Seems like the OP of this thread really loved this machine in his first post, i for one could care less about beating the machine i just enjoy it for what it is. Maybe he just likes the beauty of the machine and unique ramps and shots. So MK6PIN play one a little longer and make your own choice on this one.

Good players will bore quickly with TOTAN. Perhaps one of the nicest cabinets and best themes in pinball history but the game code itself is just too shallow. It's just shoot the gold inserts mode after mode. I would say 30 plays are exciting. Not a great return for the money IMO.

Yeah, whatever. I've played plenty of EMs in my time and they all blow. I could eat a ham sandwich and drink a friggin' coke between shots. You must be old as dirt to defend those dog pins so ardently. Stroke this.

Hey Larry, pinchamp summarized why the pin bores me..."It's just shoot the gold inserts mode after mode." The ease of getting to the wizard mode isn't a big deal to me either. Still worth having in a larger collection...

I love mine. Add a sub to it. Color it up with LEDs. Get the scimitar topper and play it in the dark. The lightning flsshes just add to the overall effect.

It's a great game.

I think thats typical of all games in the secondary market that are high priced.

I guess if you liked it the first time you played it then you are at better odds for liking it than those that didn't.

Yeah, and I've played most every DMD game and this one blows. In fact there are Sega games that are better.

And GLWT!

I really am enjoying this Cap'n Navidad vs O-din battle, lots of witty quips being slung around

Btw is this the only pinball game with a...

Argh I can't figure out how to spoiler tag

Thank you Cornelious

Lucious.jpg

Looks awesome ! Gameplay is a turd !

TOTAN is a fun game IMO, and it is beautiful in pretty much all aspects (cabinet, playfield, translight, dots - especially with ColorDMD). The sound is great too. I especially love the sitar that plays the bonus countdown (it's possibly my favorite bonus countdown ever). However...

I've heard on more than one occasion that the machine was developed with rules in mind for newbs, to try to win new fans over to pinball. I suspect that this is the reason for the audio help constantly being offered, and the ease in making it through some modes, including the ability to wish modes away. I suspect that the easy rules are what kept the machine at its $3,000-$3,500 price tag for so long while people were going nuts over MM before the remakes hit. TOTAN didn't really take off in value until it just seemingly exploded in value 2-3 years ago (I suppose with every other pin too, now that I think about it). I feel it was fairly priced before this latest value explosion for the fun it offers and the entire beautiful package that comes along with it.

I bought the game when it was a lot more rationally priced because for just over 3 grand you got a game where you can battle a big blue genie at home in your gameroom, and that seemed kind of unique and fun. Now that it's worth twice as much, at these elevated prices I think I'd buy a lot of other games before TOTAN. I don't want to sell it to profit on this new found value because I really do like it, and when you want to battle a big blue genie and rescue a princess in your gameroom, there's really no other choice. I'm also holding out hope (but not holding my breath) that Rick will someday have someone revisit a bunch of rulesets on these classic Williams/Bally games.

TOTAN is just like Monster Bash to me. I love them both, as long as they are in other peoples houses. They can't stand up to playing over and over, but they are a blast in the short term. If you have a huge collection, they are great. In smaller collections they wear out their welcome.

This. TOTAN could be a lot better if the game didn't allow you to collect jewels/beat the modes via one scoop shot for each and every mode. Snoozer!

TOTAN could really use the CCC treatment. It's just too easy to beat up. I owned one about a year and did enjoy it.

TOTAN is a beautiful game and a very fun pin but like all mode based pinball machines which tend to be the early 90's to present, not all but most will get boring fast, they tend to be kinda easy and once you finish the wizard mode several times then the fun dissipates and either you have enough cash and space to keep these games untouched for months or years then re visit or you sell them for new pins. I mean all games can get boring but I've found that the 80's pins are better keepers due to simple rules and quicker games, on average. JMO mind you and I have gone through the best of the 90's DMD's and Sterns, all gone. Fire power, not going anywhere.

This game reminds me of an ex girlfriend I use to have; a 3 dressed up like a 9

So is the shit coming from stern.

Sounds like my ex also. Except I could never put her on free play.

Yes it is amazing. It would hold up well in a collection of 2+ games. Need a mix of hard vs easy games to offer variety! The game is on my must buy list! Hoping pps remakes it.

So some people love it , and some people don't.

Like every other game ever made.

Sorry OP, you'll just have to decide for yourself.

TOTAN isn't worthy of carrying MB's jock strap.

I don't know why so many are dumping on TOTAN. I've only played a few games on one and can say that it's hardly the worst game out there that some make it out to be. It's a great game with a cool original theme, great art, great sound, fun toys, and fun shots. Best ever - no. Plenty of fun games have shallow rules so that's hardly a reason to poop on a game. It's not worth the going price for me but I would say that about a lot of top rated older pins.

