arcadem's ratings

This game is really fun. I bought it NIB when it was released and I suffered through all of the months of incomplete code but man, the waiting has been worth it. I knew GG would deliver another winner and man, he is really dialing it in now. When the code is complete I am confident that it will rival any of his previous games.

FWIW, we have had our game a little over 2 weeks now and I and my family are really enjoying it. We just watched the movie and we were pleasantly surprised at how well the game meshed with the movie. Lawler and the JJP team did a great job there. The game really is beautiful, fun to play, and the animation and call outs are excellent. The Duke Caboom shot is a fun one to hit. We do think that the game 'plays itself' a bit too much when the ball is up in the pop bumpers. It stays there too long and kind of ruins the 'flow'. There have been a lot of comments re. the playfield display. Don't know what the controversy is because it does help guide the player and offers the chance to play a virtual pinball game within the game...Tiki pinball (which is a bit slow). Lawler has put similar devices in all of his JJP games; this one just happens to be the largest. We believe the game provides a good challenge; it isn't an easy match for us. We think it ranks very well with all of our other JJP games and we have had them all. It is going to do very well in the market.

I have had my Mando Premium for about 2 weeks now and my family and I think it is fantastic. Lots of fun with great, amusing call outs and the LCD animations are well thought out and make us laugh. Our collection now numbers 12 games from different manufactures and it includes several of Stern's latest games from the past 3 years. For sheer amusement we think this is one of, if not the very best game we have. We rank it right up there with our Deadpool Premium for 'fun to play'. It is not overly difficult to play and to understand but still poses a challenge to our average pinball skills. We do wish that Grogu had been animated in some fashion. Sans that, we do find the magnet to be a worthwhile feature in the game. But, when and if a MOD is released, we will be among the first to add it. But if not, the game is great 'as is'. It is a keeper for us. Congrats to Brain Eddy and his team!

This machine is just plain FUN. When I ordered it I was a bit concerned that the animations might be too 'cartoonish' but they fit the game's theme perfectly. And, the game's geometry and flow leaves nothing to be desired. It plays very fast and is challenging. I am sure it will take a lot of play to even begin to explore all of its features. I now have 4 recent Stern games, a DP Premium, A JP LE, a TMNT Premium, and this game. To be honest, they all are great and it would be tough to choose any one game over the others. I am glad that I don't have to because I think they are all keepers.

Yeah, I know that nothing in life is perfect but gotta give credit where credit is due. This rating will probably diminish whatever credibility I might have but can't help it. We are loving this game. When it was first announced my distributor call me first thing to offer me an LE; I turned it down because I did not think the theme had any appeal to me. But then I watched some of the Turtle shows on Nicklelodeon with my grandson and I was 'hooked'. I began to see the theme and game as a likely variant of DEADPOOL which is one of my favorites in my collection. I went to my distributor to play a TMNT Pro and also his personal LE. I gave it a few days to soak in before committing to buy one. I decided it was a good one to add and I am really glad that I did. So much fun, so much action, great toys like the spinning pizza disk, the glider, and the jumping Krang. And ZY's artwork, what can be said about that? I am not prone to rate a game so high but what the hell. Just imho.

I finally received my WW LE. I was originally in for a CE but JJP pissed me off when they substituted a cheaper topper for the one originally shown for the game. So I bought an LE and saved some $$ and I am glad I did because it is a solid game in all respects. And it now, thanks to JJP's latest offer, has the same topper, for a modest extra sum, that was originally supposed to be on the CE. I have the other candidate for GOTY, Stern's JP LE and truth be known, it is hard to pick between it and WW for the Twippy. I voted JP, my wife voted for WW so there you have it- a "nation again divided". But, we remain good friends nonetheless 'cuz we are both right.
For specifics, I find JP hard to fault whereas I think the music, sounds and speech in WONKA are a bit repetitive. It also tends to have too many 'stdm' balls but that is probably more on me than the game. I just have to get better and WONKA will likely aid me in doing that. There were a very few quality control issues, none too serious, with WONKA whereas JP has been solid from the get go. Having said all of this, both games are 'bolted to the floor'.

