The playfield artwork features different year Mustangs (between all 3 models), but the playfield features are exactly the same. So far all Premiums and LEs have shared playfield features...it's the pro that is stripped down. Mustang has continued that, but for the first time features different art.

I also hope to have a Boss in the basement someday, though I wouldn't say no to an LE and might consider a pro if a great deal on one pops up. I love the artwork on all three, but the LE cabinet is definitely my least favorite. The pro cab is gorgeous, but I really like the playfield extras on the prem/LEs. Translites are awesome on all 3...no bad choice there. Boss is probably my favorite total package though.

Are you going to go with a dark green powder coat too? That could be sweet! Not sure how that would match up with the cab art though.

Total thread hi-jack here, but if any of you guys are getting sick of riding your pony and want to trade for a Star Trek premium (with Aurich translite/decals), please let me know! Boss and LE especially wanted, but willing to discuss a pro + cash/second machine.

If anyone near WI with a pro is thinking about upgrading to a prem/LE, let me know. I'd love to take your pro off your hands to help you do that...

I like that the turntable makes every letter into something like a mini-hurry-up. If I had the extra, I'd go for the LE. But on this title, I think I would be just fine with the pro.

I'd say it is complete. I haven't noticed anything missing. Silverball Stampede final wizard mode is well thought out, fully animated, and can actually be beaten (did it with the glass off while figuring out song requests). It's very hard to get to, but not impossible (see below). Drift is a fantastic and unique mini-wizard mode which can be gotten to regularly, but isn't a given...exactly how a mini-wizard should be in my opinion. Upgrade scoring and upgrade multiball are great "bonus modes" separate from the main modes and can almost be looked at as mini-wizards as well. I've only hit upgrade multiball once and it's tough to do well in. Great stuff.

I would personally like to see a few more animations during the modes (some modes like Cruisin seem a little light on them...), but in no way would I say they seem incomplete. All modes are diverse and well thought out with great rules, humor, sounds, and music (especially when adding your own). The animations that are there are great...even Steve Ritchie makes a cameo. It seems pretty well balanced in difficulty, other than the second level of the Cruisin mode which is way more difficult to complete than all the rest. 3 times now that has been all to stop me from hitting Silverball Stampede. It is definitely doable though...nothing like IM with Do or Die Multiball where it is completely out of reach.

It also has multiple great skill shots...a "sneak-in" style needing a perfect plunge, and two choices for the "left button hold full plunge" style...either hit the scoop for big points or hit a roving drop for either big points or at best, points PLUS two gears. Tough and fun.

There are 5 different multiballs (6 if you count the wizard mode!), all with unique requirements and good rules. There are some similarities between a couple of them, but they each have their own feel. All pump the adrenaline, especially with a custom soundtrack (though stock really isn't bad itself).

Fantastic game...way deeper than I imagined before getting it.

Loaded question. In all honesty you are putting what MOST people consider three of Stern's best against what MOST people consider one of Stern's weakest. I am heavily biased to Mustang as I love the theme, think it is one of the best looking games ever, and really enjoy the unique layout. I will also freely admit that I am still in the honeymoon stage with mine, but I can't see my opinion of it diminishing at this point. I love everything about it, but I can understand why many do not enjoy it as much.

My personal opinion is Mustang walks all over AC/DC. No one will agree with me, but it's my opinion, LOL! That game just doesn't grab me all that much even though I enjoy the music and love Ritchie games in general. I just do not understand that love it gets. But that's just me.

TWD...that's a closer one. I am not all that familiar with the rules, but I know it is very deep with some pretty interesting/unique stuff going on. I love the theme, but do not find it to be a very attractive looking machine...just very...brownish, LOL. That's not really a knock on the game as it hits the theme well, but compared to Mustang it just isn't as nice looking in my eyes. I also kind of hate how the well walker looks...just a big turn off for some reason. I mean, I love zombies and all, but that dude is just ugly, and not in a good way. It is a unique layout that is a lot of fun to shoot, and the translate/cabinet are great looking. Even though it may not tie directly to the show's characters well, it hits the overall zombie outbreak feel pretty well. Overall, great game and very high on my wish list, but not up there with Mustang to me. That's subject to change with more plays and understanding of the rules though.

Metallica...that's pretty much a tie for me and if I'm being 100% honest I would probably have to say Metallica is the better game once my honeymoon with Mustang wears off. Metallica just has that something special where everything comes together perfectly. I love the theme and music, the artwork is possibly the best ever, the layout is nearly perfect, and the software is awesome. It is definitely #1 on my wish list and once finances allow, I will have one. Mustang is definitely a "lighter/brighter" game while Metallica is more "heavy/dark"...if that makes any sense? Metallica is more intense while Mustang is easier going...that might be a better way to put it (although you can make Mustang feel more intense depending on your custom music choices for sure). They are a pretty good contrast to each other actually, but both can be very fast and adrenaline pumping.

