Line #8 VideoGame/PinballFX


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zenpinball-earthdefense_6780.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:"Earth Defense", one of the original ''Zen Pinball'' tables.]]
3
4	''Pinball FX'' is a series of games for playing DigitalPinballTables by Creator/ZenStudios. Most of the games[[note]]except for ''Zen Pinball: Rollercoaster'' and ''Zen Pinball: Inferno''[[/note]] are frameworks where players can purchase and download new pinball tables over time. The games support features such as local and online multiplayer play, slow motion, mid-game saves, and online leaderboards and tournament competitions.
5
6	Previously, it used to be two fundamentally similar but separate series by the developer; ''Pinball FX'' was previously the series title for games on Microsoft systems, while ''Zen Pinball'' was used for versions on other platforms. After the release of ''Pinball FX 3'', the ''Zen Pinball'' name has been discontinued, and now all platforms with the latest game use ''Pinball FX''. Most of the pre-''FX 3'' tables are available for both series.
7
8	The first title in the series was ''Pinball FX''. It was published by Microsoft Game Studios on Platform/XboxLiveArcade in 2007 and initially came with three tables ("Speed Machine", "Agents", and "Extreme"). Six other tables were released later as downloadable content.
9
10	In 2008, Zen released the first ''Zen Pinball'' games, ''Zen Pinball: Rollercoaster'' and ''Zen Pinball: Inferno''. They were games for [[Platform/{{IOS}} Apple's iOS devices]], and unlike the other titles in the series, these were standalone apps with no facility for downloading additional tables.
11
12	In 2009, Zen released ''Zen Pinball'' on the Platform/PlayStationNetwork, making it the first pinball game on the Platform/PlayStation3. It came with four tables ("Earth Defense", "El Dorado", "Epic Quest", and "Excalibur"), with others released later. The game was subsequently released on [[Platform/{{Android}} Android devices]] as ''Zen Pinball THD'' and the Platform/Nintendo3DS as ''Zen Pinball 3D'' in 2011. A version of ''Zen Pinball'' was also released for iOS devices, with proper support for downloadable tables.
13
14	''Pinball FX 2'' was released in 2010 for the Platform/{{Xbox 360}}, then later [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows Windows 8]] in 2012 (which was revamped in October 2014 after being neglected), Steam in 2013, and a Windows Phone was planned [[{{Vaporware}} but never released]]. ''Zen Pinball 2'' was released in 2012 for the Platform/PlayStation3 and Platform/PlayStationVita, then later Platform/WiiU and Platform/PlayStation4 in 2013. Both of these are upgrades to the original titles, with an improved game engine and support for more features. The games are backwards compatible with the originals, allowing owners to import their tables.
15
16	''Pinball FX 3'' was released on September 26, 2017, for Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/XboxOne, [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows Windows 10]] and Platform/{{Steam}}, with the Platform/NintendoSwitch version arriving on December 12 that year. This version focuses more on multiplayer matchups, league play, and tournaments, as well as the addition of new single-player modes and features.
17
18	On September 4, 2018, Zen Studios announced that they had secured the rights to the Creator/WilliamsElectronics and Creator/{{Bally}} library of pinball tables, taking over from the previous license holders [=FarSight=] Studios, makers of ''VideoGame/ThePinballArcade''. In contrast to their original tables, the Williams and Bally digitalizations play as close to the original physical tables as possible. However, there is also the option to play versions of the tables with extra eye candy in the vein of Zen's original fare. Volume 1[[labelnote:*]](consisting of ''Pinball/FishTales'', ''Pinball/MedievalMadness'', ''[[Pinball/HighSpeed The Getaway: High Speed II]]'' and ''Pinball/JunkYard'')[[/labelnote]] was released October 9, 2018, for all supported platforms after a Steam-exclusive public beta period during the previous September.
