If you want to appreciate em pins more, get a broken one and learn how to repair it. Once you have repaired it, learn how to play it. Flipper skills and nudging change dramatically from SS/DMD to EM. There is a definite player benefit to learning the difference. It will make you a better player all around. Once you have learned to play your game well, it will become easy to decide if you like it or not. The way it went for me, I started looking for different features in an EM.
Klondike was my first EM (also my first pinball machine period). It had some great features like the up post between the flippers and the slot reels in the top. You don't have a direct shot to any of the upper playfield area features so you have to learn to bank shot the ball to get it up above the pops to hit the slot reel targets. There are direct shots to advance the slot reels but those generally are sucker shots. After playing Klondike, I started to look for games with different features. I found On Beam and it had a cool backbox light animation and the add a ball feature actually spit the ball back out to the playfield between the flippers rather than sending the ball to the shooter lane. The animation is cool, but really did not enhance the game for me. I do think that the add a ball kicker is a great feature and surprising all the time. Then I decided I wanted a game with some drop targets or a spinner shot or both! I got C37 and the drop targets are a great strategic part of the game. Definitely adds fun to the gameplay. Then I got Golden Arrow. It has a rare Gottlieb feature, the 10,000 point shot! I am still working this one out. It needs a good shop job and the steppers and spinners all need a good cleaning.
I keep looking for games with features I havent played yet. Gobble holes, bonus counters, MultiBall!
I wonder what I'll find next???
Hope this adds a little to your thought bank for EM games. Give it a try. I bet you'll like it!
Oakland, NE
Fernie, BC
