Air Aces
Despite all the flashy new pinball tables out there and some really imaginative
and outstanding original tables available, I find myself playing this table more
than any other. You may ask why I chose this table over the multitude of
tables available and all I can say is that is is fun. Sure it is quite
simple, but it is fun. And when you get down to the heart of pinball it is
the fun of a table that ranks first and foremost.
Air Aces is a classic table. It was made in 1975 by Bally and is came before the new wave of pinball emerged. It does not have the multiple levels of a Haunted House or the cool animations of a game like Creature of the Black Lagoon but it does have addictive gameplay. The goal is pretty simple, shoot down all the targets at the top. There are some other goals but that is essentially it. But is much easier than it looks. And unlike most tables of this era, you only get three balls.
The table is very clean and visually appealing. There is not alot on it, but it has a classic design and just looks nice. The game is hard enough to keep you coming back but not too hard as to chase you off. The difficulty level is just right. And with the shoot again and double bonus, you have some goals to go after. One thing I really like about this pinball table and I wish every table incorporated it, is the high score. Your first score is the high score and it keeps track of it after that. I enjoy the challenge of trying to top my own high score. Currently, my high score is 90,850 but I plan on beating that. Personally, I like when you set the high score and not some preset one. But that is my own preference.
There is not much to the sound. It has your basic pinball sounds. But considering the era it came out in (nearly 30 years ago), it is to be expected. They could have added some music or more sound effects but then it would not be an authentic recreation of the table.
Air Aces is one of my top ten favorite tables and one that I probably play more than any other table. I really cannot put my finger on why it is some appealing to me, but I think it is a combination of its design, well balanced difficulty level and simplistic but challenging goals. If you like classic pinball tables at all, then this one is a great place to start. It shows how a pinball table can be simple but engaging. And in the end, the gameplay is what really matters and Air Aces hits the target.
This is just a review of the pinball machine. If you are looking for the actual pinball machine, you may want to check out ebay. Click below to see if you can find this game.