19
20	A new installment, titled ''Pinball FX'', was launched in Early Access on March 31, 2022, which consists of remastered versions of most of the ''Pinball [=FX3=]'' catalog alongside new games, with new originals that replace the traditional dot matrix display with video elements. ''Pinball FX'' was released on [=PlayStation=] and Xbox systems in February 2023, while Steam followed in April 2023. A Nintendo Switch release released in July 2023.
21
22	A horror-based spin-off titled ''Pinball M'' was announced in September 2023 and released in November. As its title implies, it's rated M by the ESRB, allowing for tables that would be too bloody or raunchy to be in the T-rated ''Pinabll FX''.
23
24	Zen's pinballs tend to be LicensedPinballTables, with properties from popular ComicBook and ScienceFiction assets. Although the playfield physics are realistic, the games also feature liberal use of VideoGame-only effects, such as wandering enemies to be destroyed with balls or attention-grabbing animations over the playfield.
25
26	'''Note''': As new Works pages are created for the various ''Pinball FX'' tables, be sure to add them here and on the DigitalPinballTables page.
27
28	----
29	!!Tables are currently available for the various ''Pinball FX'' (and ''Zen Pinball'') games:
30	As of ''Pinball FX'', the tables are all grouped by licensor in-game (with the subsidiaries of Creator/{{Disney}}, Creator/NBCUniversal and Creator/ParamountGlobal listed separately) and this list follows suit.
31
32	[[index]]
33	* ''Zen Originals:''
34	** ''Pinball FX 2 Core'', a bundle of four tables:
35	*** ''Biolab''
36	*** ''Pasha''
37	*** ''Rome''
38	*** ''Secrets of the Deep''
39	** ''Carnivals and Legends'':
40	*** ''Adventure Land''
41	*** ''Son of Zeus''
42	** The ''Sci-Fi Pack'', a bundle of three tables:
43	*** ''Earth Defense''
44	*** ''Mars''
45	*** ''Paranormal''
46	** ''Iron & Steel'', a bundle of two tables:
47	*** ''[=CastleStorm=]''
48	*** ''Wild West Rampage''[[note]]The free table of ''Pinball FX''.[[/note]]
49	** The ''Medieval Pack'', a bundle of two tables:
50	*** ''Epic Quest''
51	*** ''Excalibur''
52	** ''Zen Classics'', a bundle of four tables:
53	*** ''El Dorado''
54	*** ''V12''
55	*** ''Tesla''
56	*** ''Shaman''
57	** ''VideoGame/SorcerersLair''[[note]]The free table of ''[=FX3=]'' and ''Pinball FX''.[[/note]]
58	** ''Secrets and Shadows'', a pack of three tables:
59	*** ''Curse of the Mummy''
60	*** ''Pinball Noir''
61	*** ''Sky Pirates: Treasures of the Clouds''
62	** ''Grimm Tales''
63	** ''Wrath of the Elder Gods''
64	** ''Honor and Legacy'' a two-pack:
65	*** ''A Samurai's Vengeance''
66	*** [[/index]]''Verne's Mysterious Island'' (based on ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'')[[index]]
67	** ''Super League Football'' (Zen Studios F.C.) [[note]]Default design that is not mentioned by name by the table's announcer; it is only referred to by the table's name. It is a fictional team based on the developer itself.[[/note]]
68	* [[/index]]Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios:[[index]]
69	** [[/index]]The ''Aliens vs. Pinball'' three-pack, based on the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series:[[/index]]
70	*** ''VideoGame/{{Aliens\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Film/{{Aliens}}'')
71	*** ''[[VideoGame/AlienIsolationZenStudios Alien: Isolation]]'' (based on Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation'')
72	*** ''[[VideoGame/AlienVsPredatorZenStudios Alien vs. Predator]]'' (based on ''Film/AlienVsPredator'' (2004))
73	** The ''Balls of Glory'' four-pack, based on animated series produced by 20th Television:
74	*** ''VideoGame/{{American Dad\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'')
