, well, it is a perfectly functional kids' pinball game. Buy it if you want a reasonable kids' pinball game for your Amiga.

However, there is an alternative. Have you thought about investing in a sturdy box or crate? If you do, you can visit your local, child-friendly pub, put £1 in the pinball machine, place the child on the sturdy box or crate facing the table, repair to the bar and leave your offspring playing the real thing and annoying everyone within a 10-yard radius.


Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball logo AGA

Über die CD-Version dieser kleinkindgerechten Flippersim haben wird bereits in der letzen Ausgabe gemeckert - dank Alternative Software dürfen wir jetzt den Ball für AGA-Amigas mit Disklaufwerk wieder aufnehmen.

Die Unterschiede gegenüber der Schillerfassung sind bei der Disk-Ausführung für den A1200 feststellbar: Der Sound ist noch schwächer geworden, die Ladezeiten von Disk sind dafür wesentlich länger, und statt des Pads benutzt man jetzt natürlich das Keyboard zum Steuerung - was jedoch einwandfrei funktioniert, zumal die Tastenbelegung frei konfigurierbar ist.

Da, wo's wirklich drauf ankommt, ist aber leider alles beim alten geblieben, denn die vier Tische spielen sich nach wie vor durch die Bank ziemlich lahm und bieten den maximal acht Teilnehmern noch dazu jeweils fast die gleichen Features an.

Die Neigung der Tableaus ist dreifach variabel, und es gibt simple Rampen, Bumper, Kugelfallen etc. Mit bis zu neuen Bällen darf man sich über die dürftigen Designs kugeln; allerdings nur hintereinander, denn eine Multiball-Funktion fehlt ebenso wie ein seitlicher Ausgang fur den silbernen Hauptdarsteller.

Mehr als zwei Paddels sollte man sich ebenfalls nirgends erwarten, abe immerhin ist die Highscoreliste speicherbar, und eine Online-Anleitung gibt's obendrein - wenn auch eine sehr kurze und sehr englische.

Okay, das Ballverhalten ist an sich recht realistisch, doch was hilft's? Andere Genrevertreter wie "Pinball Mania" oder "Pinball Dreams" haben schon vor längerem vorgeführt, wie man sehr viel mehr Spaß aus einem Digi-Flipper holen kann - ganz zu schweigen von solchen Highlights wie "Pinball Illusions".

Der Hersteller begründet Hinsicht damit, daß sein Spiel besonders familientauglich und bereits für Kinder ab drei Jahren geeignet sein soll. Nun, wir haben kleine Geschwister von Mitarbeitern zur Probe aufs Exempel mißbraucht, und die Resultate waren eindeutig: Bereits nach wenigen Minuten verlangten sämtliche Versuchskaninchen entrüstet ihr "Pinball Fantasies" zurück, das wir zu Vergleichszwecken mit ins Rennen geschickt hatten!

Die optische und akustische Verpackung ist so schlicht wie das Game selbst, auch wenn die komplette Soundkulisse der englischen TV-Serie um den putzigen Titelhelden entnommen wurde.

"Thomas the Tank Engine" ist ja eigentlich der Titel eines Kinderbuchs, das der Prediger W. Awdry vor über 50 Jahren verfaßte und das durch seine enorme Beliebtheit beim britischen Nachwuchs zu einem begehrten Werbeträger für Bettwäsche, Uhren, Pizzas, TV-Serien und Computerspiele wurde.

Hierzulande wird es die knuddelige Lokomotive Thomas samt ihren Kumpels dagegen schwer haben, einen ähnlichen kultigen Ruf zu erlangen - nicht zuletzt wegen Lizenzprodukten wie diesem... (mm)


Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball logo AGA

This is what happens when you name tank engines.

Let's get something straight. The pencil cases were fine, the thermos flasks were harmless and the advent calendars could be tolerated. However, it was the Thomas the Tank Engine underpants which really confirmed my suspicion that the little blighter had sold out.

Now though, as if he had to prove himself as an ambassador for FACELESS CORPORATE MANIPULATORS, Thomas, together with his chums, has a computer pinball game - and it's on the Amiga.

After its initial appearance in AMIGA POWER, Roger Hulley of Alternative wasn't a happy man. We had "taken the mickey" out of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Play Pinball, pointing out that its title was too long to fit across a page (ahem), that its "children's game" tag was rightly to be ignored before jesting about the Americans and the Fat Controller, or something. Consequently, Roger refused to send the game to us and was admirably as good as his word.

So you'll appreciate that I was none too impressed when Jonathan returned from a shopping trip one afternoon, waving a bag of satsumas in one hand and Thomas Pinball in the other. And just when it seemed nothing else could go wrong, he duly placed the game on my desk and sniggered. Oh, cheers then.

