Pinball FX is not a new title to the Xbox Live Arcade, but when developer Zen Studios was getting close to Halloween, the company decided to give those who have downloaded its game a bit of a treat in the form of a new table – the Buccaneer.

(While Pinball FX has been on the Xbox Live Arcade for six months or so, this review is looking at the new table added to the mix.)

Yes, the controls are simple: use the triggers to use the bumpers, and the L1 nudges the table while X launches a ball. The treat, though is in the way the game handles and the look.

This is a vibrant pinball arcade table, with flashing lights simulating cannon fire, skulls and buried treasure to unlock. The upper left corner will let players know if they have triggered a bonus.

One of the elements that sets Pinball FX apart from other games is the way it works in concert with the Xbox 360 Live Vision Camera to enable players to use arm movements to trigger the flippers. The game had come with three tables, with the Buccaneer table adding to the diversity and mix.

And yep, for those who have played the other tables, if you hit the right combination of scoring targets, you will get a couple of balls to work with on the table, and that is when the points (and confusion) really start to accumulate. The game also features an additional dedicated achievement for those looking to give their Gamer Score a little help.

The sound carries the theme forward, from the creaking of chests, or Davey Jones’ locker, to the cannon fire, to the sound of gurgling as a lost ball is sunk. (Even the launcher carries the theme by looking like a cannon.)

Pinball is certainly nothing new to the game-playing public but when it is done wrong, it is immediately apparently. Pinball FX does it right. The physics are handled very well, and the game pacing is fast and furious.

This is a visual treat and a solid challenge. It is also a pretty nice addition to the Pinball FX package. The downside, though, is that to get the full version of this title, you need to spend 800 points, which is about $10, and that’s a lot of quarters.

Gameplay: 7.0
Easy to pick up and play, Pinball FX, and the Buccaneer table, will give fans of pinball games a treat. The price for the package might be a little steep though.  

Graphics: 7.0
The Buccaneer table has a very good look and though table animations are kept to a minimum, the table does provide a bit of eye candy.

Sound: 6.5
The score may be low but for what this is, the sound is solid.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 6.8
The Buccaneer table is well done, but in the greater scheme of things, $10 for four tables is a little steep.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Some things are just meant for multiplayer and pinball is one of them. You can challenge yourself for the high score, but comparing online is more entertaining.   

Overall: 7.0
Pinball is pinball. You launch a ball and use the flippers to keep it in play. The Buccaneer table gives the game a fourth table with new achievement points. The price of admission might be fine for a pinball fan, but the demo should be adequate for those who don’t want to drop $10 on the game. For what this is, though, it is well done. The lights and sounds of the Buccaneer table are entertaining and the game physics are solid.