75	*** ''VideoGame/{{Archer\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''))
76	*** ''[[VideoGame/BobsBurgersZenStudios Bob's Burgers]]'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'')
77	*** ''VideoGame/{{Family Guy\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'')
78	* [[/index]]Creator/{{Bethesda}}:[[index]]
79	** ''VideoGame/{{Skyrim\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'')
80	** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''VideoGame/Fallout4'')
81	** ''VideoGame/{{DOOM\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''VideoGame/Doom2016'')
82	* Brace Yourself Games:
83	** ''[[VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecroDancerZenStudios Crypt of the NecroDancer]]'' (based on ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecroDancer'')
84	* [[/index]]Creator/DreamWorksAnimation:[[index]]
85	** ''[[VideoGame/HowToTrainYourDragonZenStudios How to Train Your Dragon]]'' (based on ''Franchise/HowToTrainYourDragon'')
86	** ''VideoGame/{{Kung Fu Panda\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'')
87	** ''VideoGame/{{Trolls\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/{{Trolls}}'')
88	* Funko:
89	** ''VideoGame/FunkoPopPinballPartyArena''[[labelnote:ZPP]]4-player multiplayer Arena mode in Zen Pinball Party[[/labelnote]] (based on Toys/FunkoPop)
90	* ''Game Night Pinball'':
91	** ''Volume 1'':
92	*** {{TabletopGame/Gloomhaven}}
93	*** TabletopGame/ExplodingKittens
94	*** TabletopGame/TerraformingMars
95	* [[/index]]Creator/{{Hasbro}}:[[index]]
96	** ''VideoGame/MyLittlePonyPinball'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'')
97	* [[/index]]Creator/GearboxSoftware[[index]]:
98	** ''VideoGame/BorderlandsVaultHunter'' (based on the ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' series)
99	** ''VideoGame/BrothersInArmsWinTheWar'' (based on the ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' series)
100	** ''VideoGame/HomeworldJourneyToHiigara'' (based on the ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' series)
101	* [[/index]]Creator/LegendaryPictures:[[index]]
102	** [[/index]]The ''Godzilla Vs. Kong Pinball'' three-pack, based on ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'':[[index]]
103	*** ''[[VideoGame/GodzillaZenStudios Godzilla Pinball]]''
104	*** ''[[VideoGame/KongZenStudios Kong Pinball]]''
105	*** ''[[VideoGame/GodzillaVsKongZenStudios Godzilla vs. Kong]]''
106	** ''Film/PacificRim''[[note]][[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i9dHja6sKE Teased.]][[/note]]
107	* [[/index]]Creator/MarvelComics:[[index]]
108	** The ''Marvel Pinball'' four-pack:
109	*** ''Blade''
110	*** ''Iron Man''
111	*** ''[[VideoGame/SpiderManZenStudios Spider-Man]]''
112	*** ''Wolverine''
113	** The ''Vengeance and Virtue'' four-pack:
114	*** ''Ghost Rider''
115	*** ''Moon Knight''
116	*** ''Thor''
117	*** ''X-Men''
118	** The ''Avengers Chronicles'' four-pack:
119	*** ''VideoGame/{{The Avengers\|ZenStudios}}''
120	*** ''Fear Itself''
121	*** ''The Infinity Gauntlet''
122	*** ''World War Hulk''
123	** The ''Marvel Legends'' three-pack:
124	*** ''Captain America''
125	*** ''Doctor Strange''
126	*** ''Fantastic Four''
127	** The ''Heavy Hitters'' three-pack:
128	*** ''Civil War''
129	*** ''VideoGame/{{Deadpool\|ZenStudios}}''
130	*** ''Venom''
131	** The ''Cinematic Pack'' three-pack:
132	*** ''Ant-Man''
133	*** ''Avengers: Age of Ultron''
134	*** ''Guardians of the Galaxy''
135	** The ''Women of Power'' two-pack:
136	*** ''A-Force''
137	*** ''Champions''
138	* [[/index]]Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}:[[index]]
139	** ''VideoGame/GarfieldPinball'' (based on ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'')
140	* Creator/{{Paramount}}:
