Excuse our pinballs. NAME and DOWNLOAD LINK: Microsoft Pinball Arcade Trial Version DESCRIPTION: Hot game. SIZE: 4.7MB, self-executing. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Pentium 90 MHz+, Windows 95+ with 16MB RAM, 4.0+ with Service Pack 3 and 24MB RAM, 15 MB hard disk space, DirectX® 6.0-compatible sound and video cards. COMMENT: We don't normally review trial versions in this section, but Pinball Arcade is too much fun to ignore. Though the freebie has only one of seven full-feature "tables" based on the game's evolution, it should keep most players pounding their keyboards unmercifully. In the words of Microsoft, "Stellar flipper, bumper, ramps, ball and tilt physics give players the sensation they are playing the real tables. Ball reacts to environment with absolute precision." Moderate hype, but not far off. The graphics are outstanding, but the music is uninspired, and sound effects too smooth, lacking those metallic rattles of the real thing. MS provides tips on Predicting the Ball's Path, Nudging, Catching the Ball and, most important, Saving the Ball. Be sure to check the Screenshots page for free desktop wallpaper. If pinball is your life, or your lost youth, part with the USD19.95.