A number of JJP pins are now filled with modes that stack upon each other, sometimes with little mode choreography, versus dedicated standalone modes. Gameplay becomes so layered with multiple modes being stacked that it makes it difficult to focus and really enjoy any of them. Also, many of these modes have become rather generic, "Super Loops", "Super Spinners", "Super Pops", and the worst among them all IMO the "Shoot Everything" modes (GNR and Toy Story have them). It's just odd and not really fun to have a "Shoot Everything" mode playing along side a "Super Spinners" mode, what's the point? This complaint is something I had with Stern games for a while but IMO they are now creating more objective / story based rulesets with dedicated modes versus the latest JJP's.
Myself and others understand that mode stacking is normal but at least make the primary modes more interesting and objective / story based. Take The Hobbit for example which has 30 book modes that each have their own music, mode choreography, and shot requirements. Those modes can be enjoyed alone or you can choose to stack it with others. Dialed In has a similar type of main mode design in that they are these dedicated experiences. Gun's n Roses and Pirates on the other hand are filled with dozens of main generic based modes that nearly all play the same. Same goes for the multiball's.
The exception, and this is something JJP has done very well, is the standalone JJP mini wizard and super wizard modes. Battle the Wicked Witch, the 3 Arkenstone mini wizards modes in Hobbit, the 3 album mini wizard modes in GNR, Wonka's office, and the mini wizard modes in Pirates are all great examples of dedicated standalone modes. All of those modes bring me back to the feeling of playing the main movie multiballs and wizard modes in Lord of the Rings, a pin considered by many as offering the best story based ruleset. Those are the types of modes that keep me coming back for another game. More of those types of modes and gameplay elements from them would be great to see incorporated into primary rulesets.
Overall the more generic type modes with all of them stacking on top of each other lack moments. Personally I find the 8 episode modes in Stern's TMNT more interesting then any of the main modes in Pirates, Wonka, Toy Story, and GNR. Why? It's not because I'm not having fun in those games it's just the moments and mode choreography of a story based mode are more fun to play IMO.
Does anyone else feel similar?