141	** ''VideoGame/{{World War Z\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Film/WorldWarZ'')
142	** ''Star Trek Pinball'':
143	*** ''Star Trek: Discovery''
144	*** ''Star Trek: Deep Space 9''
145	*** ''Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline''
146	* Peanuts Worldwide:
147	** ''VideoGame/PeanutsSnoopyPinball'' (based on ''{{ComicStrip/Peanuts}}'')
148	** ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas''
149	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
150	** Super Sweet Pinball
151	** Butters' Very Own Pinball
152	* [[/index]]''Franchise/StarWars'' (listed as such in-game rather than "Creator/{{Lucasfilm}}"):[[index]]
153	** The ''Star Wars'' three-pack:
154	*** ''Boba Fett''
155	*** ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsTheCloneWarsZenStudios Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'')
156	*** ''[[VideoGame/TheEmpireStrikesBackZenStudios Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (based on ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'')
157	** The ''Balance of the Force'' three-pack:
158	*** ''[[VideoGame/ReturnOfTheJediZenStudios Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi]]'' (based on ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'')
159	*** ''Starfighter Assault''
160	*** ''Darth Vader''
161	** The ''Heroes Within'' four-pack:
162	*** ''Han Solo''
163	*** ''[[VideoGame/ANewHopeZenStudios Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope]]'' (based on ''Film/ANewHope'')
164	*** ''Droids''
165	*** ''Masters of the Force''
166	** [[/index]]''The Force Awakens'' two-pack, based on ''Film/TheForceAwakens'':[[index]]
167	*** ''Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens''
168	*** ''Might of the First Order''
169	** The ''Unsung Heroes'' two-pack:
170	*** ''VideoGame/{{Rogue One\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Film/RogueOne'')
171	*** ''VideoGame/{{Star Wars Rebels\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'')
172	** [[/index]]''The Last Jedi'' two-pack, based on ''Film/TheLastJedi'':[[index]]
173	*** ''Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi''
174	*** ''Ahch-To Island''
175	** [[/index]]The ''Solo'' three-pack, based on ''Film/{{Solo}}'':[[index]]
176	*** ''Solo''
177	*** ''Calrissian Chronicles''
178	*** ''Battle of Mimban''
179	** The ''Thrill of the Hunt'' two-pack:
180	*** ''VideoGame/{{The Mandalorian\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Series/TheMandalorian'')
181	*** ''Star Wars: Classic Collectibles''
182	* [[/index]]Creator/{{Universal}}:[[index]]
183	** The ''Universal Classics Pinball'' three-pack:
184	*** ''[[VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrialZenStudios E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (based on ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'')
185	*** ''VideoGame/{{Back to the Future\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'')
186	*** ''VideoGame/{{Jaws\|ZenStudios}}'' (based on ''Film/{{Jaws}}'')
187	** [[/index]]The ''Jurassic World Pinball'' three-pack, based on the ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' series:[[index]]
188	*** ''Jurassic World''
189	*** ''Jurassic Park''
190	*** ''Jurassic Park Pinball Mayhem''
191	** ''Universal Pinball: TV Classics'':
192	*** ''Series/KnightRider''
193	*** ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''
194	*** ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''
195	* [[Creator/WilliamsElectronics Williams]] Pinball (both originals and remasters):
196	** Volume 1:
197	*** ''Pinball/FishTales''[[note]]The free table of ''[=FX3=]'' and ''Pinball FX''.[[/note]]
198	*** ''Pinball/MedievalMadness''
199	*** ''[[Pinball/HighSpeed The Getaway: High Speed II]]''
200	*** ''Pinball/JunkYard''
201	** Volume 2:
202	*** ''Pinball/AttackFromMars''
