Special Note: Originally all Pinball FX tables were going to be posted to a single review guide, but there would have been loading issues. I’m splitting the guide into individual table posts.
A-Force
aka Marvel’s Women of Power: A-Force
First Released September 27, 2016
Main Platform: Pinball FX
Switch Platform: Not Yet Released
Designed by Thomas Crofts
Set: Marvel Pinball Collection 2 ($29.99)
Links: Strategy Guide – Pinball FX Wiki
The smooth-shooting A-Force is one of the most underrated Zen original creations, and in Pinball FX, it seems the difficulty has even been slightly scaled back. Maybe it’s the placebo effect since it’s subtle, but the rails no longer feel like they spoon-feed the outlanes. The result is a table up for players of all skill levels. What I really love about A-Force is that the act of learning the table’s flow and which shots work in combination with each-other is as exciting as making the shots too. It’s a complicated layout, but not in an overwhelming way, and that “ta-da” moment when you put it together is so satisfying. Awesome shot selection too, and oddly enough, the gigantic Titanium Man head that sticks out in the most smackable way isn’t the key to it all, but let’s talk about him. He’s tied to a multiball mode, his own mode (the 5th mode, specifically) which is also a multiball mode, and to a hurry-up that yields a lot of points. Clearly Thomas Crofts understood how fun this target was.
What ultimately keeps A-Force out of the Pantheon are the modes. Only the two-ball battle against Titanium Man stands out, and maybe a mode where a helicopter drops bombs on the city that you have to shoot to collect. The remaining three are somewhat bland and uninspired, but at least you don’t need to shoot perfectly or even win in order to get the checkmark for them. This is the way Zen should do every table: if you fail, the mode is still checked-off, and then after you’ve played the wizard mode, the second cycle changes the rules and you must win a mode in order to check it off. I love that. Zen could probably bump the ratings of 20% of their pins by updating their rules for that. With that said, although the final Wizard Mode succeeds in being a visually-striking tribute to late Williams arcade-era final multiball showdowns, getting there is a bit underwhelming. I don’t agree with Angela’s “modes are modes” belief, because I think it matters that it’s often not clear what shots are for what mode. It doesn’t do a good enough job of directing you towards the prudent shots. And while I’m on the subject, I can’t imagine playing this without the vertical table-view, since the playfield is massive but obstructive. I really wanted to make the leap and declare A-Force a masterpiece, because I think it has to be in the discussion for best layout in the entire Marvel brand, but I couldn’t quite work myself up enough to do it. The layout was worthy, but I don’t feel they used it to its fullest potential.
Cathy: GREAT (4 out of 5)
Angela: MASTERPIECE (5 out of 5)
Oscar: GREAT
Jordi: GREAT
Sasha: GREAT
Overall Scoring Average: 4.2 📜CERTIFIED EXCELLENT📜
Some review copies were provided in this review, others were paid for.
The Pinball Chick 
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