Stern
Lord of the Rings Pinside Rating
This game received 1186 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.706 /10
Lord of the Rings
Top 100 ranking
This game ranks 2nd in the game group "Lord of the Rings ". The group itself ranks #14 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.96
Artwork: 8.273
Sounds/Music: 8.466
Other Aspects: 8.821
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 9 of us have rated this game.
This title is part of group: "Lord of the Rings "
Found 748 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 748 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 5 of 30.
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Newport Beach, CA
Zaragoza
Clessy
6.494/10
3 years ago
I'm in the minority here, but I do not like this game! It is way too long and a snooze fest in my opinion. In our leagues, I dread playing this game. I also never saw the movies, so the theme does not resonate with me. I have rated this game as largely decent (not good or excellent) and also the quality of that vintage Stern is poor compared to Bally Williams or modern games.
As an arcade owner, this game seems to earn well (perhaps due to its ease of use), so it has that going for it. But as a collector, this would not be in my top 50 (yet alone top 10).
Pros - Toys and shots for its time, earning on route, integration of theme (for those that like it), approachability,
Cons - Long ball times, theme, difficulty to upgrade to LEDs, easily breakable (and difficult to find plastics), cheap cabinet (artwork)
As an arcade owner, this game seems to earn well (perhaps due to its ease of use), so it has that going for it. But as a collector, this would not be in my top 50 (yet alone top 10).
Pros - Toys and shots for its time, earning on route, integration of theme (for those that like it), approachability,
Cons - Long ball times, theme, difficulty to upgrade to LEDs, easily breakable (and difficult to find plastics), cheap cabinet (artwork)
9.747/10
3 years ago
Very addictive game! The more I play it the more I like it. This game is better than the new stern games. I do wish it had an additional flipper but this game rocks and is probably my favorite from stern so far.
9.620/10
3 years ago
Sandhurst
This was the perfect theme for me as a pinball and Lord of The Rings fan and it doesn't disappoint.
I'll get the one negative out of the way quickly. The path of the dead slows the game down too much however it's probably a sensible rest during what can be a very long game.
To sum it up Stern just don't make pinball machines like this anymore. It's more or less a game, lightshow and a Lord of The Rings museum under a sheet of glass. The theme integration and the way the modes work with the trilogy are on a level that we don't see too much these days.
I currently have an AIQ in my line-up and the difference in the call-outs is stark. To have Ian Mckellen and Andy Serkis actually providing the voices for Gandalf and Gollum makes a massive difference as do the voice overs from all the actors. Add in that iconic musical score and all of the artwork then you are about as close to middle earth as pinball can take you.
I'm still amazed at the number of shots considering this isn't a widebody and the ring shot is one of the most satisfying in pinball. The end wizard mode of Valinor is the stuff of legends and you're unlikely to get there but there are multiple mini wizard modes to keep you busy.
The mode and multiball stacking is just so good on this machine and playing destroy the ring mode still makes me a nervous wreck.
I've owned one before and I'll definitely own one again. It's in the top 10 or thereabouts and it's there on merit.
I should probably also say that I had to do zero maintenance in the whole time that I owned it. It just seemed as if every nut, bolt, ramp and switch was solid.
The films were long and epic . . . . the pinball machine is no different.
I'll get the one negative out of the way quickly. The path of the dead slows the game down too much however it's probably a sensible rest during what can be a very long game.
To sum it up Stern just don't make pinball machines like this anymore. It's more or less a game, lightshow and a Lord of The Rings museum under a sheet of glass. The theme integration and the way the modes work with the trilogy are on a level that we don't see too much these days.
I currently have an AIQ in my line-up and the difference in the call-outs is stark. To have Ian Mckellen and Andy Serkis actually providing the voices for Gandalf and Gollum makes a massive difference as do the voice overs from all the actors. Add in that iconic musical score and all of the artwork then you are about as close to middle earth as pinball can take you.
I'm still amazed at the number of shots considering this isn't a widebody and the ring shot is one of the most satisfying in pinball. The end wizard mode of Valinor is the stuff of legends and you're unlikely to get there but there are multiple mini wizard modes to keep you busy.
The mode and multiball stacking is just so good on this machine and playing destroy the ring mode still makes me a nervous wreck.
I've owned one before and I'll definitely own one again. It's in the top 10 or thereabouts and it's there on merit.
I should probably also say that I had to do zero maintenance in the whole time that I owned it. It just seemed as if every nut, bolt, ramp and switch was solid.
The films were long and epic . . . . the pinball machine is no different.