203	*** ''Pinball/BlackRose''
204	*** ''Pinball/ThePartyZone''
205	** Volume 3:
206	*** ''Pinball/TheatreOfMagic''
207	*** ''Pinball/TheChampionPub''
208	*** ''Pinball/SafeCracker''
209	** Volume 4:
210	*** ''{{Pinball/Hurricane}}''
211	*** ''Pinball/WhiteWater''
212	*** ''Pinball/RedAndTedsRoadShow''
213	** ''[[Franchise/UniversalHorror Universal Monsters]]'':
214	*** ''Pinball/MonsterBash''
215	*** ''Pinball/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon''
216	** Volume 5:
217	*** ''Pinball/TalesOfTheArabianNights''
218	*** ''Pinball/CirqusVoltaire''
219	*** ''Pinball/NoGoodGofers''
220	** Volume 6:
221	*** ''Pinball/FunHouse1990''
222	*** ''Pinball/DrDude''
223	*** ''Pinball/SpaceStation''
224	** Volume 7:
225	*** ''Swords of Fury''
226	*** ''[[Pinball/TheMachineBrideOfPinBot The Machine: Bride Of Pin*Bot]]''
227	*** ''{{Pinball/Whirlwind}}''
228	** ''Pinball/TheAddamsFamily''
229	** ''Pinball/IndianaJonesThePinballAdventure''
230	** ''Pinball/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''
231	** ''Pinball/TwilightZone''
232	** ''Pinball/WorldCupSoccer''
233	[[/index]]
234
235	!!Tables that are currently available for ''Pinball M'':
236	* ''Chucky's Killer Pinball'' (based on ''Franchise/ChildsPlay'')
237	* ''Dead By Daylight Pinball'' (based on ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'')
238	* ''Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director's Cut'' (an UnratedEdition of the ''Pinball FX'' table)
239	* ''Duke Nukem's Big Shot Pinball'' (based on ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'')
240	* ''The Thing Pinball'' (based on ''Film/TheThing1982'')
241	* ''System Shock Pinball'' (based on ''VideoGame/SystemShock'')[[note]]Also available on ''Pinball FX'', cross-buy on most platforms between this and M.[[/note]]
242	* ''Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pinball'' (based on ''Film/TexasChainsawMassacre2022'')
243	----
244	!!Tables that were previously available for ''Pinball FX'' and ''Zen Pinball'' games:
245	[[index]]
246	* ''VideoGame/{{The Walking Dead\|ZenStudios}}''[[note]]Currently available in [=FX3=], but not the new FX.[[/note]]
247	* ''VideoGame/PortalPinball''[[note]]Currently available in [=FX3=], but not the new FX.[[/note]]
248	* ''Ms. Splosion Man''
249	* ''Nightmare Mansion''
250	* ''Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Tribute''
251	* ''Pinball FX Classic'', a bundle of four tables:
252	** ''Speed Machine''
253	** ''Xtreme''
254	** ''Agents''
255	** ''Buccaneer''
256	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesPinball''
257	* ''Rocky and Bullwinkle''
258	* ''Street Fighter II Tribute''
259	* ''Super League Football'' (with the following designs)[[note]]This was removed from the ''Pinball FX 2'' storefront before the platform was replaced by ''FX 3'', due to licensing issues with the teams below.[[/note]]
260	** Liverpool F.C.
261	** Arsenal F.C.
262	** Real Madrid C.F.
263	** FC Barcelona
264	** Juventus
265	** A.S. Roma
266	** A.C. Milan
267	[[/index]]
268	----
269	!! ''Zen Pinball'', ''Pinball FX'' and ''Pinball M'' contain examples of:
270	* AdjustableCensorship: In the PC version of ''Pinball [=FX3=]', you can toggle the censorship that was imposed on Williams tables for other console versions that would block out anything on them that may conflict with the game's overall Everyone 10+ Rating - like suggestive clothing and substance abuse. Even with this feature, the PC version still gets the same rating.
271	* AdorableEvilMinions: The alien invaders of ''Earth Defense'' are cute robots, and when you lose a ball, the video screen depicts them scampering away with it in a cartoonish manner. Even their BigBad leader, the colossal Flip-Bot, is more silly than menacing.
