I played both the Pro and the Premium at EAG this week. For context, I was looking forward to this game - being 32 the TV show was a bit before my time so I don’t have any particular affinity to the theme, but I think that fun/campy horror works well with pinball so I was optimistic.

Unfortunately, I was totally underwhelmed and my first impression is that this is quite easily the weakest Stern in recent memory. I’m not a particularly great player and I had Munster Madness lit by the end of the first ball on my very first game - I started it immediately on ball two and then was left wondering what to do when it was over. I didn’t find the ‘journey’ to get to the mode particularly exciting or rewarding, so just doing it over again with more shots required didn’t really appeal. Felt like I saw most of what the game had to offer after 10 minutes, and didn’t find any of the modes particularly fun or inspiring. The layout isn’t particularly novel or satisfying to shoot apart from the ramps which are pretty great - very satisfying to hit and I love the 180 degree flip on the right ramp, which I hope we see again on another game in the future.

The Premium is a good looking machine even if the B&W doesn’t look quite as striking in person as it does in the promo pics. I do like the colour GI effects with the B&W art. The lower playfield just isn’t fun to play and from my perspective actively takes away from the game, but then again I felt the same about Stewie Pinball on Family Guy so if you were a fan of that you’ll probably enjoy it. Seeing as this is the only differentiating feature between the Pro and the Premium I would absolutely go with the Pro if the game was better, but at this point I’m just not interested in the slightest.

Ironically, I wasn’t that interested in The Beatles but enjoyed it much, much more than The Munsters. If they weren’t so expensive over here I may be tempted by one.

It’s possible the the environment played a part - it was on a trade show floor so very bright which may not have done the B&W any favours. I’d like to see it in a dark room, may change my thoughts.

I don’t think every game has to be incredibly deep, but I just don’t think that what is there is much fun. There’s nothing really special or unique in the game. It just felt too familiar and uninspired. I wanted to like it but can’t imagine it not getting old very quickly.

Unfortunately I’m not alone in my thoughts here - I didn’t really hear any positive comments about it from those playing, and on the UK pinball forum most people who played it at EAG have shared similar thoughts. The only game I enjoyed less at the show was Thunderbirds.

I mean it’s clearly in a different league to Thunderbirds. I played that out or morbid curiosity and was actively disappointed when I got an extra ball. The Munsters was good enough to play a few games at least but it didn’t draw me back. I just meant I enjoyed literally every other game at the show apart from Thunderbirds more than The Munsters - when you compare what you get with the LE compared to JJP POTC at around the same price it’s just crazy.