High Speed

High Speed brings the tense, fast-moving action of an arcade pinball table to the NES. Developed by Rare and published by Tradewest in 1991, it is based on the Williams pinball machine of the same name, with a table built around the excitement of speeding cars and a police chase. The presentation is compact by modern standards, but the table has plenty happening at once: flashing lights, rolling targets, bumpers, lanes, ramps, and shifting opportunities to build a larger score.

The objective is straightforward but demanding. Use the left and right flippers to keep the ball alive, guide it toward useful targets, and complete table features before an unlucky rebound sends it down the drain. High Speed rewards quick reactions, yet it also gives experienced players room to study the layout and plan their shots. The ball can move rapidly between the upper and lower sections of the table, so a good run depends on reading its angle and reacting before it is too late. As in real pinball, every extra second in play matters, especially when trying to improve a previous score.

Up to four players can take turns, making the game a natural fit for score-chasing sessions with friends. There is no elaborate adventure to work through; the appeal comes from mastering the table, surviving longer, and finding better ways to reach its scoring features. The NES version captures that simple, repeatable arcade rhythm while giving the game a distinctive console-era feel through its scrolling view and colorful effects. Whether you remember the original machine or are discovering it for the first time, High Speed remains an accessible example of early home pinball. RetroCloud lets you play online on your browser and revisit this 1991 NES release without needing the original hardware.