I see it this way: TOTAN is my nice friend who tells me I'm smart and good at the things I do. After I've been beaten up by the two mean girls (FT and TZ) I come running back to TOTAN to be reminded that I don't fail at life and can in fact play pinball.

If TOTAN was a $4K or less game I'd be all over it and would love to have it in my line-up, I think it's an absolutely beautiful piece of artwork. However, at the prices TOTAN is selling for these days it just doesn't have the same value as other pins in that price range - - at that level a game not only needs to have an incredible art package like TOTAN but also the lasting playability (deep rule sets, many multiball modes, challenging Wizard modes, great audio call outs and music, etc.). I can say it was one of my favorite games as a novice player.

You beat wizard mode the first time you played it. Doubt it. I have owned the game for a while and each time I get to wizard mode it kicks my ass with no auto ball launch. I can never seems to beat the genie. I'm not the best player but definitely not the worst. TOTAN is one the games that just keeps calling back for some more after every game. Yes I have to much money in it. It's to expensive. But I know it will boot up rather then a new in box stern

I got the wizard mode on location and had no idea what to do. It lasted about 10 seconds.

The game isn't really that easy to beat, but then I've seen how some of you setup your games at home. Tight outlanes...extra balls at three replay points...five balls...and then games are too easy and shallow.

right exactly all my games are on factory default.

Great sounds/audio If I could find one reasonably priced I would buy it... but that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Would be nice to see them remake TOTAN and add some deeper rules.... I would be in for that.

I think AFM is next on the docket, but they are remaking MM, why do AFM, they are fairly similar... go for something different like TOTAN,

Any recommendations?

TOTAN.....It's not a bad game but it's not a great one either. It looks great.

And that's why it gets the "haters" because it's priced too high for what you get (IMHO). For me TOTAN is a top 50 pin (not top 12) and I'd consider one around $3500 but nothing more. So I'll never own one and could really care less about that.

If you are a relatively good player, you aren't going to like TOTAN for long. It looks fabulous, but the rules are a little weak sauce after a bit. It becomes easy to beat, with a very weak wizard mode, and a flaw that keeps it out of tournament play.

Yes, most definitely.

Standard setting the Wizard mode is pretty easy. As said above it's a great looking/sounding game, maybe the best DMD ever, but it's more a show piece than a play piece. So yes, it's worth it on Pinside

I don't know why everyone thinks they're right, even with limited knowledge on a subject

This! Yeah, the price is insane. It is a great game for beginners and is what got me into pinball.

I don't doubt that at all. I'm not an "A" player, but I'd beat the genie at least 2/3rds of every game when I played mine. And I set all my games to papa/tournament mode: no extra balls, wide outlanes, etc. TOTAN was just too easy. Just wish I would have held on to it longer for the price inflation to catch up....

This is a great idea. How about TOTAN 2.0 in the same manner that Dutch Pinball is releasing BOP 2.0?

My statement is true and it was on factory settings 3 ball play. I had no idea what I was doing and then the wizard mode was finished. I am not saying TOTAN is a bad game, it's just not a game for me. For those new to pinball or not the best player it is a good choice. If you love the game....great. I like the anticipation and excitement of trying to get to the wizard mode and beating it. I own Shadow for 15 years and have beaten it once. Will never forget how awesome that experience was hearing the final quote. Beating TOTAN felt like the victory was given to me.

I "beat" the wizard mode on AFM and Shadow the first time I ever played them. Doesn't mean the games suck.

Quite right but it does affect its longevity, after a long game, yeah a very fun game and completion of the wizard mode it kinda kills the desire to replay. I played the shit out of my AFM and one night finally finished the game, sold it within 2 weeks.

Had TOTAN for three months. Sold it and do not miss it. It is a cool game and the art is fantastic. The shots are limited and one ramp kills it long term.

It's already been discussed, with FH 2, TOM 2, and CV 2. IMO, FH is solid as is, and is a classic, CV is weak until you get to the great wizard mode that changes the second time you get there, if you can, and TOM, is a little boring in the wizard, but all in all a much better package than TOTAN, rules wise. TOTAN with a rule update could be a super pin.

I played it a bunch on pinmame thought it was one of my favs. But I played one at a show and first game I reached 2nd grand champion or something. Seemed way to easy. Way different in person.
It still has some neat features and the end of ball bonus sounds and lights are perfect.
Oh but it is a JPop game. I do not want it in my house now anyhow. Just bad karma.
It would throw anyones Feng shui down the pooper.

+1. I don't find myself playing my TOTAN all that frequently, but when I do finally step up and play it, I have such a great time that it reminds me exactly why it is such a strong keeper. To me, TOTAN is just a different kind of pin and even though it's one that I'm sure won't appeal to everybody, mine will not be leaving any time soon.
~Steveo

I used to enjoy TOTAN. Now the very site of a Jpop game fills me with the urge to defecate.