Houdini is a great game and better than IJTPA in my opinion. A lot of whining about tight shots, post hits and rejected shots and geometry. Every single shot can be made from the flippers so this geometry argument is halarious. Just words.

Now let’s take Indiana Jones where there are many many similarities. I’ll argue that the widebody frame that IJ is sitting in is wasted with only 7 real shots. The whole left side of the main playfield could have had another lane or even a cross shot to a subway. That’s another matter though. My point being that the playable area width is nearly identical or close to it. (Actually IJs is narrower than Houdini by quite a bit). The captive ball shot is nearly identical to the stage shot in length, angle and width. IJs right orbit shot is as tight, pop bumpers are pretty much in the same place and very little goes on there besides Indy rollovers. The shot behind the 3 drop target bank frequently gets rejected as well as the mode shot where people have had to modify it with foam and other things. The post hits in IJ are like skipping a rock off a pond where you hit multiples and at least Houdini lets you score points and advance a mode with the posts.

I find Houdini leaps and bounds more interesting yet Indy sits in the top 10. Maybe more that it’s a pop culture icon than a good pinball? Don’t even get me started on the disapointment that is AFM.

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Iron Maiden is a copy of Twilight zone. The only difference being where TZ has subway shots iron maiden has ramps. Other than that, they are halariously similar. Where as Houdini is quite original. Prove me wrong.