The game is challenging and it can drain often at times. So this style isn't for everyone. TWD is not alone in this way as it has been reported in many recent/new games, especially Stern over the last years. But if you like what you see in your TWD play it only gets better in reported experience, with more play and especially in home use. It rewards good/clean shots and strategic play. The game is very deep and is now programmed with multiple avenues to go for big scores. With some time to understand the rules and objectives it becomes easier to follow. It also has a ton of mods and tweaks available, and is coded by lyman/god. TWD really has a lot going for it, especially that one-more-game feel. And when it gets going, the intensity from the multiballs/stacking/light shows/music/shaker/etc is reported by many to be second to none. I agree.
My experience has led me to consider the pinball ratings on this website garbage. Too many people gaming the ratings, vendettas/agendas on pinball manufactures, new vs old game wars, etc. Trust what you find you like above any comments. Some of the early and loud denouncers of TWD now report really enjoying the game, and have even purchased it.
I own the LE and there seems to generally be more love for it, though there are still a lot of people who dump on it. The early reviews were also very negative. It seems TWD machines have generated some strong negative feedback as well as opposing opinions, more than many other machines I've seen in recent memory. There are some other differences in coding beyond the walker bombs that make the LE/Prem stand out over the Pro. Funny, many people early on crapped on the LE/Prem but now many people love it. The added unique Lyman coding to the LE/Prem is appealing in game play for sure.
The only thing on the Pro I'd want to know before buying is if the pops STDM is a non-issue. Early on people complained left and right about STDMs in play on TWD machines, usually in the Pro and in routed machines. Not so much at all on the LE/Prem model. It took a while for owners to get through to the community that STDMs are not an issue with proper setup and levelling. This was acknowledged multiple times on the LE/Prem (not surprising as those are often home use), but less so on the Pro. I don't have any Pro experience and there isn't much on the forum here in the way of STDM pro issues being fixed from earlier posts, though there is not much talk of it still being an issue either. Still, I think I read a recent Pro review again mentioning pops STDM issues.
Adding to the negative vibe of TWD machines on this forum, many people have complained early on about various issues with the game, from STDMs (prison, well walker, pops) to ramp issues (airballs, poor flow), and slingshot issues (airballs); generally in routed machines. Well set-up machines play well as reported by owners here. Most owners, including myself have none of these problems (most owners posting here are home use machines). Ignorance about pulsing the magnets hasn't helped. A ramp or a feature may need to be adjusted, but nothing out of the ordinary in general pinball machine ownership. Various outlane and drain mods are available as well, though many people don't bother.
I think TWD can be a keeper for sure. It has the best DMD animations noted by many, it is one of the few truly adult-themed pinball machines ever available, the theme based on zombies has big cross-cultural appeal, and see the first paragraph again.
And have you seen the pinball news TWD Pro review Pro out last month? Very positive. http://www.pinballnews.com/games/walkingdead/index5.html