9.276/10
3 years ago
This is one of the first games that I learned all of the rules and appreciated the difficulty of getting deep. It’s also really fun to stack multi balls and just hear the jackpot one, two, three over and over. A true classic, it’s definitely due for a vault. Would definitely add to my collection if one came up at the right time, for the right price.
9.144/10
3 years ago
Of all my games this is probably my favorite to play. It has a deep rule set that keeps me interested and I find that each game has a little different flavor. However, my wife likes more straight forward shooters and she doesn't like this game. You really need to understand the rules to keep track of what is going on and often multiple modes or events are happening at the same time which can be confusing.
That said, for me personally, this is the best balance of challenge, variety, and fun in any pinball I own.
Here are the pros and cons as I see them.
Pros:
Deep Rule Set - There is a lot of do and many ways to do it. No matter what, something is happening. I think the rules make a lot of sense but I imagine they could be confusing.
Playfield Layout - I really like the variety of shots and features on the board. There are a lot of pretty unique shots. For instance the Legolas ramp is a really cool and fast reverse ramp. There are pins that come up to stop the ball in certain modes and a diverter which allows access to the back tower. The Gimli hole is in the middle of the playfield below the bumpers and it is a trick to not over shot it. The eye ramp is really fun when it is adjusted right. Also it has a lot of flow and combos.
Sound and Callouts - I really like the music and callouts. A few get a little old ("100 more, 250 more") and there is frequently a countdown from 10 which also gets old but overall it is good. Highly recommend Pinsound upgrade but that is not scored here.
Lights - I installed an LED kit from Comet and the game looks awesome. It has the best lights of any game I have and the attract mode is even awesome.
Cons:
Long Games - Maybe a pro at times but the games can be very long, I bet I have played for close to an hour on 1 game. If you are in the mood and have nothing else going on then it can be great but I often have fifteen minutes to kill and skip this game because I don't know if I will be done.
Art Work - The art overall is a little underwhelming. There is a lot of photo-shopped type art which seems to be taken directly from the films. The color palette is muddy with a lot of brown and greens. The two ladies on the apron are particularly lame. Also there are a lot of plastic figures sort of randomly placed around the playfield and tied down in a haphazard way. Nothing is terrible just not very exciting.
Wild Balls - The layout of the playfield and the numerous multi-balls can make some really wild balls and it is a trick to keep balls from getting stuck in random places. On strong flippers the Legalas wireform is crazy but works fine with moderate flippers. I don't mind it from a game play standpoint but I do have to pull the glass fairly often to free a ball from somewhere. It must have driven operators crazy. I would say that after about 1 year of ownership and a lot of tweaking I think I have all the ball traps eliminated but they still fly around.
For me the Pros vastly outweigh the Cons. The most important factor for me in owning a game is replayability and fun and this excels. I can forgive the artwork.
That said, for me personally, this is the best balance of challenge, variety, and fun in any pinball I own.
Here are the pros and cons as I see them.
Pros:
Deep Rule Set - There is a lot of do and many ways to do it. No matter what, something is happening. I think the rules make a lot of sense but I imagine they could be confusing.
Playfield Layout - I really like the variety of shots and features on the board. There are a lot of pretty unique shots. For instance the Legolas ramp is a really cool and fast reverse ramp. There are pins that come up to stop the ball in certain modes and a diverter which allows access to the back tower. The Gimli hole is in the middle of the playfield below the bumpers and it is a trick to not over shot it. The eye ramp is really fun when it is adjusted right. Also it has a lot of flow and combos.
Sound and Callouts - I really like the music and callouts. A few get a little old ("100 more, 250 more") and there is frequently a countdown from 10 which also gets old but overall it is good. Highly recommend Pinsound upgrade but that is not scored here.
Lights - I installed an LED kit from Comet and the game looks awesome. It has the best lights of any game I have and the attract mode is even awesome.
Cons:
Long Games - Maybe a pro at times but the games can be very long, I bet I have played for close to an hour on 1 game. If you are in the mood and have nothing else going on then it can be great but I often have fifteen minutes to kill and skip this game because I don't know if I will be done.
Art Work - The art overall is a little underwhelming. There is a lot of photo-shopped type art which seems to be taken directly from the films. The color palette is muddy with a lot of brown and greens. The two ladies on the apron are particularly lame. Also there are a lot of plastic figures sort of randomly placed around the playfield and tied down in a haphazard way. Nothing is terrible just not very exciting.