272	* AlienInvasion: The theme of ''Earth Defense'' -- rallying humanity's defense against [[RobotWar mechanical alien invaders]].
273	* AntiFrustrationFeature: For the new ''Pinball FX'', scores used to gather collectibles are saved between games, and culminate gradually as you keep playing the tables, meaning you don't need to score all the required points in one game. Restarting midway through for a better score won't affect the bar either.
274	* ArmCannon: ''Earth Defense'''s Flip-Bot boasts one of these. Charmingly, if he catches your ball, he'll use that arm cannon to blast it back at you!
275	* AwesomeButImpractical: ''Masters of the Force'' has a Holocron mechanic tied into the wizard modes of the table, akin to ''Pinball/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Every Holocron collected on each Jedi/Sith level adds 1 million to the shot value during either Full Power or Prophecy Fulfilled, up to a maximum of 10 on any level. Complete sets (1 Holocron on each of the 4 levels on either side) is 100 million. Collect all 80 and start Prophecy Fulfilled, that's 2.8 billion just for starting the mode, and 80 million for every shot during the multiball. However, at any point does one start a wizard mode, all Holocrons are reset.
276	* {{Bowdlerize}}: When Zen Studios makes pinball adaptations based on adult entertainment properties, it [[AdaptedOut adapts out]] anything from these properties that wouldn't sit with the overall Everyone 10+ Rating that it wants to maintain for its pinball series - like [[{{Gorn}} graphic violence]] and profanity. So that means you'll have, say, BloodlessCarnage for tables based on M-rated Creator/{{Bethesda}} video games.
277	** Averted completely in ''Pinball M''.
278	* TheBusCameBack: ''South Park'' returns to ''Pinball FX'' on October 12, 2023, after being delisted since ''[=FX3=]'''s launch in September 2017.
279	** ''Super League Football'' returns to ''Pinball FX'' on May 16, 2024, after being delisted during ''[=FX2=]'''s run prior to ''[=FX3=]''.
280	* CallBack: ''Pinball FX'''s new storefront image shows two additional pinballs alongside the original, with one sporting a orange flame and another sporting a blue flame. This is reminiscent of Zen's prior installments, ''Pinball [=FX2=]'' and ''Pinball [=FX3=]''.
281	* CastingGag: As Creator/IanMcKellen portrayed Gandalf in the ''Franchise/LordOfTheRings'' films and Magneto in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'', voice actor Creator/TomKane, who voiced Gandalf in ''Lord of the Rings'' video games, agreed to voice Magneto for the ''X-Men'' table.
282	* {{Catchphrase}}: Most of the tables have a voice clip of someone saying, "Fantastic!"
283	* CosmeticAward: In ''Pinball FX'', reaching certain point milestones on each table, alongside completing their achievements, will unlock cosmetic bonuses for you to display in the main menu room, such as posters and figurines of table setpieces.
284	* DevelopersForesight: In the event of a ball flying out of a table, a new ball is given to the player to compensate the faulty system. Sometimes, it ends up being hilarious. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTQeuDmENI See here for an example.]]
285	* DifficultyLevels:
286	** ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' has three separate difficulty levels: Easy, Medium and Hard. The slope of the table, timers on modes, and score rewards are adjusted based on the difficulty selected.
287	** ''American Dad!'' has the threat level, increased by hitting a spinner and decreased by ending modes. A higher threat level gives you more points overall, but decreases the time you have on timed missions.
288	** ''Doom'' has the option for Nightmare difficulty when you start a game. It gives better scores in exchange for no ball saves, kickbacks, or extra balls.
289	** Generally, games in ''[=FX=]'' have the following physics options to choose from in Single Player:
290	*** '''Normal''' - Traditional Zen physics.
291	*** '''Realistic''' - Physics simulating those from real life machines.
