So this post is about a month and a 1/2 in the making but as a LV owner, I wanted to experience this game for a good period of time and report on it. As a reminder, I am a multi time Highway pinball owner and a PB SV owner. As anyone who has paid attention in this hobby for years, I am not a shill and someone that if I had more time, would properly podcast the shit out of this hobby as the phonies are so obvious. But for the many that have pm’d me in the past month or so asking for my opinion on this hobby, I leave you with this very simple reminder. Those that stream pinball all day with an agenda or actually sell pinball machines, look elsewhere for real feedback. Very simple. As I get more time, I’ll look to explore as many have asked for but for now, I’m here to enjoy pinball as much as I can with two kids and a crazy job but nevertheless, this hobby is great and is only getting better so strap in.
Ok - on to my review of Alien LV.
As someone that had the SV, I was expecting some minor issues but I’m happy to report that the ONLY thing I had to fix was the hyper sleep ramp which would stick the ball and had to be adjusted. Meaning, the ball would stick and not move past that curve. The answer? Use your hands to relax the ramps a bit (by pushing outwards) and it’s been perfect since. To summarize, I’ve played this game a ton and after almost two months, absolutely no issues but that. On my SV, I had more, although not game breaking by any means and wouldn’t classify them as anything but minor. I keep on checking this thread and seeing folks ask will they have issues. My answer is there is a chance no doubt but I also feel like many who have experienced no issues or limited are like me and haven’t posted - just keep in mind.
Some key takeaways from my experience, including comparison to SV.
1) No issues at all on the alien tongue. Never had that before including Heighway version. Although the issues would never result in anything but adjustments, not having any was great.
2) Mode start kickback and Mother kickback are perfect. My SV I had to adjust, literally did nothing on this one.
3) The game is much brighter with the side LED art and reminds me of the heighway lit art which was the perfect amount of light for this game. If you’re thinking about getting pinstadiums for this game, look yourself in the mirror, lift your left hand back and then slap yourself bc you’re an IDIOT. Do not ruin this game with them. And this is from someone that has pins on 4 of my games. Not for alien.
4) Top right flipper - more effective on my LV. And GD - those ramps are still the shiniest in the pinball world…..LV or SV.
5). Art, in my opinion, is so much better than SV and it beats the Heighway version. The HW version looks so odd which is something i hated in my line up yet it beat the SV art wise. LV smokes it.
6). Orbits work much better than SV. Again, back to me earlier point about the kick out, PB seems to have learned from SV and tweaked this game much better.
7) They give you an open egg mold as an option to add which I thought was out of the ordinary with this day and age of pinball. Good job PB.
8 Topper - this one is tough. I like the look of the smaller siren lights but ultimately I might go back old school Heighway.
9). Feel - the LV flipper feel is better than SV. Again, I was early on SV so maybe this changed with the SVs later but there is no doubt they tweaked the system and it feels much better than my SV.
….prob more but let me summarize that I am grateful for PB bringing this classic back. For me, I never had game breaking issues with HW version….I just always worried b/c the company is gone so what would I do if an IO board or something else went. With PB, that is no longer and issue. As an IJTPA owner, I can tell you this game has much more flow and feels like a standard or ala JJP POTC, which I used to own . I would keep it over my Godzilla LE and not think twice. It is a beast and I’m excited for others to experience it.
PB needs to get more respect in this hobby btw. They just get games built and ship them. So much drama about others that promise and get to you a year later. PB is doing it and keeping their head down. Chris - keep note.
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