Wild Balls - The layout of the playfield and the numerous multi-balls can make some really wild balls and it is a trick to keep balls from getting stuck in random places. On strong flippers the Legalas wireform is crazy but works fine with moderate flippers. I don't mind it from a game play standpoint but I do have to pull the glass fairly often to free a ball from somewhere. It must have driven operators crazy. I would say that after about 1 year of ownership and a lot of tweaking I think I have all the ball traps eliminated but they still fly around.
For me the Pros vastly outweigh the Cons. The most important factor for me in owning a game is replayability and fun and this excels. I can forgive the artwork.
9.440/10
3 years ago
Deep deep deep game. Play this if you have more than a half hour to kill! :)
I had it once and traded up. Got another one back, so that shows how much I missed this game.
The ring is fun and a pain to shoot, but that keeps me coming back. The multiballs add to visiting each movie and remembering what happened. Never gotten to Valinor, but I have done There and Back a couple of times. It should stay in the collection for awhile this time!
I had it once and traded up. Got another one back, so that shows how much I missed this game.
The ring is fun and a pain to shoot, but that keeps me coming back. The multiballs add to visiting each movie and remembering what happened. Never gotten to Valinor, but I have done There and Back a couple of times. It should stay in the collection for awhile this time!
7.227/10
3 years ago
Plan your day around this one because these games can be looooong. It's possible to have games lasting over an hour on this title. Definitely a very immersive game, the music and sounds really bring in. Obviously the code is phenomenal, almost 20 years later and its still some of the best rules in pinball. Shots are great however the path of the dead area is kinda strange, the ball just clunks down and often times just falls onto the play-field. Least favorite part of this game has to be the artwork, almost looks like a copy-paste job done in MS paint. The cabinet on these is often times faded as well so it can be an eyesore in a nice collection.
8.824/10
3 years ago
This game definitely benefits from an LED upgrade. Wish this would be vaulted. Fairly long ball times with a lot to work on. Getting all the movie multiballs is pretty easy, but completing them and all the modes is another story.
9.140/10
4 years ago
My 2nd favorite stern (JP2 #1). I owned a beautiful example and while the game is amazing artwork hurts it a little bit for me. I also played it non stop to get to Valinor and kinda burnt myself out on it. No game screams integration like LOTR. If I had more money and room it's a keeper. Its a long player, but needs to be to fit it all in. It's a game that needs to be able to sit a week or longer after a couple long Valinor attempts. All in all a fantastic addition especially in a 5-10 game lineup.
8.470/10
4 years ago
Donaueschingen
I think this is a great pinball machine, but what is holding me back from owning it is the horrible, horrible art, specifically the playfield design. It just looks hideous and that is something that is really important for me personally. But let's put that aside (imagine this got a reskin...) and look at the rest of the machine.
This is truly a multiball lover's game. A lot of stuff going on, great amount of modes, an almost unbeatable wizard mode - what's not to love about playing this machine. Minor negative for me is that the amazing soundtrack from the movies is implemented in a subpar way, which is probably something that can be improved with some extra upgrades.
All in all, if you want to go for gameplay and are not concerned with art, this is a top notch machine. Fingers crossed for that reskin!
This is truly a multiball lover's game. A lot of stuff going on, great amount of modes, an almost unbeatable wizard mode - what's not to love about playing this machine. Minor negative for me is that the amazing soundtrack from the movies is implemented in a subpar way, which is probably something that can be improved with some extra upgrades.
All in all, if you want to go for gameplay and are not concerned with art, this is a top notch machine. Fingers crossed for that reskin!
9.156/10
4 years ago
Malmö
One of Sterns most entertaining titles. The ingenuity behind many of the playfield toys and the fact that most of them are actually well-integrated in gameplay and scoring as opposed to "built for show but not performance" ( like X-men for example) puts this pinball in the top league.
The playfield area is utilized to its fullest. But somehow this game still manages to leave enough room for varied shots and
playerfriendly view over the different playfield spots. Definately one of the best tables from the early 2000's. It looks marvellous and the sound package is both thrilling and well balanced towards the story.
The playfield area is utilized to its fullest. But somehow this game still manages to leave enough room for varied shots and
playerfriendly view over the different playfield spots. Definately one of the best tables from the early 2000's. It looks marvellous and the sound package is both thrilling and well balanced towards the story.
Vancouver, BC
8.840/10
4 years ago
The game is extremely addictive and entertaining. The games are long enough and above all, there are many multiball to unlock. That's great strength. The only negative is that sometimes the rhythm and broken during animation too long on the DMD. 3 skill shots (one easy, second ok, and last very hard). Excellent design and gameplay.
But after all an excellent game. 9.5 / 10
But after all an excellent game. 9.5 / 10
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