Fantastic-o – Revenge of the Rob-O-Bot Review

This is, bar none, the best original iOS pinball money can buy. Visually, the lighting absolutely destroys what industry stalwarts, Farsight Studios, have been able to bring to the market thus far, including their efforts on consoles. Colors and art are vibrant, and the playfield has convincing depth and a great sense of simulated reality. The table is well-designed, with plenty of flow and an enjoyable mission structure you'd expect from a modern pin. As it should be, Game Center leaderboards are fully supported, as are portrait and landscape views. The physics are a bit simplified and feel somewhat scripted compared to heavyweights like Pinball Arcade and Zen Pinball, but they are fantastic nonetheless. Ball feel falls comfortably between the somewhat muted Zen engine and the too-quick, slippery physics of PA. It feels properly weighty and authentic. My main issue is with the lack of accurate nudging control. The app description—there is no in-game help—tells me to shake my device to nudge, but I found this completely ineffectual in negating drains that would have been recoverable, given proper tools for the job. It may seem like a minor gripe, but it becomes a major sticking point once you've watched your thirtieth ball blast straight down the middle without any recourse at your disposal. Options (including shake sensitivity and selectable camera views) are completely absent. If you love pinball, this should be an instant-buy proposition. Even casual players will be able to appreciate the quality feel, top-notch presentation, and straight-up fun provided by this AAA pinball title.
Review by rotstik on Revenge of the Rob-O-Bot.