skywelker's ratings

Xmen is a game with tons of tight shots and a really cool layout. The artwork on the cabinet and backglass are exactly what you'd expect as a fan of Xmen, although the playfield is a little lacking. It takes a beating from pinsiders when it comes to the voicework and I have to say I agree. If you can overlook the sounds it is a great game. There are a lot of shots to shoot for and the modes seem to be varied nicely with player control over what mode plays next. Since there are so many shots some of them are pretty tight. This seems to lead to either a really satisfying experience or complete frustartion depending on how well you are playing at the time. I really enjoyed this game during the 6 months or so that I owned it. Only reason I got rid of it was because someone approached me about it and offered me a trade.

Bottom line is that it's a fun game with a lot going on. Magneto and Wolverine throwing the balls around keep things interested. Unique combos and shots keep the replay value high. Gambit hurry up is one of the most satisfying shots I have ever seen in a pinball machine.

Whirlwind is a game that everyone seems to enjoy, both newbies and seasoned players. The spinning discs and fan topper are unforgettable and really add to the action. The layout is similar to other Pat Lawlor games which are always fun. Other than maybe Funhouse it's tough for me to think of a deeper non-DMD title. Couple this with the relatively affordable price (due to high production I assume) and you have some good SS bang for your buck. I'm probably in the minority but I actually prefer Earthshaker to Whirlwind and I can't put my finger on why. I've owned them both and they are both great, but I seem to miss ES more than WW.

Bottom line is that this is another classic from Lawlor that everyone is immediately drawn to. It's a bit bittersweet for me as this was the ultimate in SS games for me until I owned one. Now I think of it as the game that made me finally realize I am (apparently) a DMD guy.

I had the option to pick up a nice Earthshaker a while back at a fair price. I had never played one so I went over to the owner's house for a few games. For whatever reason I just couldn't get into the game so I passed on the deal. Fast forward a few months and I end up taking in a project ES in a trade. I got it playing and low and behold I loved the gameplay, to the point where I really wish I would have picked up the original game. The layout is great and the shots are very satisfying. The shaker motor fits the game perfectly. The only real con I see is that once you collect the jackpot in multiball there is no other clear objective. Also, the sinking building should never have been removed, it would have been the icing on the cake.

Bottom line: If you're a sucker for a 3 flipper design (like I am) give this game a fair chance. It's a great way to get into a relatively affordable title and a gateway drug to other great Pat Lawlor games! I ended up trading mine but only for a Whirlwind due to their similarities.

AC/DC Pro is a fast and fun game. The songs included offer a nice mix, at least to the casual AC/DC fan. I like how the song you choose changes the way the game plays. Unfortunately because of this the game doesn't have traditional modes, so once you qualify the music note shots the strategy doesn't change much no matter what song you are playing. If they do another code update it would be great to add the 'cannon mode' inserts in to the mix, as of V1.68 they don't do anything. AC/DC Pro has pros and cons when compared to the LE version. I like the drop targets on the LE version as it slows the game down a bit and makes cannon shot ricochet a little more manageable. However, the lower playfield is terrible so the Pro gets the nod there.

Bottom line, AC/DC Pro is a great game. There's a lot of flow if you can make your shots and firing the cannon never gets old. The artwork on the playfield is a bit stale but the cabinet and backglass look really nice. This game was always a hit at my house when I owned it.

High Speed was clearly ahead of it's time. The flow is great with the 3rd flipper and the dual spinners. Starting a police chase with the siren topper spinning never gets old. The callouts are fun and this game has probably my favorite light show in all of pinball, the attract mode, extra ball sequence, and jackpot sequence all look great in a dark room. Unfortunately most routed games got a lot of play because of these things and really show some wear and tear if they haven't been restored. The progressive jackpot also kind of stinks in a home environment. I ended up trading mine before I thought I would.

Bottom line, it's kind of a one trick pony but it's one hell of a trick. I think this game would feel better if there wasn't a sequel to it that added so many more features. Still, it's a great value when it comes to System 11 games, the fact they made so many probably keeps the price down.

If you read reviews of Royal Rumble you'll see a lot of complaints about the theme. I personally love the theme but I can see why some wouldn't. Don't let that stop you from playing this game. I love the mode variety as they all feel very different from each other and they are generally worth playing. Also, choosing which mode is next with the ramps and orbit is a very nice feature. Multiball is fun and the add a ball feature with the Royal Rumble style countdown ties in perfectly with the theme. The shaker motor is nice and goes well with the punching sounds. The mini playfield is a blast with both a loop and drop targets. Only ding I could give it are the artwork on the backglass (get a prototype translite, much better!) and the fact that the wizard mode is a pop bumper mode (not that I get there very often!).

Bottom line, this game has a ton of shots. Royal Rumble is the only game I have that I can definitively say I never plan on selling.

I owned BSD for a few months and really enjoyed it. I have yet to experience a rush in pinball as good as stacking all three multiball modes in this game! The DMD animations are some of the best I've seen, especially considering the age of the game. The sound is spooky and generally fits the theme well. The video mode is really fun and the ramp shots are very satisfying to hit. Sometimes it felt like it was setup to be difficult just for the sake of being difficult though (tough outlanes, lightning flippers, standup targets in the center of the playfield). I would generally have many bad games for every one decent one so when someone offered me a trade deal I couldn't pass it up. However, I still play this game whenever I see one.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a difficult game that is still a lot of fun this would be tough to beat. This game is not for the faint of heart, newbies did not like it at my house.

Big Guns doesn't get the credit it deserves. The cannon shots are awesome and the backglass animation is both a cool gimmick and a fun event that adds to game. The skill shot is pretty tricky and has a definite risk reward aspect to it. The ease at which you can lock balls is great when playing multiplayer as lock steals are a common occurrence. New players love being able to get multiball fairly regularly, this game was always a crowd favorite at my house. Saving the queen is always a rush and never gets old, the 12 second time restraint really gets the adrenaline pumping.

Bottom line, this is still one of the most affordable System 11 games out there. I owned one for about a year and sold it to a local pinsider. If it was feasible I would have considered a P-ROC setup as this game could be great with some new rules.

Phoenix was the first machine I've ever owned so I figured it should be my first rating as well. A lot of people knock this game because of the artwork and pink cabinet but I actually thought it was really cool. Gameplay was good as well, 10 drop targets and 5 numbers at the top rollovers that could be lit in multiple ways play heavily into strategy, no lane change here! Sounds weren't bad but if you're looking for a laugh switch it over to simulated EM sound mode.

Bottom line I miss playing this game a lot more than I thought I would. Couple that with the incredibly low cost and if I had more room I never would have sold it.