Step one to enjoying XBLA’s newest offering Pinball FX to its fullest capacity: Create a custom playlist featuring The Who’s Pinball Wizard on repeat. The catchy guitar riffs and sing-along chorus might help distract you from the fact that the game is uncharacteristically tough. However, the difficulty still does nothing to mar the surprisingly authentically recreated pinball experience.

We’ll pull a fast one and cover the bad first: 800 MS Points ($10) makes Pinball FX twice as expensive as it needs to be. While the tables are original and detailed, there are only three of them. The lack of game modes (you only get the classic pinball scenario; no minigames or anything else) is the game’s second strike. Fortunately, there isn’t a third. The video chat during online multiplay is kind of pointless because you have to keep your eyes glued to the table, but it’s nice that they threw in Live Vision support at all, and the feature is by no means a negative.

Okay, now let’s focus on the superior elements of Pinball FX. First of all, despite the fact that there are only three tables, they are exquisitely detailed. The activity that takes place on each of the themed tables (Extreme, Speed, and Agents) is fast and furious. Looping pathways, secret doors, power-ups, and bonuses all contribute to what ends up being a white-knuckle affair. In addition to the detailed tables, the graphics are great for an XBLA game. The neon colors and flashing strobes are rendered beautifully, and the top of the screen even emulates the old LED panels seen on most pinball tables in the 80s and 90s.

Pinball FX succeeds primarily on its gameplay (most games should); the ball physics are unparalleled. No janky, random slowdowns (ala 3D MiniGolf Adventures) are found at all, and the balls have a nice weight that legitimately makes them “feel” like real metal pinballs. The flippers respond accordingly (even with adjustable physics of their own), and there’s even an option to “nudge” the table (built-in cheating for the win!).

Overall, the game is worth it for diehard pinball enthusiasts, but others may want to wait until the additional downloadable tables are released on the Marketplace.