My Stern Premium Deadpool is my first Stern NIB purchase since The Avengers. After my experiences with that game and various critical comments posted about Stern's build quality and cookie cutter approach to game designs, I was hesitant to buy another. I looked at the DP Pro version when it was first released and it did nothing to change my mind. About 3 weeks ago I had the chance to play the LE version with the newest code and boy, what an improvement! I was so impressed with it that I immediately bought a Premium version (no LE's were available) and I am really glad that I did. I find it to be a whole lot of fun and it is not only great to play but the artwork is really impressive. And, no defects in the build quality at all. The whole family loves it so I think it will be a keeper.

Jurassic Park is my odds on favorite for game of the year. It is an absolute blast to play with its'great sound effects (dinos roaring and squealing, helicopter blades cutting the air, the John Williams JP score, etc.). The toys like the T-Rex (gotta have the premium or LE because the dino's movements and ball 'spitting' are a riot) and the Raptor pen (hard to achieve) are outstanding. The shots are smooth and also difficult and they make for a really satisfying experience. I could rave on but everything including the build quality of my game adds up to a truly great pin. Two minor things though could be improved upon in the game. 1. Stern really needs to enhance the code to allow shaker intensity to be dialed down. 2. Nedry's call outs need some added volume; way to subtle. All in all, my Jurassic Park LE is bolted to the floor in my house assuming the shaker does not knock it down.

This game is the sixth one in my collection which includes 3 JJP games and 2 CGC games and I think it is on a par with any of the others in terms of build quality, and play factors such as rule sets, game depth, and just plain "play ability". And, it is just pure crazy fun. Much as been said about the game's music, call outs, and animations. I think the negative comments are really overstated. Could it be improved in those areas? Yes, and it has been greatly improved since TPF 2019, especially in the latest code update (6-7-2019) and I strongly believe that more improvements are coming. But as it is right now, the game is a real winner in my book and I'm glad to have it in my collection where it will remain for a long, long time.

Really nothing negative to say. I just wish the animations came on an lcd with some old Universal movie clips and the topper for the LE was animated. These "improvements" would really freshen the game up a lot. But, it is supposed to be a remake and it excels at that

A state of the art, really fun game that needs to be in every collection. Worth the wait and worth the cost. Makes my 3rd JJP pin (no DI and no interest in it) and maybe the best one of all but so hard to say because they (WOZRR, THBA, and POTCLE) are all so different from each other; makes for a great collection!

I had the chance to play several games on a Dialed In LE this weekend. It is a interesting, attractive game with an unique theme. Problem for me is that I never really quite 'got it'. But, I was slow to fully appreciate the WOZ and TH too and now I own and love both. Given the reputation of JJP games I am sure that it will do well. It plays very fast and the targets and game rules will make it a challenge for most players. But, its theme just isn't for me. Now I am looking forward to playing a POTC and considering it for my next game. But, MBR is numero uno for me on my wish list. It has to be MBR and I believe fully that it will be. Just makes way too much sense!
UPDATE TO MY COMMENTS; I NOTE THAT 3 PINSIDERS FLAGGED THEM. WHY? WHAT DID I SAY THAT OFFENDED THEM? ITS SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A CADRE OF DI ZEALOTS THAT DEMANDS ALLEGIANCE TO THEIR 'CHURCH" AND 'HOLY TRUTH' OR BANISHMENT IS CERTAIN. WHAT RUBBISH! YOU 3 ARE WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR COUNTRY NOW; NO OPPORTUNITY FOR DISSENTING OPINIONS AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION. TOO BAD THAT 3 PINSIDERS FORGOT TO WEAR THEIR BIG BOY PANTS.
5/2/2020 UPDATE:
I read on JJP's FACEBOOK page that they had only a few DI LE's left and it was time to get one if one was thinking of doing so. I remembered that I was not originally a fan of POTC nor the Hobbit but having gotten each and playing them a bit, they quickly became favorites for me. I thought I might experience the same phenomenon with DI and so I gave it another chance and starting studying all of the YOUTUBE videos on the game. I learned a lot from those and decided I should get the game while I still could. After all, JJP games have never disappointed me. Well, I now have a DI LE and I am loving it. The theme is still a bit 'strange' to me but, damn it, it works. And the game play is fun and zany and the light show is great. Like all of my other JJP's, I expect to own and play DI for a long time. It wasn't love at first sight, far from it, but better late than never. Accordingly, I have updated all of my rating to reflect my current opinions of the game.

