Timeshock! has to be the most realistic pinball simulation currently available. The physics themselves just take your breath away, and you could honestly believe it was a real ball bouncing around on your screen, such is the skill with which it has been animated. It somehow feels as though you are flipping a heavy steel ball around the table, and the sound effects, reflections and general action and movement of the ball bear this out � with a little imagination you could be standing over a real table somewhere.

Something that adds to this illusion is the scoreboard at the end of the table, a cleverly simulated light display that as well as showing messages and numbers features a number of sub-games � the table is meant to be a time-travel experience, so you visit the Grand Canyon and other places racking up points and completing tasks; in one variant, the flippers control a small ship shooting along a tunnel avoiding mines, which is addictive in itself!

There are a wide number of options to set the table up just as you choose, from the angle of view and resolution to the inner workings, how scores are kept, how many balls are available etc. * The thick instruction book has copious details, all in keeping with the idea that this a real pinball table and not a simulation, plus many pages of hints and tips on how to play the game � Timeshock! is just as much fun when you ignore all this extra data however, though true aficionados may grow to love such details.

All in all this is one game any pinball fan cannot afford to miss. The demo limits each session you can play, and lacks the music but is otherwise lots of fun until you go and get the real thing!

( * not available in demo)

Requirements : P60, 8Mb RAM, 1Mb SVGA graphics card, Win95�

Download the demo (20.6Mb from Adrenaline Vault)