Damonator's ratings

A true credit to the team that developed this game - the final product is truly exceptional. It is by far the most immersive pinball game I’ve ever played.

Pros - incredible theme/sound/animations make you feel like you are a part of the movies. The modes are difficult, well thought out and have a lot of variety in what you are trying to shoot and when. The cut scenes are well placed and highly polished. The mode instructions displayed on *3* LCD screens are very helpful. The playfield LCD is a great idea as it allows you to see some of the animations and mode directions. The Xeno head is one of the best toys in pinball. The layout is unique with lots of shots.

Cons: The upper flipper is hard to feed - a 50% chance of dropping from the pops is the best option. Feeding it with the upper left flipper or an extremely tight shot from the lower left flipper is harder to control.

If you played this game at a show or you played an early code version, you really need to try it out again on the latest code. The aftermarket community has been phenomenal in remaking parts and shoring up some of the fragile aspects of the design.

I hated this game when it first came out because the actors voices weren't used. HOWEVER - an awesome pinsider has tediously replaced most of the callouts with clips from the show. The animations are the best Stern has ever done, the music is great, cabinet art is great, love the layout. There are a ton of cool mods now too.

I own this game - and it has lasted in my collection while I have sold many other titles. Why? Because it's awesome! This is Pat Lawlor's fastest playing pin by far. The goal of the game is to win a virtual motorcycle race. You start in last place and have to work your way to the front. You do this by hitting all the targets for one of the competitors - then you have to make the shot that will take you to the vertical playfield. Up there, you have to make a specific shot in order to "pass" that racer and move up in the race. if you don't drain while up top, you can attempt the cliff jump and get a satisfying "Baaaanzaaaaiiiiiii" call out if you make it. In order to take the lead, you'll have to lock one of the balls during multiball, then make a very difficult shot on the upper playfield. It's a challenge and very rewarding when you finally achieve it. Williams actually lost money on this title, so it's super rare...but highly recommended if you can find one!!!!

I really would like to understand what all the fuss is about. I play it every opportunity I get...multiple times. But there's just not much to it...literally! The bottom 2/3 of the playfield is completely open - so yes, the existing shots are LONG shots. But it just feels rather empty to me. The rules aren't overly deep either. For a similar shot layout, but a *MUCH* better game, pick up an MM or MMr instead.

CFTBL is a great game - the music, lights, sounds and speech all make for a very good theme. However - most people under 40 have never been to a drive-in theater, so the theme and music are a bit dated for some people's likings. The creature hologram takes up an enormous amount of playfield real-estate and is rarely active (and most have turned to blue instead of green)...thankfully the LCD replacement mod is available and corrects this negative. The playfield is a bit claustrophobic for my tastes - but the backglass and playfield art are some of the best in pinball. My wife likes this one more than me - but it's a fun game - I can't really knock it too much.

I am a huge Star Wars fan. I've actually owned every Star Wars pinball - the Data East, the Sega and the Williams. Unfortunately none of them have been that much fun and I no longer own any of them. This game was the best of the three Star Wars - but the Pinball 2000 platform was just too much of a gimmick in the end. I didn't like the smaller playfield and I didn't like the fact that 1/3 of it was covered by the reflection of the monitor. Throw in some JarJar, some Anikan and a "dress the princess" video mode and you end up with a mediocre game. The multiball is cool however. I really, really wanted to like this one - it was the first game that I paid full retail for even...but not even a jedi mind trick could get me to like this one.

I consider this one a missed opportunity - it's just too slow and shallow. A made right ramp shot takes a long time before the ball is back in play...a ferris wheel shot takes even longer. There aren't any modes to speak of - just a multiball to work towards. The monotone call-out when you lose your ball in the outlane sums it up - "This way to the egress."

CV is one of the best looking pins every made - the sound, speech, music, art and rules all tie the theme together nicely. It's John Popaduik's best game (followed closely by TOTAN). I love cranky toys - and the ringmaster fits the role nicely. The wizard mode is one of the best in pinball as well.

MM is a great game - fast and flowing, but not brutal. The castle is one of the best toys in pinball and the theme is a classic. On default settings, it's difficult to reach the wizard mode - so it keeps you coming back for more.

The twilight zone is Pat Lawlor's best game to date. It has a lot of different shots and it's fast paced, but not brutal. The theme, music, sound and art all tie in well with the theme. The game was designed for DCS sound, but it wasn't ready yet, so the music and voices aren't as high quality as they had wanted. However, a PinSound board completely solves this issue.

This is the best looking LE Stern has made so far - mirrored backglass, custom illuminated side rails, illuminated starfleet emblems on both sides of the head, stainless speaker panel, blue powder coat, RGB LEDs, kickback, interactive vengeance, ramp lighting, signed playfield, extra asteroids and a frickin' laser! The game itself is incredible - the sounds, music, lights and modes tie in to the movie perfectly. If I had to name one downside - the playfield artwork is a little plain - but I do like it more than the traditional photoshopped characters from the movie approach.

B E S T G A M E E V E R M A D E. Ok, seriously - there are a couple of games that have deeper rules or more toys. But I KEEP COMING BACK TO PLAY MORE - it's just intoxicating. That freaking GEM shot is soooo tough...but not impossible. It's the ultimate theme - trumping all other themes. If you can have only *1* pinball - this is the one to own.