Boy, was I ever mistaken. I have considered buying a Hobbit many times over the past 4 years but every time I tried one, I wasn't impressed. Same thing for the WOZ. But, last year my liking of WOZ's theme and the many strong reviews of the game and JJP in particular convinced me to give it a try. Wow!! I bought a WOZ 75th and I absolutely love it as does all of my family. Great artwork, game play, sound effects, quality, etc.; what's not to love (unless you hated the movie).
So with all of that as backdrop, I decided to take another look at a Hobbit. I played a Gold LE at my local dealer and again, I was not impressed. I hated the 'slow' ball launch and the racket the game makes when resetting the targets. But, like WOZ, I loved the theme (big Hobbit fan). Remembering my initial feelings about the WOZ, I thought I should really give the Hobbit a fair try. I took the chance and bought a Black Arrow. Update! Having played it many times over the past several days, my opinion of it has changed immensely. It is tons of fun with enough complexity to maintain my interest in it for a long time to come. I really like the cabinet art work of the Black Arrow version and the black wrinkle finish on its metal work makes it a very classy looking machine. With all due regards to theme, the Gold LE and the Smaug LE was just to bright and distracting to me. But each to his own.
So, what do I dislike? The ratcheting noise as the target/mode selections are changed and the selection button on the lock down bar looks cheesy. Also, for $8500, a Topper should have been included. And, the playfield lighting around the ball trough really needs to be improved; I can hardly see the barrel bumpers. These issues can and will be addressed quickly with some readily available mods. There is one sound system problem that I need to try to resolve with JJP. I get a 'low background hum/tone' and static from the speakers which I find distracting. And, at start up, the booting display on the monitor is played out through the sound system such that it sounds like a modem; Annoying.
After the sound issues are dealt with and the mods are added, I think the Hobbit will be close to a '10' in my book. I am very impressed with JJP games and their manuals are superb, best in the industry. Now, if Chicago Gaming/PPG blows it and does not make Monster Bash its next game (I am convinced it will be next and I am ready to buy one immediately), I may have to order a POTC because I really like JJP's games. BTW, Dialed In plays great but its' theme is just not for me.

I have to rate this game for it's time which it was clearly ahead of with multi-ball and a lane change feature. It was one of my first pinball purchases and it 'hooked' me. I had to have more.

This is fun game but it can be frustrating to play because certain shots e.g., the Black Widow ramp are damn difficult to make with consistency and the ball can frequently get caught behind the Hulk figure's arm thereby creating a pause in the action while the machine 'clears the problem'. One flaw (Hulk) is a definite design problem and the other is due to my poor skill set. Setting those issues aside, Avengers is a very attractive, topical game (and underrated game) that should be part of anyone's collection.

I received my AFMR LE last month (#456) and I absolutely love everything about it. I wasn't too sure about a 'remake' but CGC did themselves proud. The only flaw is that the ball occasionally jumps the right side ramp and re-enters the playfield typically draining. That notwithstanding, it is a game that I love owning and probably will keep in my collection for a long, long time. BTW, get the LE version just to get the topper; it is awesome!

I tried to pre-order a WOZ in 2013 but gave up and cancelled my order because I did not think it would ever be produced. I WAS WRONG. But, I am glad I waited because I just received my WOZ 2.0 75th Anniversary Edition machine and it was worth the wait. Instead of getting an SE (all of the LE's were already gone in 2013) I got an LE and it is everything I had hoped for 4 years ago. Just proves the adage that some things are worth wait. Tons of fun to play and to look at.