Quoted from Taygeta:Put up a decent score today and got 4 of the 6 gems and reached Black Order multiball for the first time in a month or so.
I can’t put my finger on why, but when I reach comparably difficult mini wizard/longer reaching goals like Horde on TWD, Team Up on TMNT 2M2M/Cyborg on IMDN or Destroy the Ring on LOTR, threes a sense of accomplishment with sound effects/music tracks/light shows exclusive to that mode and some kind of awareness you’re in a fairly difficult mode to get to.
Black Order is worth big points, but the music, sound effects etc...nothing is different and it doesn’t feel like an accomplishment to get there, when it should be, as you’re one set of Avengers away from getting to the final wizard mode, Battle Thanos.
I know this is a super minor complaint, I just feel like the big things I look for in a pin (layout, code) are phenomenal in AIQ, but the speech, music, graphics and details are lacking.
Couldn't agree with you more.
The game is awesome and very complete rules wise. It just lacks a bit of polish to the presentation at times.
The specialness of a mini wizard mode needs to be celebrated. And it can be done in many ways (color changing lighting, dimmed lighting, epic sound effects, tense music, unique call outs, and mechanically).
Think of the great modes in games like you mentioned.
The flashing lighting in Winter has Come in GOT makes you feel like you are in a snow storm. Just perfect theme integration.
Love the GI lighting effects in Fade to Black and Enter Sandman modes in Metallica. Plus the "Jack F#ckin' Pot!" makes me smile every single time.
In Star Wars, Dwight does a great job of making Escape from Boba Fett feel completely different from Lightsaber Duel and battling the Emperor just through GI lighting. Also, its so smart to hold the ball on the last shot to destroy the death star to get the big payoff on the LE / premium.
Horde is amazing because of the dark pulsing lighting that is matched to the sound effects. It actually builds tension.
Destroy the Ring is great for many reasons - the tense unique music with the "grunt" and yelling call outs that make you feel like you are battling Gollum. And I absolutely love the payoff of all the mechanisms firing after you complete the mode. There is ZERO doubt that you finished the mode and it feels great.
Its all the little things in these modes that makes them feel special. For those of us who play pinball for the modes and completion (not points or competition) those are the moments we chase like a drug.
In AIQ, there are modes that lack this polish.
There are times when you complete a gem mode (e.g. in a multiball) and you have no idea that you completed it. This is a decent accomplishment and should have more fanfare. IMO there should be no doubt that you finished the mode (i.e. through a distinctive sound - or at the very least a sound effect that is a lot louder).
The screen display when you start Black Order MB is a bland generic space scene. At the very least show who you are battling.
Another minor nit pick is that there is a great pulsing lighting effect when you start all gem modes EXCEPT for soul gem. Its cool that the lighting goes from blue to green, but then it should pulse green like the other modes.
There are great moments in the game (e.g. the lighting and sound effects in Gamma Ray) but less so in the moments that really deserve it.
I hope they are able / willing to add a few more touches to the game.
Rant over.