Well, since it has been paid for, Stern has started production and I have been promised that it will leave the factory next Friday, I will be so bold as to call myself an owner.

Premature, I know, I know. Still happy

Not likely.

It's a long way from Chicago to Europe.

I have chosen Air Freight, and even that is 10 days.

Edit: But I guess it is possible, if they send the games to Canada at the same time as to Europe

Got the game yesterday.

Nothing new here, but I can confirm that the game is incredibly beautiful, it shoots well, it is fast, I love the shots.

I know this is the same song and dance......but if only Lyman was coding this thing it would have been killer, (in a year or two that is )
Because the Lonnie style is ok if you only have one game with his code on but when you have Kiss, Aerosmith and GOTG next to each other you can really feel the generic coding that he does. Of course this is still early so I am hoping for some refinements in that department.

So far, the quality of the actor callouts does not bother me at all,(not great but better than many other Sterns) but it really needs some dedicated pinball callouts

One thing is certain, the game is more fun that you would believe if you only read the other thread

A review, sort of(pro machine) :

Positive: Fantastic graphics(love the inserts, playfield, backglass and cab) Layout much more intr than I first thought.
I actually like the use of the songs in between modes. You don't hear them enough to get tired of them. With 4 songs and movie theme music, I must say that both music, graphics and layout is really good.
I love the use of the center button and how you light it, and that you can stack free shots. It is a pity that they only seem to give you mode shot or jackpot shots though.
I also love how 2x playfield shots are implemented and how you light those
Groot multiball physical ball lock are fun, also that you must lock 4 balls the second time around. Groot is a damn fine sculpt
The drop target mech is cool (even though it was better used in star trek)

Negative: No interaction sounds and speech with the player, this goes for both video clips and sounds. The slowness of lights changing. Looks like LR likes to just have all inserts go on when things happens and everything is super slow to come back to normal (example of this: when you launch a new ball after a groot lock you can not see the toplane lights before the ball roles through and since this is important in the game it is very irritating, or that you can easily change the mode after the plunge because it is not locked in before you hit a switch. Same goes for scoop reactions when you just have finished a mode, same goes for timers, etc) This can easily be fixed in code though. Hope you are listening Lonnie.
This game, for me, has the least fun modes I have ever played. Probably because they are too long, have no interaction with the player and movie clips on endless repeat. It seems like you just shoot forever and then you go into part 2 of the mode and that is another bunch of almost the same shots. Way to many shots pr mode.
The game also need a bit more that just 2 multiballs, 2 wizard and modes to keep it interesting in the long run(same goes for aerosmith)
I now have 3 resent Lonnie coded games (this, Aero and Kiss) and they all have 2 regular multiballs that are basically the same rules on all three games. Time to change it up a bit, Lonnie?

Maybe a chock to the "where is the kiss code" crowd, but I think Kiss has the best code of the 3 titles. Probably because you have 2 mini wizard modes, an interesting grid, collecting instruments in two fases, and finishing songs is always rewarding since you get 2x, 3x, 4x playfield.

For me, Aerosmith and GOTG are way too similar as of yet. GOTG has the potential to pass aerosmith, though. Thankfully, both of them will get more updates in the near furure, so there is hope for both games

With all that said, I still love playing the game, and with some code improvements it could easily become a stayer

End note: Most fun reward on the pro: Light spinner

The best update this game has had was the latest cleland one. I refuse to update the main code before it has been sprinkled with cleland goodness

The new guys at Stern has really done wonders to the code. I refuse to think that Loonie has had anything to do with it.

Lonnie must be congratulated though. He has not said no to letting the new blood take a crack at making the rules better. And better it has become.

From just another Kiss and Aerosmith, to something that is slowly becoming something special.

Kiss and Aerosmith did not have a long life in my collection, but this one is staying for a long time.