That said, the iOS version feels pretty mature and stable now. Playing on an iPad is surprisingly good: the portrait orientation gives a more natural view of the table than a PC monitor, and the ultra-high resolution of the display lets you see all of the playfield detail, even when you’re zoomed out.

The various modes and gimmicks all make reference to different episodes of the original TZ series. A Rod Serling sound-alike narrates the game and comments sardonically on the various modes. Completing a scoring mode or award lights up one of about a dozen panels in the door graphic that makes up the center of the playfield (as in “you unlock this door with the key of imagination…”). Completing the door itself activates a bonkers scoring mode called Lost in the Zone.

As you might guess, it’s hideously complex, both mechanically and logically. It has immense replay value, provided you can keep it working.

And the other Marvel stuff I just can’t get into at all. Something to do with it being based around comic storylines I gave precisely zero fucks about, perhaps, but at least with pinball you can take the long view. Perhaps I’ll try them again in a month or so after becoming sick of Clone Wars/Avengers and find myself a bit more receptive.

It’s not a bad implementation of pinball, as far as these things go, but I find myself very definitely in the mood for something a little more faithful to the concept. I’ve heard bad things about Farsight’s general competency at development, but nobody who has actually played a working table seems to have a bad word about Pinball Arcade itself.

I’d like to say that Tom Chick is, at times, a little too…I guess ‘hardcore’ for me to completely trust his reviews. He’s certainly not a corporate shill, though, and I’m not sure where you’ll find more comprehensive reviews for this game.

Also, I must get this game next time I have access to a decent connection for my laptop. Who doesn’t like pinball?

At least on iOS, Pinball Arcade is worlds better in my book. The physics and flipper action feel just about perfect. (Really, they’d better be close to perfect, as experienced players will expect the emulated tables to live up to their memories of the real games.) My hard-won reflexes in games like Twilight Zone and Funhouse seem to translate pretty well into the emulated versions – and, unlike most of my real-world arcade trips, I’m able to play a Twilight Zone that’s 100% functional and well maintained.

I probably won’t re-buy everything once Pinball Arcade releases on Steam, but if it’s as good as the iOS version I’ll be tempted.