High Speed (1991-)

• Developer: Rare

• Publisher: Tradewest

• Genre: Pinball

• Designer: Chris Stamper, Tim Stamper

• Composer: David Wise

High Speed for the NES was developed by Rare and published by Tradewest, releasing in 1991. The game is a digital adaptation of the popular pinball concept designed by Steve Ritchie and originally released in arcades. It remained exclusive to the NES at the time, with no official ports to other home consoles. The game drew inspiration from the excitement of arcade pinball machines, particularly Ritchie’s signature fast-paced, high-scoring designs, aiming to bring the tactile thrill of pinball to home players with engaging visuals and responsive controls.

In High Speed, players control the flippers to launch and keep the ball in play, aiming to hit targets, ramps, and bumpers to rack up points and complete objectives. The digital table features multiple lanes, ramps, and flashing targets that mimic the arcade machine’s layout, creating a sense of progression and challenge. The objective centers around completing a series of “red light” objectives to trigger a high-speed chase sequence, offering players a goal-oriented experience beyond simply keeping the ball in play. The game’s graphics emphasize colorful, detailed table elements, while the screen layout ensures players can track ball movement accurately.

Gameplay focuses on precise flipper control, timing, and strategy to maximize points and advance through table objectives. Players can trigger various scoring modes, ramps, and multi-ball events by hitting specific targets, adding layers of strategy to the fast-paced pinball action. The soundtrack, composed by Rare’s in-house team, provides energetic, arcade-style music and sound effects that simulate the feel of a real pinball machine, with musical cues for target hits, mode completions, and bonus events, enhancing the immersive pinball experience.

High Speed did not have a prequel and did not spawn direct sequels on the NES, though the original arcade pinball machine inspired later digital versions and spiritual successors. Promotion highlighted its faithful recreation of the arcade pinball experience and its fast-paced gameplay, appealing to both fans of traditional pinball and video game enthusiasts seeking a home version of the popular machine. Reception was generally positive, with critics praising its challenging table design, responsive flipper mechanics, and faithful adaptation of the arcade original, cementing High Speed as a standout pinball title on the NES.

Images from MobyGames