Waving a bag of satsumas

SQUEEZING
To sit down and actually play this game can be likened to squeezing a spot - the longer you leave it, the worse it becomes. Even when you do squeeze it, it's not particularly pleasant and so it was with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Play Pinball.

Bearing in mind that Thomas' Pinball was written by Spidersoft, the people behind Pinball Mania (11% - AP55), my lack of enthusiasm ca be excused. Which is more than can be said for the game itself.

At a glance, the game does look promising. Up to eight players can join in, choosing from three up to nine balls per player, there's a nudge-too-hard-lose-ball-and-bonuses tilt, options to define keys and turn the wretched music off, as well as the choice of three 'table angles' - depending whether you're in the mood for a speedy game on the shallow table or one requiring more skill on the heavy-playing steep table.

To access these options you have to enter the Fat Controller's office and the point-and-click method of selection is, in itself, not a bad idea. But, for a game which is designed to children, I expected to be able to 'do' ore than just alter game options.

(While we're on the subject f this being a children's game, why is the Fat Controller playing it? Surely this contradicts Alternative's argument and reinforces ours? Pah). How about something entirely irrelevant like a radio or television which can be switched on and off, a plant which you can kill instantly or even a window which, when opened, prompts a train to pass, chuffing happily to itself> If these sort of ideas appeal to me, at 21 years of age, imagine what kind of interest it would generate for the little 'uns, bless their cotton socks.

Once past the options screen you have a choice of four tables, each with a different tank engine on it. It's at this point it finally dawned on me that Thomas's Pinball is 'blessed' with the same amount of imagination as its developers were when they excitedly thought, "Hang on, what if we combined Thomas the Tank Engine with a pinball game? By jove, that's it!" Exactly. That much.

Bugged and kept crashing

REDEEMING
As with most half-decent pinball games, each table has a variety of features. On Thomas's table, there are the words 'Steam', 'Coal' and 'Thomas' to light up, passages and traps for the ball to shoot up in order to win bonuses and, er, more flashing lights.

The best bit, its only redeeming feature, is the railway track which the ball shoots along before launching itself into the fray. And then wishing it hadn't bothered.

The remaining three tables featuring James, Percy and Toby all increase in difficulty yet still failed to keep my interest for longer than the Saturday afternoon which I foolishly spent playing this worthless tat. (It was particularly difficult to play properly on Toby's table as the blasted thing was bugged and kept crashing).

During play the balls seem noticeably 'light' and it's very difficult to get any sizeable amount of purchase on the ball, which is necessary in order to attain certain bonuses. At first I felt challenged but after a good two hours frustration began to set in. Five minutes later I gave up.

Repeated attempts to shoot the passage and watch with interest as Thomas moved on to the next station had been thwarted by the game's wretched sense of game-play. Curse you, Thomas, and your permanent smile.

For fear of upsetting children the side gulley have been removed (except you can still tilt the tables) which means that individual games can go on for ages - particularly frustrating when playing in group. It ceases to be either fun or rewarding when you've mastered the art of nudging the table and bouncing the ball off the pin and back ito play. Something else which niggled me was the tense-and-hundreds scoring system which 'rewarded' me with a paltry total for my efforts. Tsk.

But the biggest problem which I have with this game, regardless of whether it's meant to appeal to children or adults (it fails on both counts), is that it lacks imagination. It's rather like those easter eggs with the toy inside - the packaging entices you into thinking that there's going to be something special waiting for you.
Only there never is.

Erase the faces of the tank engines and you have a crap computer pinball game. Put the tank engines 'faces' back on and you still have a crap computer pinball game, albeit a television tie-in. But fans of Thomas aren't stupid. They'll instantly notice the game's utter lack of creativity.

It is disappointing that there is no (say) Thomas circling the table on a track while the pinball is playing collecting bonuses the longer the game goes on, it's sad to see that (for example) the lost balls are not carried away by an engine and it's sheer bad manners not to have the Fat Controller popping up every so often in an attempt to distract your attention, thus creating an element of surprise, or something.

By virtue of the fact that he's outlasted so many other fads and gimmicks aimed at youngsters, the name Thomas the Tank Engine on a product implies a sense of quality. Don't be fooled. This is dreadful.


Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball logo AGA

Price: £16.99 Publisher: Alternative Software 01977 797777

Where's Ringo? The only thing missing in this conversion of the children's TV programme Thomas The Tank engine to be a pinball game is the ex Beatle's sexy northern drawl. The cute choo-choos are there complete with resplendent graphics and indigenous sound effects. But no Ringo. This omission aside, it's still a good game anyway.

Obviously aimed at the younger ones amongst us, Thomas is wonderfully simple to play. The shift keys act as your flippers, the space bar is tilt and the down cursor key is the spring which you use to catapult your ball onto the table.

