JP vs LOTR is a tough one but I give the edge to LOTR due to having far more licensed assets including actor audio from all 3 films plus custom callouts from 2 of the films actors. Meanwhile JP callouts from non movie actors are just middle of the road.

LOTR playfield weak? Have to disagree there. LOTR has a rather fast and unique playfield design. Also, LOTR has two shots (really 3) that are hidden shots that are controlled by mechs. Those 3 shots are the the balrog moving to reveal the ramp, the divertor that reveals a shot to the Path of the Dead VUK, and the ring magnet that creates a shot during Destroy the Ring. Having mechs that reveal a hidden shot is always a big plus for a game in my opinion.

Also, a vast majority of the callouts in JP are just average due to limited assets and no custom callouts by an actor from the film. Stern created a new story but they also used existing characters in it from the first film and then used outside voice actors to rather poorly replicate the films actors. Stern got not one but two of the actual actors from the Lord of the Films to provide custom callouts. It's a shame Stern couldn't have hired at least Wayne Knight for custom callouts. With that being said JP is an excellent pin, I just don't think as an entire package it's as good as LOTR

I think that right there is why I need to get a JP premium. I'm always searching for pins that offers a LOTR style ruleset, not many pins have successfully pulled it off as well since LOTR was released.

Calling up my cousin who has owned LOTR for 10+ years with 6,000+ games on it to vote for LOTR lol.

"Navi Ball!" Ugh

Another thing that's pretty cool about LOTR is the Gift of the Elves feature for beating modes. A vast majority of pins don't have a reward system for beating modes (or its just something rather dull like a medal) beyond wizard mode progression. The Gift of the Elves feature is a cool hook that keeps players coming back as it creates a game within a game, just like the games layered multiballs and wizard modes. The layering and multiple stages in modes combined with great choreography is something that rarely exists in other games.

For those that have played a good amount of JP and LOTR does JP offer similar objective based main modes, layered multiballs and wizard modes or is the game more points focused versus being on a journey? I'm curious as I've been considering picking up a JP Premium but haven't played a lot of games on it. In LOTR there are the 6 or so main modes that use the entire playfield well, the 3 movie multiballs that each have various the stages, there's a reward system for beating modes (Gift of the Elves), and of course multiple layered wizard modes. I've read that JP has multiple wizard modes which is great to hear.

Thanks!

Thanks!