292	*** '''Pro''' - Seen only on Williams, this features no extra balls, tighter tilt settings, hard outlanes, and a steeper slope.
293	* DigitalPinballTables
294	* EvilIsHammy: The villains on Zen's tables are prone to {{Evil Laugh}}s and yelling FloweryInsults at the protagonists. Even the Flip-Bot of ''Earth Defense'' can't resist the occasional bout of [[EvilSoundsDeep deep-throated chuckling]] at your attempts to defend the city from its army's onslaught.
295	* LevelGrinding: ''Pinball [=FX3=]'' and ''Pinball M''. Oy.
296	** The main issue with powerups on ''FX 3'' is that powerup levels aren't applied universally. If a player wants to get every single mastery point on each table, one has to go through each table and play it multiple times, using up all of the time on a wizard powerup, finish the game, rinse and repeat. The wizard powers each require a certain amount of time for an increase in level, which takes multiple games. Rewind is the worst offender, not counting tenths of a second rewound as progress.
297	** Subverted for the passive powerups that can be levelled multiple times in a single game.
298	* {{Macrogame}}: ''Epic Quest'' has systems for levelling up your character and getting better and better gear, which persist between games.
299	** The ''Skyrim'' table one-ups ''Epic Quest'' with a suite of open world RPG mechanics that are staples of the Elder Scrolls series, like an inventory, crafting, skills, side quests, and levelling up, all of which persist between games.
300	* {{Nerf}}: The diagonal nudge was considered too powerful on the Steam version, leading to an "unnatural" amount of bang backs on all given tables and "abnormal" high scores. Now, the bang back power is only 10% than before the patch, and the other versions were left untouched until FX 3 launched.
301	* NoFairCheating: Every table has an operator's menu that allows you to change, among other things, the table's difficulty and gameplay features. If you do so and discard the default factory settings, then you can't post your scores online until factory settings are restored.
302	** Completely discarded in ''Pinball [=FX3=]'' going forward.
303	* ObviouslyEvil: With a few exceptions, such as ''The Walking Dead'', the antagonists never hide how evil they are.
304	* PinballScoring:
305	** Because of the introduction of powerups in ''[=FX3=]'', scoring on some tables have become incredibly boosted that it trumps all other methods and strategies. On games with already valuable bumpers or multiball modes, where applicable, can result in some ridiculous scores. Thankfully, Classic mode has a separate leaderboard.
306	** Averted in some of the newer tables (and some of the older ones). Even reaching 1 million points will take a good deal of effort. Played straight with ''VideoGame/SorcerersLair'' and ''Rocky & Bullwinkle'', where it's relatively easy to get scores in the hundreds of millions.
307	* PlayerCharacter: The Zen Pinball line has a relatively high number of pinball tables compared to other companies' libraries, real or virtual, where the player fills an individual, specific, named role. The most obvious are the Marvel-themed tables where you play as the titular hero, though even its non-licensed tables will usually have a protagonist the player stands in for, such as Jake in ''Pinball/SorcerersLair'' or UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla in ''Tesla''. Even ''Super League Football'' puts the player in the role of the team's manager. Compare this to, for instance, Creator/JerseyJackPinball's ''Pinball/TheWizardOfOz'', where the player, though usually Dorothy, frequently shifts to other characters, or Creator/{{Stern}}'s ''Pinball/{{ACDC}}'', which has no player character at all.
308	** NonPlayerCharacter: Many of Zen's tables also have entire casts of characters for each table the player character will meet, more pronounced in later tables when Zen's budget increased. Of note are ''Captain America'', which has all of Cap's Howlers and a military support squad; and ''The Walking Dead'', of which most of the characters met in the Telltale game's first season will show up in this one in some form.
309	*** Humorously, the top score on ''Deadpool'' isn't the normal multiple of 5 or 10 that the high scores normally are. Instead, it's a proper high score... attributed to Deadpool, who is shown at the start of every game playing the Deadpool pinball table...
