This is the free table that comes with all versions of Pinball Arcade. So if you want to try some but don't want to spend any money, here it is.

Tales of the Arabian Nights was made in 1996 by John Popadiuk, Jr. By then, the mainstream popularity of pinball was on a decline, and a AAA release like this one could only push about 3,000 units sold. That's less than one-third of the units of Xenon sold and less than one-seventh of the units of Addams Family sold. (It'll get even more extreme than that as you go into the late 90's.)

Popadiuk had come into the pinball design scene during this decline, quite unfortunately. Popadiuk gets the rather confusing nickname of "J-Pop" by pinball fans. From what I can discern, many pinball fans don't know Japan has its own pop music scene.

A frequent theme in Popadiuk's designs is magic and mysticism, as can be seen in not just this, but Theatre of Magic, Magic Girl, Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and even World Cup Soccer. Obviously, Tales of the Arabian Nights is based on the literature series 1001 Arabian Nights. I take that this needs no explanation.

To my knowledge, the story in this pinball machine is an original one. The opening narration says, "In ancient Baghdad, a most beautiful princess was imprisoned by the evil genie Salim Bagazar." Or at least, I think that's how it's spelled. The evil genie is referred to as Genie everywhere else (and is even blue, a possible jab at Disney's Aladdin). The player character is an unnamed young aspiring hero, armed with a magical scimitar (a type of sword found in the ancient Middle East) with the power to defeat the evil Genie, and partnered with an unnamed female genie, referred to as Jinn.

The scimitar has seven slots to fit legendary jewels. Once all seven are obtained, the hero can then use the scimitar to fight the Genie and his army of skeleton warriors. Jewels can be obtained through completing missions and then shooting the ramp (despite the complex array of ramps, there is only one entrance, to the left of the Genie--there is a series of moving gates that determines where the ball will go), or if Make a Wish is available at the Bazaar. Missions are indicated via the seven round lights just above the flippers. They begin when the Genie is hit if the image of the princess right below him is lit. They are, from left to right:

1. "Sinbad" - The Tale of Sinbad and the Rocs - Hitting at least one bumper via the left orbit makes the Jewel of the Rocs available at the ramp. This is based on Sinbad's second journey, where he travels to a remote island and finds gigantic birds.

2. "Ali Baba" - The Tale of Ali Baba - The stand-up targets to the right of the Genie and directly above the left inlane must be hit six times total, which spells out "SESAME." Once the word is completed, the Jewel of Ali Baba becomes available at the ramp. This refers to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' hideout and its famous "Open Sesame" password.

3. "Flying Horse" - The Tale of the Flying Horse - Five things will be indicated with blinking yellow circles with a silhouette of a running man. Four get you nothing, and one of them will clear the mission and allow you to get the Jewel of the Statue via the ramp. I don't know which tale this is based on.

4. "Scheherezade" - The Tale of Scheherezade - Orbits, ramps, and other paths are lit, indicated by the blinking yellow circles. Shooting at least one of these before the timer runs out, or shooting enough of them (I think 5, but I'm not sure) will award the Jewel of Scheherezade upon completing the ramp. This is, of course, based on the legend behind the book.

5. "Camel Race" - The Great Camel Race - Certain things will be lit, again with the yellow circles with the silhouette. The DMD will display the hero in the race with three other competitors. Shooting anything lit with that circle advances one position and scores points. Regardless, when the race ends, the Jewel of the Desert can be obtained via the ramp. This is not based on any story in particular.

6. "Flying Carpet" - The Tale of the Forty Thieves - The Ali Baba saga is split into two for this one. This is simply an escape on a flying carpet. Shoot the ramp once, then shoot it again for the Jewel of the Forty Thieves.

7. "Cyclops" - The Tale of the Cyclops - Hit one of the captive balls at least once, and the Jewel of the Cyclops will be available at the ramp. This is based on another of Sinbad's voyages.

Once the scimitar is complete, "Rescue the Princess" becomes available by shooting the Genie once more. Watch to see for yorrself.

There are plenty more modes, like Multiball, Fireball, and Lightning Lamp; and features like the Bazaar and the bonus multiplier, but I don't have the description space. If you have any questions, please ask me.

The next table will be Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

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