Is it because you are focusing on the saucer? This can be a real drain, mix it up and make sure you are collecting ramps and ball locks too!

If you truly are the King of Tron, you should have no problems with AFM.

Don't let it make ya crazy!....wanna sell it?

AFM is really the only game I own that I'm consistently good at. I'm by no means a great player. But it may be because I've put more games on it than anything else and I know the shots and rules really good. I also don't think it is a very difficult game. Don't get me wrong, I haven't RTU (been close) and I don't have any crazy high scores, but I can often start the game up cold, play a game for quite a while, and finish a lot of the objectives. STTNG, IM, and TSPP chew me up and spit me out much more often than AFM.

I've only had mine playable for about ten days, but my games depend a lot on how the bounces off the force field/UFO go. I'm playing with the strategy of the first two saucers are destroyed directly, then use multiball to attack the rest of them. Some games, I'll get two bad bounces, and I'll drain a couple balls during those first two saucers. Others, everything goes well, and I'll end up with four saucers complete. I've yet to complete the 5th saucer. I've completed all the objectives except Conquer Mars during a few different games.

I'd say that this was my experience as well. Had a hard time hitting my shots consistently, and when you don't hit your shots on AFM it feels clunky. Kept at it....eventually got RTU, and once I got it, I got it again 3 or 4 more times in the next month, so I did get better....but still could have horrifyingly terrible games!

AFM is one of the few games that a newb can walk up to and have a good game. Its all about reaction times and reflexes, and less about studying complex rules. For example my 13 yr old daughter who lives with us only alternating weekends, plays maybe 2/3 games per month. Last Friday night, she walks in the door, goes downstairs and scores 11.5 Billion. No biggie.

That's what I like about this game. It is unique among titles of its era (except MM).

I have new playfield, white rubbers and it plays super fast. Not clunky at all. Some games are over seriously quickly and others are great, epic games. But for me no consistency at all but I love this game! Got a shaker as well that so adds to the experience. A great game on AFM is an adrenalin fest

I used to focus on the Mothership but now I mix it up a bit - I do admit I have the rules down. I added the shaker mod too. I like the fact that it shakes everytime i hit the mothership.

Similar experience to the OP. Love the game, but still suck at it.

Here's a general question...

When the ball ejects from the SOL, where is it supposed to be aimed? Mine seams to consistently hit about 1-2 inches to the left of the left flipper (striking the metal bar under the plastics). Is it supposed to be aimed at the left flipper? How do you adjust it?

Just work those orbits to max first and then a 5-way combo isn't so bad. In can be a pain though, especially when you look down and all the other blue lights are lit except it...dammit!

I adjusted mine to hit the left flipper. You can then do a live catch and if you aren't totally successful, it will roll up the left inlane and allow you to cradle the ball or get a shot from the left flipper.

My SOL eject was also hitting the inlane guide to the left of the flipper, and I ended up notching the hole on the VUK bracket so that I could rotate the VUK. Having the ball go out of control on every kickout made playing well nearly impossible.

Use super skill shots to drop the force field and never go for the saucer unless in mb. Learn to backhand the lock shot and MBs come easily.

SOL Kickout needs to be right or you'll be fighting the game.

I chunk the first 2 cities off before anything else. Only a couple shots and you get the extra ball, then start working other areas.

Exactly. I do the skill shot on the initial plunge and try to hit the force field to drop it right away. If you drain, the ball saver is still on and you get the ball back. Get two cities saved and get the extra ball. After that I usually try to get multiball lined up.

I love me the "Total Annihilation".

Yeah skill shot is a must.