Which one would you rather have?
(Topic ID: 48025)
Linked Games
Lord of the Rings
Stern, 2003-
Monster Bash
Williams, 1998
Saddle River, NJ
Calgary, AB
I think if I was to own only one game it would be LOTR. So much to do.
Used to own both, now just MB.
I love both machines, and both are all time greats. After awhile, however, you may find yourself not playing LOTR very often due to the long ball times. IIRC there are 9 factory EB's in LOTR. When friends come over to play and if you all start a 4 player game and know how to play, that's your entire night. The game you want to have on LOTR is a 1.5 hr game. So often, you'll pass it over, just not wanting to invest that much time in almost getting there, and play other machines. It's a great machine, and one I may own again, but with limited room, and after achieving Valinor in a really long game, I found myself not firing it up as much and wanting a change.
LOTR is a great machine to own in the right collection, and half the price of MB as well. MB is great anywhere, any time, in any collection, and never ever gets old for me.
Quoted from mechslave:Used to own both, now just MB.
I love both machines, and both are all time greats. After awhile, however, you may find yourself not playing LOTR very often due to the long ball times. IIRC there are 9 factory EB's in LOTR. When friends come over to play and if you all start a 4 player game and know how to play, that's your entire night. The game you want to have on LOTR is a 1.5 hr game. So often, you'll pass it over, just not wanting to invest that much time in almost getting there, and play other machines. It's a great machine, and one I may own again, but with limited room, and after achieving Valinor in a really long game, I found myself not firing it up as much and wanting a change.
LOTR is a great machine to own in the right collection, and half the price of MB as well. MB is great anywhere, any time, in any collection, and never ever gets old for me.
Be careful Propaganda will come along and ask to see your LOTR audits to verify the long ball times in LOTR. (:
I like both but MB for me.
MB may be one of the best games- ever. Go for it! Hard to find around me!
Quoted from smassa:Be careful Propaganda will come along and ask to see your LOTR audits to verify the long ball times in LOTR. (:
You haven't ignored him yet?
Quoted from smassa:Be careful Propaganda will come along and ask to see your LOTR audits
Its close but, I have to go with LOTR. Just an epic game.
The ironic thing about both games is that if you're a good player, they can both suck the life out of you. MB because it's too easy, and LOTR because it's too long. MB is a very pretty game with great toys, but after you play it a while it seems like you can make it deep into the game every single time. High on fun, not as much on challenge. LOTR is the opposite, I find the fun factor somewhat low but the challenge factor is ridiculous. Of the two, I'd rather have LOTR over MB for the challenge, I'd rather be getting cramps and being exhausted over bored in the long run.
Quoted from mechslave:Used to own both, now just MB.
I love both machines, and both are all time greats. After awhile, however, you may find yourself not playing LOTR very often due to the long ball times. IIRC there are 9 factory EB's in LOTR. When friends come over to play and if you all start a 4 player game and know how to play, that's your entire night. The game you want to have on LOTR is a 1.5 hr game. So often, you'll pass it over, just not wanting to invest that much time in almost getting there, and play other machines. It's a great machine, and one I may own again, but with limited room, and after achieving Valinor in a really long game, I found myself not firing it up as much and wanting a change.
LOTR is a great machine to own in the right collection, and half the price of MB as well. MB is great anywhere, any time, in any collection, and never ever gets old for me.
This is why I turn off the extra balls, and open up the out lanes. If you play an hour and a half game on my LOTR your a freak of nature. I did this a while back so that I would not bore myself of the game.
Quoted from PEN:This is why I turn off the extra balls, and open up the out lanes. If you play an hour and a half game on my LOTR your a freak of nature. I did this a while back so that I would not bore myself of the game.
So you are saying you want it so you have no chance of ever seeing the Wizard mode ever?
Quoted from smassa:So you are saying you want it so you have no chance of ever seeing the Wizard mode ever?
Not at all. I can move the outlanes back and change the extra ball at anytime. I changed the settings 2 years ago before a league night at my house, and I have enjoyed it set up this way since. I may change my mind and want to try and get to the elusive end, but for now I like the challenge of just destroying the ring in its current set up.