There are four tables in all and each one is based on the train characters from the cartoon series: Percy, Thomas, James and Toby.

Designed by the same company that made Pinball Mania, Spidersoft, each table comes with all the necessary pinball sundries, flashing lights, mushrooms, kicker, multi bonus pick-ups, passages, ramps, tunnels. It's all there albeit in slightly less sophisticated form.

For example, to pick up extra points you have to light up all the letters to complete simple words such as 'steam'. You can also make sure you aim the ball towards the letter you want by cycling through any unlit letters using the shift keys.

There are other concessions to the age group that the game is aimed at. Unlike games such as Pinball Mania there are only two flippers rather than four and there aren't any side gutters for the ball to go down, so the only way to lose the ball is through the flippers. The flippers could do with some power though.

Thomas is a good pinball game but one that's really for kids. It's the type of game they get at Christmas but don't get a chance to play because all the adults hog it. Luckily, this isn't too much of a problem because it allows up to eight players to join in.


Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball CD32 logo CD32

Puff Puff, Chuff Chuff, has Thomas been done justice or is he in a huff. Find out below while we kill Steve McGill.

Give kids anything to do with Thomas the Tank Engine and they'll happily play with it all day. Thomas has become the John Travolta of the toddler set. With a toot toot and hi diddley hey.
Thomas's enduring popularity with children of many different generations means that the acid test of Thomas The Tank Engine Pinball has to be letting one of the Thomas the Tank cognoscenti loose onto the game.

Unleashing my five year old niece was an education in itself. Tasks have been deliberately limited so there are fewer rows of lights and sequences for high score bonuses. Some would say this restriction is detrimental to the game. Whatever you might think this restriction is real and slightly disturbing.

Thomas has been programmed by Spidersoft, the creators of the lacklustre Pinball Mania in AF77 we gave Pinball Mania 76% and the verdict; "Nothing flash. Nothing innovative. It's all been seen before, only better." With Thomas the Tank Pinball, it's all been seen before in Pinball Mania, only less so.

But then things have to be put into perspective. Thomas isn't aimed at adults. It's aimed at kids. Not only is it aimed at kids, it's aimed at young kids of three and up. Much of the appeal of the game isn't going to be in the particular mechanics used to mimic a game of pinball, the appeal lies in the vibrant graphics, the music and the sociability of child/adult interaction.

The appeal lies in the vibrant graphics, the music and the sociability...

Up to eight kids can play against each other or against adults and part of the fun when playing against a five year old is pointing out to them the lights they should hit. When they manage to do so, praising them and cheering has an uplifting effect. Just as effective is letting the ball drop down the middle when it's your turn and the feigning disappointment. It all adds to the fun.

The biggest disappointment is that the game doesn't play as well as it could. The box reports that there are three difficulty levels. Unless you play it on the easiest though the going's too hard.

It's impossible to get the ball to the top of the table except by accident and the flippers don't seem to send the ball in the direction they should, thus rendering Thomas more a game of luck than of any learnable skill.

If your kid loves Thomas and they're under the age of six, go for it. In moderate usage the game is an entertaining and fun package. It's just that it's appeal is much more limited than it should be. Pity.


Thomas the Tank Engine's Pinball CD32 logo CD32

Über einen Mangel an erstklassigen Flippern können die von "Pinball Fantasies" und "Pinball Illusions" verwöhnten Besitzer eines CD32 nicht klagen - aber vielleicht wollen sie ja auch einen, mit dem sie ihre kleinen Geschwister so richtig ärgern können?

Für diesen Fall haben die Menschenfreunde von Alternative Software genau die richtige Software auf Lager: Daß ihr neuestes Werk für Quälgeister ab drei Jahren gedacht ist, vermerken sie selbst auf der Packung - wie wunderbar sich die kleinen damit zum Wahnsinn treiben lassen, merkt man allerdings erst nach dem Öffnen.

Klar, wer seine Zielgruppe in Kindergarten sucht, kann natürlich keine Bikini-Schönheiten oder Horrorfratzen in die Grafik packen. Außerdem war die Lizensgebühr für die im englischen Sprachraum ungemein populäre Lokomotive Thomas garantiert nicht billig, ergo grinsen sie und ihre Kollegen dem Spieler auf allen vier vorrätigen Tischen entgegen.

Selbst bei der Kolorierung scheint der Jugendscutz eine wichtige Rolle gespielt zu haben, denn hier besteht die Welt nur aus lauter rosa-roten, himmelblauen, glückskleegrünen und, ähem, hellbraunen Farbtönen.