Again, these are only my opinions and I realize not too many people would agree with me (especially about AC/DC).

I'd go with a colordmd in that case. Odds are it will be colorized eventually and should be awesome!

I agree. The software is very good as-is, so it's probably wishful thinking, but I would like to see one final polish. The most obvious update would be to dial down the difficulty in Cruisin 2. As it sits, that mode is way too hard to complete compared to everything else in the game. I think it should be brought down to hit each shot in order, then MAYBE one strobing shot to complete. As it is now I think there are 3 or 4 roving shots moving faster each time (AFTER the ordered shots!). It's just way too much compared to the rest, especially since that's just the second part of a two part mode. I'm ok with it being two part (even though that's a little weird compared to the rest), but it really needs to be balanced then. This has been the only mode keeping me from Silverball Stampede at least a half a dozen times. Not cool.

The only other thing I can really think of is adding more animations. The ones that are there are fantastic, but it's definitely light overall. There is way too often that I glance up to see simple text naming the mode I am in rather than a nice animation. There should at least be a "generic" animation for each mode that plays when none of the other animations are going. See TWD as a good example. I never look up to see BARN displayed...it's always walker shuffling out of a barn until something else is triggered.

I'd also love to see them make a separate song request for Gear Shift multiball and Drag Race multiball (I think the prem/LE already has them separated). Go ahead and keep the same music for them if it's a music rights thing, but have two different requests so we can change them separately with the browser. I'd love to have my Drag Race music continue once the multiball portion starts instead of switching to the GS multiball music. But, that's a pretty minor request in the scheme of things.

These few tweaks would really put this great game over the top. But even if it never has another update, it's pretty darn good as-is. One of my all time favorites!

The Shelby was a nice upgrade...looks great!

Hey Hooked...quick question about your tach since this reminded me to ask you. Should the tach bounce with a hit to the bottom pop bumper as well as the spinner? Mine does. It's never really bothered me, but seems like it might be wrong. Works perfectly with the spinner, but with some additional action from the pops. Ever see that before?

Great mod either way though!

Cool...thanks. That makes sense. Doesn't bother me, but wanted to make sure I didn't have something hooked up wrong. Thanks!

Holy balls...after owning it for about 3 years now, I finally got to Silverball Stampede! What a great mode! I even managed to complete it. Very cool with the multiple stages, and without spoiling it, the end stage was freaking awesome! With an external sub and shaker, the machine was going absolutely NUTS. Definitely one of my favorite wizard modes now...so crazy. Love this machine!

I still think Cruisin' 2 should have the difficulty dialed down a bit. That has been the only thing stopping me from SS many times. Tonight was finally my night though, and I managed through it with a double danger and a pure luck hit on the final roving shot. Had to play SS with my fingertips to avoid tilting, LOL!

I need a nap now!

LCD for sure. The LED ones eat into my brain. The only reason I am not looking forward to the color DMD is because it will be another to add to my already huge wishlist!

Mustang is probably the #1 most underrated game of all time. Everyone who has actually played mine with an open mind has ended up surprised by it. Unique layout, very diverse, deep and fun ruleset, humor, amazing art (if you like the theme), crazy speed, etc. It has it all!

Oh that is gorgeous. That body style has been growing on me over the years, and this one is a perfect example why! Awesome!

Can't think of much I would change really, other than make Cruisin 2 a bit easier. As it is it almost falls into roadblock category. In the years I have owned the machine I have only beaten it once to move on to Silverball Stampede (which is amazing by the way). Probably 50 times I have had everything else complete but couldn't get past C2. They should have left it at each shot in order without the roving shots after...or maybe just one roving shot. As it is I think it's every shot in order, then 3 or 4 roving shots, each one moving faster. The last one is a bear and always gets me.

Other than that, more animations is really my biggest wish. A few modes, like Cruisin, just do not have many animations. I do not like looking up during the mode and just seeing text on the display. A couple more would go a long way.

I'd also really like them to allow for different songs between Gear Shift multiball and Drag Race multiball on the pro, but I understand that is an LE thing. I'd be fine if they could keep the same song between them in the stock code, but have different addresses so two different ones could be modded, but I'm sure there isn't a prayer of that happening. Then again I do not mind too much hearing Kickstart My Heart for both of them...

Mustang Color DMD will be coming.

I find the LED version too harsh and hard on the eyes, especially in a dark/dim environment. I also like the options the LCD version gives, even though I usually end up sticking with normal dots. LCD for me.

Any pics of art blades installed? Only ones I have seen installed are the desert scene, which doesn't do it for me. If anyone has the Tilt Graphics or Retro Refurbs versions installed, I would love to see some pics!

Answered my own question and took a chance on the Tilt Graphics Raceway set. I wasn’t sure from the pics, and couldn’t find any installed pics. Glad I took the chance because I LOVE them!

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Finally finished? Looking great!

yes