Here it is... my first perfect score for a pin. I'm not particularly a fan of Elton John's music, though I do admit he has some certified bangers. I'm also not particularly a fan of Jersey Jack games, despite keeping 2 of them in my collection. So, to say I was not expecting much from Elton John would be an understatement.
But then I had a chance to play EJ, and watch better players play it, and I ended up ordering one for myself. It changed my mind after only a few games.
ADDENDUM: After a few games on this machine at home, I noticed some INCREDIBLE integration details that just left me stunned. Many may have noticed the callouts are in a hushed tone when the action is quiet, but when you play Pinball Wizard, there is astounding integration with the lyrics. On "blind," the machine goes completely dark for a fraction of a second. On "always gets a replay," the knocker taps lightly. And on "crazy flipper fingers," the flippers chatter.
If I could give the integration a 6 out of 5, I would.
Being a Jersey Jack game, I knew it would look pretty, but I don't think I was prepared for how this would look in person. I know it's a tired phrase at this point, but simply put, no photo or video equipment I'm aware of could accurately capture the lighting in person. In a word, it is stunning. It's bright, it's colorful, it's sparkly, it's dynamic... it's beautiful. And the LED panel wrapped around the piano is really cool, and when it does this sparkling effect, it's like a disco ball in your face. Crazy.
And the sound? In a word: incredible. It sounds like you're at a concert or listening to a live album on a great sound system. The music is bassy, clear, and seems to be at a quality sample rate. It's head and shoulders above prior music pins, and it's something Stern should take notice of, because it elevates the game.
But how does it play? Like the best of Steve Ritchie banged the very best of Steve Ritchie and had twins. As it has been noted, JJP finally addressed their weak flipper issues, and the flippers on Elton John are strong and snappy. They feel really excellent. The shots are flowy and satisfying, with a layout that is part Star Trek and part Spider-Man. That's not to say there isn't new stuff in this design. There's an interesting dead end shot that can capture the ball, an upper ramp that can divert to loop around, pop the ball into a physical lock in the piano, or drop the ball into the pops. There's a deadly bank of drop targets that unlock valuable rewards and complete hurry-ups. The upper flipper shots return the ball to the upper flipper to allow for repeat shots. There are several multiballs, combos to pick off, and rewards to collect. Even on early code, it's pretty feature-rich.
And perhaps most helpful at all are the callouts. Most of the callouts aren't Elton John, and are instead a rather non-descript British woman's voice. There's no apparent attempt at humor, and the delivery is more or less flat. Negative, right? Wrong. While I do wish there were more callouts from Elton John himself, the callouts are so clear and concise that they effectively help guide you to your next shot, while not detracting from the audiovisual madness playing out in front of you. Put another way, on a machine that overwhelms your senses, it's nice to have a voice of calm to latch onto.
If I had any gripes, it would be that I really dislike the spinner sound. It's an overpowering and cartoony fill-up sound, and I really hope JJP offers an update that allows you to replace it. Also, while most of the sculpts are nice, the dancer is a bit goofy looking.
I've only seen the Platiunum Edition in person, and have seen pics of the Collector's Edition. The topper for the CE looks incredible, with the laser lightshow and dual screens. I do, however, prefer the art and trim on the Platinum Edition. Were there a way to get the CE topper on the PE... best of both worlds. That's not to say the CE doesn't look nice, but it is a more understated cab design.
Jersey Jack has got a winner with Elton John. It is such a feast for the senses, and so fun and satisfying to flip, that it transcends its theme, offering something for everybody. This isn't just Jersey Jack's best game to date, but also Steve Ritchie's best game to date. Elton John is the first real threat to Godzilla for GOAT.