I could put up a string of 7-10bill scores and then every once a while I put up scores in the mid 20bill area. And I suck

I did have a good Martian kill once
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Currently AFM is my favorite pin. I feel it's a bit easy as I completed Rule the Universe twice in the first 2 months of ownership. I think my high score was around 36-38B. I've seen plenty of other scores that destroy mine. One thing I focus on is make sure the inserts are not lit on the inlane when the ball goes over the switch. I think after you complete all 4 10X Extra Ball lights up. This machine gives out EB's like crazy on standard settings. Strobe MB hit the 3 bank targets 10 times and it lights up EB. Do well on video mode and you'll get an extra ball. If I remember correctly you have 1 bomb at your disposal for video mode which makes it super easy.

If you want to build up your score get total annihilation going. Shoot every lane except the lock lane. This will keep increasing the TA jackpot. Then finally shoot the lock lane to grab the TA jackpot and start over.

You may know the rules well, just trying to help on at least something you might not have known.

I scored 52 bil with three RTUs in one game. Owned the machine another 5 years and never approached that again.

A good RTU game will get you 30 bil. You'll start hitting that if you own the game. I always try to get the 5x combo out of the way early, so many games where that was all I needed and ended up draining.

Yikes, and I thought I was doing well at just shy of 2 billion.

Hold on a sec? Bomb? How do you set it off? I have played the hell out of this game. How did I miss this?

Tap the ball launch button. I use it as a last second save to clear the video mode screen in case a saucer manages to slip by.

How the hell have I missed that all these years. Wtf. Thanks guys.

I think I discovered it by accident at some point. It's not really an obvious feature.

Exactly what I do. Only use it for a worst case scenario. Sometimes I fail saving the universe because I take my chances, but I don't want it to be too easy either.

MM has troll bombs, his the launch button to hit a troll.

I could be wrong, but I believe the launch ball button blinks once you have earned a martian bomb, but when you just start the game and already have a martian bomb ready I don't believe it blinks.

Also when you do the mode to shoot all 4 martian banks to get martian multiball you can use the same martian bomb to kill one of those 4. There has been times for me where I'll have 1 martian left to hit and the ball drains. I'll hit the launch ball button quick to use the bomb killing the last martian. This starts martian multiball so you just saved yourself from losing that ball. Sweet!

Just take the glass cover off. This will solve your problem-lol

U have to earn the bomb for the Martians by hitting the targets spelling Martian a second time after u have the Martian multiball insert already lit. U can also get a bomb in sol random. The video mode save u do get one bomb automatically. Fan pattern left to right non stop. When they sneak through hit the bomb before u get killed. Usually a extra ball comes down in video mode too. Or a cow

Such a good pin. If you hear a woman say "would you look at the size of that cow" hit the launch button. Little Easter egg.

Mine is sold to make room for MMR. Hopefully I don't regret it.

I might as well mention super skill shot. At the beginning of each ball hold the left flipper button in before launching the ball. You'll see why. Again I have no clue what you do and do not know for the rules.

I have that problem as well. When I first get a machine I play the heck out of it. My high score is something 68 billion. Almost completed three RTU's. Now I'm lucky if I can Rule The Universe once.

Might be interesting to plot your distribution of scores. Would it be a bell curve that lives at about 50% of your hi-score?

You make either ramp or outlanes and it awards all three lights instead of one, it makes it quicker to get to total annihilation.
I also lowers blast shield in one hit if it is up.

had the game for 5 years before i knew what this was.You can use it in the video mode too?

I'd recommend a strategy change. Rule the universe is the best way to get those ridiculous 100b scores. If you aren't good enough to get there, then abandon ship and focus on either total annihilation or main multiball over and over. I tend to prefer main multiball, since it's easier to get into and the superjackpot collect makes all values higher for the next round. Really dial in on that lock shot, and if your machine can hold the left flipper up and bounce to a trap on the right, it's a no-brainer. Don't spend balls shooting at the saucer and especially not the forcefield unless you have a lot of extra balls turned on.

It's not a 'Martian Bomb" in Video Mode... it's a "one-time-use-kill-everything-on-the-screen" bomb. You don't even need to earn it! It's just a hidden gem!

It also does not take away any Martian Bombs that you may have saved up.

As for Martian Bomb Strategy, DON'T USE THEM right away! Hit as many martians as you can and then use the bombs ONLY if you are about to fail in killing all four Martians. Even if you drain your ball, the bombs will register and the Martian Multiball will start, which essentially gives you a ball save.. Play on!

If you don't use the bombs, they will be there for your next Martian Attack, so do it all again.

Good Luck!

it also removes the ability to stack hurryup for 1B at the start of total annihilation though.

I never came close to doing the 1B hurry up jackpot, but this post is starting to make me feel smart for a change. Hmm.