Zuviel Abwechslung bei der Gestaltung des Hindernisparcours für den Silberball hätte da nur Verwirrung gestiftet, also kriegt man überall bloß die einfachste Basisausstattung geboten: Zwei Paddles müssen jeweils genügen, dazu kommen ein paar simple Rampen, Bumper, Kugelfallen - aber nicht mal ein seitlicher Ausgang für die Murmel, geschweige denn Multibälle, Bonusspiele oder ähnliche Kompliziertheiten.

Immerhin dürfen maximal acht Minderjährige mitmachen und sich selbst bis zu neun Kugeln pro Spiel genehmigen. Auch die Neigung des Tableaus ist dreifach einstellbar, und Keybaord-Wizards können die Tastenbelegung nach eigenen Wünschen abändern.

Derart anspruchsvolle Features bedürfen natürlich der Erklärung, weshalb sogar eine Online-Hilfe eingebaut wurde. Allerdings ist sie genauso englisch wie die gedruckte Mini-Anleitung.

Nachdem wir dem Vorschulalter schon eine Weile entwachsen sind, ist uns auch aufgefallen, daß die einzelnen Flipper zum Teil von älteren Genre-vertretern (wie dem PC-Game "Pinball Dreams") abgekupfert wurden.

Geholfen hat es nicht viel, denn das Gameplay ist hier rundum lahm. Die beste Figur macht dabei noch die solide Steuerung, und das Scrolling ist tatsächlich so flüssig, wie es auf der Packung versprochen wird. Angesichts der simplen Grafik wäre es aber auch verwunderlich, wenn hier irgend etwas ruckeln würde.

Der ebenfalls angekündigte hochauflösende Bildschirmmodus existiert dagegen nur in der PC-Version, was Thommies PR-Abteilung aber schamhaft verzweigt. Statt dessen hätte man sich lieber der furchtbar düdelige Soundkulisse sparen sollen, welche der zugrundeliegenden britischen TV-Serie entstammt: Kaum zu glauben, was sich kleine Engländer so alles reinziehen!

Hier ist auch der einzige Unterschied zwischen der CD-Fassung und der gleichzeitig veröffentlichten Diskausführung feststellbar, denn (nur) rein technisch gesehen klingt der Sound von der Schillerscheibe etwas satter.

Für alle, die es immer noch nicht recht glauben wollen, sagen wir es jetzt eben noch einmal in aller Deutlichkeit: Diesem Flipper fehlt es an Optionen, durchdachtem Design und einer für Volljährige erträglichen Präsentation. Also Kurz gesagt an allem, was eine solche Simulation für Menschen im lese-fähigen Alter interessant macht. Und Dreijährige Spielen erfahrungsgemäß ohnehin lieber mit Stofftieren... (mm)


DIE VORLAGE

Der Prediger W. Awdry verfaßte vor über 50 Jahren das Kinderbuch "Thomas the Tank Engine", das bei jungen Angelsachsen ähnliche Beliebtheit genießt wie hierzulande "Jim Knopf und Lukas, der Lokomotivführer". In Großbritannien machte man daraus eine überaus populäre Fernsehserie, für die kein Geringener als der Jezt-wieder-Beatle Ringo Starr als Sprecher gewonnen wurde. Auch in Australien und den USA sind die Kids ganz verrückt nach der niedlichen Lok; entsprechend umfangreich ist das Angebot an Lizenzartikeln: Thommie wird als Werbe-Zugpferd für Pizzas, Uhre, Bett- sowie Unterwäsche und eben auch Computerspiel eingespannt.
DIE VORGÄNGER

Das ebenfalls von Alternative Software verbrochene Eisenbahnrennen "Thomas the Tank Engine" sorgte Anfang 93 für ungläubliches Kopfschütteln, denn das Gameplay à la Modelleisenbahn war so simpel, daß man es locker in einer halben Stunde durchgespielt hatte. Gesamturteil: 49 Prozent.
Trotzdem erschien ein knappes Jahr später unter dem Namen "Thomas's Big Race" der kaum veränderte Nachfolger. Seither herrschte Ruhe im Amiga-Bahnhof, jedenfalls bis heute...
DIE KONKURRENZ

In der Einleitung haben wir ja schon erwähnt, wo Ihr zugreifen müßt, wenn Ihr eine Flippersim auf CD sucht, die das Auspacken wirklich wert ist: Ende 93 bannte das schwedische Team von Digital Illusions mit "Pinball Fantasies" einen Meilenstein des Genres auf die Amiga-Schillerscheibe. Dann übertrafen sie sich sogar noch selbst mit "Pinball Illusions", das im letzten Sommer versilbert wurde und praktisch keine Wünsche mehr offenläßt. Egal, wofür Ihr Euch entscheidet - es ist bestimmt die bessere Alternative als das aktuelle Angebot von Alternative!