Quoted from PEN:Not at all. I can move the outlanes back and change the extra ball at anytime. I changed the settings 2 years ago before a league night at my house, and I have enjoyed it set up this way since. I may change my mind and want to try and get to the elusive end, but for now I like the challenge of just destroying the ring in its current set up.
Fair enough.
Brisbane
For gameplay and rules, definitely lotr. But Monster Bash has the superior art package, and humor. Zero humor with lotr, that game is dead serious at all times.
Wow... I can't believe this poll is this close.
I have both, but there is no comparison whatsoever - LOTR is a serious epic battle. MB is good fun, but doesn't have the play value LOTR - not by a long shot.
In considering though, people that aren’t that good may find MB more fun, as LOTR is a long journey that requires skill. If you are a casual player, and like shorter games, and don’t care to get into deep rules, MB may be the better machine for you.
Given you have one machine, and I’m assuming are contemplating a trade, LOTR offers much more as a single machine than MB.
I'm curious why people find LOTR 'so deep'
Besides trying to battle for valinor... what's so complex?
Keep your multiplier up during multi-ball...
get golum before big mode or multiball...
stack a mode with a multiball to help with some modes..
try to finish modes for elf gift and battle for valinor
Two modes are combo modes.. everything else is just shoot all lit shots.
Besides battling for valinor... and collecting human rings (for golum) there is little 'setup' for the big payoff. You can just slug your way through it with largely the same result.
What am I missing that everyone finds so mystic about it?
Disclaimer - I own the game so this isn't some random bash.
I like that in MB you have the stacking... the mosh pit as a good twist... and the 'big payoff' where you are being selective in when you start modes to get the best chance of completion and payoff towards Monsters of Rock.
Certainly the 'award' shots in MB are simple as well... hit the character again.. but completing the modes is so much more worth it (compared to trying to reach the impossible valinor).
What am I missing?
I just sold my LOTR. My original intentions were that I'd pick up another, nicer one in the coming years, but after some more thought and some final plays, I think I've decided not to replace it. It just feels way too tedious. Not only are the ball times long, they NEED to be long because it just takes so damn long to complete everything. Nothing like having a *bad* 30+ minute game.
Cheated to get to Valinor, it wasn't impressive in the slightest. Just a big point multiball with boring music and no sound effects or new dots. Meh.
Quoted from flashburn:Cheated to get to Valinor, it wasn't impressive in the slightest. Just a big point multiball with boring music and no sound effects or new dots. Meh.
That means nothing to me as I know with my skills I will never see Valinor so, I basically put it out of my mind that it even exists. I shoot for DTR and TABA, those 2 goals alone keep me coming back for more.
Quoted from flynnibus:I'm curious why people find LOTR 'so deep'
Besides trying to battle for valinor... what's so complex?
Keep your multiplier up during multi-ball...
get golum before big mode or multiball...
stack a mode with a multiball to help with some modes..
try to finish modes for elf gift and battle for valinor
Two modes are combo modes.. everything else is just shoot all lit shots.
Besides battling for valinor... and collecting human rings (for golum) there is little 'setup' for the big payoff. You can just slug your way through it with largely the same result.
What am I missing that everyone finds so mystic about it?
Disclaimer - I own the game so this isn't some random bash.
I like that in MB you have the stacking... the mosh pit as a good twist... and the 'big payoff' where you are being selective in when you start modes to get the best chance of completion and payoff towards Monsters of Rock.
Certainly the 'award' shots in MB are simple as well... hit the character again.. but completing the modes is so much more worth it (compared to trying to reach the impossible valinor).
What am I missing?
There can be big payoffs in LOTR, but it isn't nearly as intense as other stacking games like BSD, IM, etc. I find that even if you setup things you don't even notice how many points you're scoring due to trying to concentrate on the multiball and it just sort of 'happens'. It's not nearly the stacking machine that TSPP is (which I find to best overall stacking machine in pinball today) but it does have a lot of different cool modes that are fun to play.
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