310	* {{Robeast}}: In ''Earth Defense'', the villainous Flip-Bot towers over the buildings of the city.
311	* RobotWar: The AlienInvasion of ''Earth Defense'' is also this, as the invaders are robots.
312	%%* ReReleasedSoundtrack: ''Pinball FX 3'' only uses “Red River Rock” for the same reason.
313	* SerialEscalation: Each table from Zen has more complex rules than the last, to where ''Super League Football'' has a campaign spanning multiple tries at the table, and ''Skyrim'' has an immense amount of mechanics based on its source material. The budget for audio has also increased, going from in-house acting to stock voice actors to bringing actors and announcers straight from the source material.
314	* ShoutOut: Zen Studios loves pinball so much, [[ShoutOut/ZenPinball it needed its own page.]]
315	* SignatureStyle: Most tables have the following in common:
316	** Three or more flippers.
317	** Narrow shots or wide but steep ramps.
318	** Side ramps that loop back to the same upper flipper.
319	** Multi-level playfields.
320	** Modes that do not stack (once an objective is asked, all other things are disabled and worth minimal points).
321	** Nearly all required modes are either multiballs or {{Timed Mission}}s.
322	** A lot of {{Spelling Bonus}}es.
323	** Very strong emphasis on ramps (always at least 3, with as many as 5).
324	** A playfield longer and wider than a normal machine.
325	** At least one multiball mode required to reach a WizardMode.
326	** Multi-stage wizard modes that are very hard to reach.
327	** Generous and easy-to-obtain ball savers.
328	** A kickback on both outlanes, activated by lighting an insert on the outlanes and inlanes.
329	** A manual plunger. Very few tables, like ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' or ''Earth Defense'' use button-style ball launchers.
330	*** {{Skill Shot}}s requiring soft plunges.
331	** A {{cap}} of 10x end-of-ball bonus multiplier, with an extra ball given after that. On many tables, this is the only way of obtaining an extra ball.
332	** Flippers at a high angle when held, leading to easy ball catches.
333	** Use of slingshots to start certain modes (most physical pinball machines use slingshots only to send the ball out of control). In addition, slingshot hits tend to be worth more on Zen's tables than those of other designers.
334	** Downplayed use of bumpers, which are placed close together leading to lots and lots of bumper hits when the ball ''does'' reach them.
335	** As of late, characters standing on the apron watching the game. Justified, though, as that's the least intrusive place for them to be.
336	*** Of course, in the case of ''Deadpool'', it's not as much standing on the apron as being busy getting his OWN high score on the table.
337	* StockScream: Expect to hear the Wilhelm Scream on ''Excalibur'' and ''Masters of the Force''.
338	* TimedMission:
339	** One of the Challenges on each table is a 5-minute mode where you have unlimited ball saver and try to score as many points as possible in 5 minutes.
340	** Matchup mode features a variant of the above where you try to beat your opponents score in 3 minutes. During the last 30 seconds of the match, any points you earn during that time will be doubled.
341	* TitleDrop: In [=FX2=] and [=FX3=] (alongside the newest rendition of FX), upon selecting a table, this usually comes up. Averted for a few tables, such as the Williams tables, which instead use the sound of inserted coins, and ''Portal'', which uses Wheatley's GratuitousSpanish upon selection.
342	* TraintopBattle:
343	** ''Wild West Rampage'' has a minigame by playing pinball on top of a moving train. The closer to the engine, the more intense the smoke gets.
344	** ''Archer'' has this as a mode, based on the episode "The Limited". The difference, however, is that he finally has a shot at fulfilling his lifelong dream of fighting on top of a moving train.
345	* ZergRush: Some tables, namely ''Aliens'', ''Castlestorm'', ''Plants vs. Zombies'' and ''The Walking Dead'' have a mode where a swarm of drop targets or mobile toy figures appear on the playfield and begin marching towards the flippers - and you have to keep them from reaching them by hitting the advancing targets with the ball.

Context VideoGame / PinballFX