High Speed

High Speed is a pinball simulation game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in July 1991. Developed by Rare and published by Tradewest, the game recreates the excitement of Williams Electronics' 1986 pinball machine of the same name. Its central theme is a high-speed police chase, where players must activate the right targets, escape pursuing officers, and score big by reaching the ultimate jackpot.

The game places players at a detailed digital pinball table inspired by the original arcade machine. Using the flippers, players launch and redirect the ball toward ramps, bumpers, targets, and special lanes. The goal is to build up points while completing specific sequences that trigger increasingly rewarding events.

One of the main objectives is to activate the table's traffic-light targets. Hitting the correct targets changes the light from green to yellow and eventually red. Once the red light is activated, sending the ball up the designated ramp begins the police chase. Players must then guide the ball through the table's features to escape the pursuing officers and unlock multiball, where several balls are active at once. Reaching the hideout jackpot can award a huge score.

The NES version also adds hazards and bonus features beyond the original pinball table. Lightning bombs can help clear dangerous situations, while acid patches, water, and other obstacles can interfere with the ball. Players can collect helicopters and safes to unlock special bonus playfields, including a racing-themed bonus stage where pinballs are used to slow down competing cars.

The screen scrolls vertically to follow the ball across the table, while the flippers remain visible at the bottom. Police radio messages, sirens, and energetic music reinforce the chase atmosphere.

With its unusual police-pursuit theme, varied objectives, and extra digital-only features, High Speed offers a distinctive pinball experience for fans of classic NES arcade and simulation games.