True color mode (video card willing) in 1024 X 768 is simply a marvel to view. From the lighting designs, to the taxi and ramps this is definitely a step up from anything I have seen in the past and the slow down is negligible even when you have more than three or four balls rolling around the screen at the same time. There is also an option to zoom into all parts of the table from the main menu to get a better look at some of the eye candy on the table itself. Another aspect I was pleased to see was the Dot Matrix looking animation area that is included in all the new machines that are produced. The animations didn't slow down the game play one bit and there is even a mode where you play knock the cars of into the ditch for points. I believe it was called video mode and it was definitely a nice touch.

I gave gameplay a 27 out of 30 only because I don't like the small size of the left and right top flippers that are very valuable to making the ramp combinations and loops possible. They should have been more easily seen with fewer obstructions blocking your view of them. For the most part the flippers are effectively pointless due to this glaring error. Other than that one minor quibble, the gameplay model is good enough to be used as a standard for other companies making computer pinball simulations. Maybe now they will not hastily release "junk", as was this case with several past releases.

Not only is the gameplay simply amazing, you also have access to the "secret" menu that the table maintenance employee can play around with to make the game either easier or harder depending on the skill level of the local players. All possible options are included ranging from the length of time your air bag will stay deployed when you hit a Magno Charger on the right ramp to the ability of the table to adjust the replay score according to how many people are beating the default. One interesting feature is the ability to change the table condition to "new" or "maintained" or the one that I never picked, "neglected." I could write 10 pages of text on just the complexity of the table customizations.

I chose to follow a slightly different route in this review and grade the physics on a ten point scale because of the absolute importance of this category in a pinball game. For once I could actually aim the ball after the necessary catch move where I wanted it to go. Not one time did I see the ball shoot back right even though I used the right flipper with the ball teetering on the very end, whereas in other titles this is a common occurrence. Another nice addition to Big Race is the true representation of the spin that a ball can develop when hit at certain angles. Many times I tried to catch the ball with my flipper only to have it spin off because of a bumper or wall that the ball had just caromed off. This is exactly how it happens with a real game. Kudos again to Empire for taking the time to implement a very true to life physics system.

Either you like pinball or you don't as there really is no in between as far as I am concerned. I happen to like a good game of pinball as much or more than these new voodoo2 hungry games that seem to be flooding the market this year. Pinball players should buy this game immediately! You won't be disappointed.

Sound in this game is amazing although maybe slightly too busy for some of the people out there. Keeping with the trend of the real tables this game employs a lot of music and loud sound effects throughout the game. Thankfully the option to turn the music off is there in case you get sick of that gangster Chicago type theme that plays incessantly throughout the course of the game.

If you want to save the gas and the time that it takes to go play a physical game of pinball then you will find that Pro Pinball Big Race USA is more than an acceptable replacement. This game has convinced me to check out the previous two pinball titles from this company, "The Web" and "Timeshock." If they are anywhere near the quality of this soon-to-be classic then I have a lot more pinball to play for the next couple months.

Graphics: 20/20
Sound: 13/15
Gameplay: 27/30
Physics: 10/10
Fun Factor: 19/20
Overall Impression: 5/5

Rating: 94/100

The graphics in this game are super smooth and absolutely gorgeous. I was getting 80 frames per second in 1024x768 with truecolor. The ball is light mapped and it is possible to watch it spin and the lights dance across it. It was also amazing that the game was able to keep speed up during multiball when I had four or five balls on the screen at once. The board is very well designed and the movies that appear on the LED screen are exactly like those you would find on a high-quality Williams arcade machine. The game has several options that allow you to configure the graphics quality so even those with slower machines should be able to play this game. Everything is completely true to what it would be in real life. The models of the cars are well rendered and fit in with the fun theme of the board. Overall empire did an excellent job.

The sound is just as good as the graphics. The bass would rock my desk and make it shake and the bells and whistles were as shrill as a real arcade machine. There is also only one word to describe the music: chill. The music was perfect driving music, which fit in great with the theme of the game. Speech effects were fun and cartoony and never got old. All sound and music effects were very well recorded and there was no static at all.

Multiplayer is supported through DirectPlay and a special ladder run by Empire interactive. The Empire server tracks everyone's record and allows you to find people at any time. Multiplayer set up quite easily and was very smooth, absolutely no lag. Multiplayer in this game is very unique. It stays with the race theme very well. In order to beat your opponent in the race you must shoot your ball up ramps and lock your ball in special pockets. The winner is declared after three rounds. Each round has slightly different rules and it takes a little getting used to. I found myself getting into multiplayer, until Horde and Mud decided to beat me down.

Everything about the gameplay in this game is dead on. The only gripe I have is that, in my opinion, it was too easy to lose my ball between the two flippers. Then again that's probably my opinion on every pinball board. Gameplay is so good because of excellent physics and the fact that you can control every aspect of the game from flipper strength, difficulty and even the amount of use the table has experienced. This game is truly a pinball simulation.

It's pinball, of course it's fun. This game just happens to be more fun than others are. I am hooked and after getting spanked in multiplayer I can't stop playing. It was actually a challenge for me to stop playing long enough to write this review. Pick this one up if you like pinball. If you want to look at some neat graphics, waste some time and have some fun I would get this as well. I just wish there was more than one board, but it was obvious that a lot of effort was put into this title and I will certainly get the next one.

Graphics: 19 / 20
Sound: 15 / 15
Gameplay: 27 / 30
Fun Factor: 19 / 20
Multiplayer Play: 5 / 5
Overall Impression: 9 / 10

Rating: 94%