Godzilla & Star Wars

What is the difference between Star Wars pro and premium anyway?

Thanks!

Godzilla
Jurassic Park
Deadpool
Stranger Things
Mandolorian
Munsters
Rush

Hyperloop which is really cool but I personally don't need it. Also shooter lane ball feed.

Rush below Munsters pro?!

Metal habitrals vs plastic.
Moving ramp to exploding death star.
Hyperloop. A giant metal loop around the entire playfield that shoots the ball around.
Physical ball save
Art

To each there own. I personally am not a fan of either, but play on both in a local league. Munsters is more approachable than Rush. Rush is deeper. Munsters is a better shooter for an average player in my opinion.

Out of these, I’d say you miss the least with Deadpool, Stranger Things, and Rush as far as pro versus premium.

JP
Maiden
GZ
DP
SW
Stranger Things

Jurassic park for me. Though it would be maiden, not on your list

I own GZ pro and have access to a HOU GZ LE, I do not think anyone is missing out that much between the two versions.

Yes the building and bridge mech are gone, but I feel like the flow is as good if not better on the pro (bring on the hate lol).

On that list I’d go…

GZ
DP
SW

The best thing to do is rid yourself of the idea a theme has to be great for you to enjoy a machine.
I assume you like the Deadpool theme and you're ready to trade it or get a new machine; that will happen no matter the theme most likely.

Godzilla
Jurassic Park
Stranger Things
Deadpool
Munsters
Mandalorian
Rush

I own them all except Munsters haven't gotten one yet, I also have weird taste it games lol for me personally though.
Iron Maiden
Deadpool
Rush
Jurassic Park
Mandalorian
Godzilla
Stranger Things
Munsters

Since it's Pro's only...

DP
JP
GZ
STH
Mando
Rush
Munsters

And the middle 3 are basically a tie. GZ for best layout and code, STH for atmosphere and theme, and Mando for an overall total package.

Godzilla
Jurassic Park
Deadpool
Stranger Things
Rush
Mandolorian
Munsters

It's a very basic bitch for sure.

About $3000

The reason I’d go premium on JP is the pinsider project that added in movie assets. Stranger Things has a massive price gap in the jump to premium for a neat projector and a lock that can be tough to get working reliably. Godzilla is the flavor of the minute so they may flood the market when the next big title is announced.

Actually... I just looked into it. There are 1497 Godzillas of all models registered to owners on pinside. This would make it the 5th most owned pin of all time according to pinside if they lumped pro/prem/le together. This is comparing it against machines with 20,000+ produced like Addams

https://pinside.com/pinball/top-100/various/owners

GZ pro is a monster. The things you're missing out on arent critical to game play
JP pro is great
Mando pro I really like. I like the encounters better than my LE

Stranger Things pro is a great game but missing too much.

For what it's worth, you could probably sell your DP pro for as much as it would cost to buy some of those titles premium editions.

Maiden/Godzilla
JP
...
....
AIQ
Rush?
Stranger Things
Mando
Deadpool
BKSOR
Munsters

Premium/LE had been the same order, for me there is a big gap after top three to the next Elwin game (and the rest).

I played a lot of Rush pro before I played a lot of Rush premium. The premium really doesn't have much to offer over the pro tbh. Its a good game regardless. I'd much rather have a rush pro than a star wars pro. That said, I'd probably go for a Godzilla pro over anything else.

Consider:
Godzilla
AIQ
Rush
JP

Wouldn't consider:
Star wars
Munsters
Stranger Things
Mando

So you're limiting yourself to just Spike games?

Iron Maiden
Jurassic Park
Godzilla
Stranger Things
BKSOR
Deadpool
AIQ
AEROSMITH
RUSH
MANDO
Star Wars
Munsters
TMNT
LZ

Let me ask you this as it will greatly change what we recommend. Have you ever beaten JP? Have you gotten to the Control Room? Are you just capturing dinosaurs over and over because you never make it to the end modes? Some games have much more at the end than others.

Most arcades by you are prem/le?! What a great problem! Also I know budget is important but if you can somehow find the low trim EHOH it blows all those pros out of the water!!!

So I’ll rank all the latest Stern Pro games in my opinion. Sure no one will agree, but here’s my reasoning..You’ll see I’m biased towards one designer…

Top tier

Godzilla- has everything. Flow, music, depth, rules, fun.
AIQ - (not on your list?) - great home game. Not as great on location. Once you learn most of it just a great game to play. Always find myself wanting one more game.
Iron Maiden- theme not for me. But a great game.
Elvira HOH- straight up fun. Wish I could get one.
Deadpool- great for everyone. Easy to beat.
JP- great game. Shots, moments, feel.

Middle Tier

Stranger Things - easy, not deep enough for home for me.
Mando- Fun once you understand most of the rules. If a few more shots flowed better I’d own one.
TMNT- Pro better than Premium. Just a middle of the road pin. Co-op modes are fun to play.

Lower Tier
Rush- just not for me.. - missing flow of Elwin games.
LZ- just not for me… not deep enough for home use in my option.

Main difference is the hyper loop which is a big wire form racetrack that speeds the balls around suspended above the PF. It’s a show stopper imo and while I think SW pro is great the premium just takes the cake. Best toy ever or up there with the best. Also has a death star that breaks open and a right outlane diverter to save the ball plus some molded toys.

I guess some Elvira is better than no Elvira I haven't even sniffed one on location here in Wisconsin and this is slowing becoming pinball heaven I had to buy one blind last year and wow what a game! Only thing I could suggest is next time you see one of those broken down beat up EHOH make an offer you might be surprised the operator may just be as sick of the upkeep as Stern is as sick of making them. Happy hunting!

I'm a Pro Guy. I always say that, and I tend to like the Pro versions of games better. I always have.

So that said, it depends. From your list, I rank Godzilla and Deadpool as 1 and 1a. But you never know which will be which.

1. Godzilla - This game shocked me with how good, and how frustrating it is. I have good games and bad games on it, but I enjoy all of them. The game is a masterpiece of fun, code, theme integration, and fun (yes, I listed fun twice!). Every once in a while Stern puts out a game that transcends the other games. Godzilla is one of those games. I still feel like I'm only starting to get to know it.

1a. Deadpool - Even rating GZ above DP in this list, DP is still my favorite game. I love the humor, and every time I play it, I have FUN! The rules aren't that complex, and I know how to blow the game up, but I just usually mindlessly play it. I laugh and enjoy the experience, and that is so rare that it will stay here for a very long time.

3. Rush - I really didn't like it the first times playing it. But I have to admit, it grew on me. It MUST have the new fixes for the cliffys and front gobble hole. That physically changed the game for me. If you have a rush without the new parts, get the parts from Stern. I felt it improved the game. Liking Rush helped a bit as well, but overall, I liked playing it.

4. Jurassic Park - I don't like the game that much... however, it is a good game. And I can recognize the difference between my not liking to play a game, vs if it is a good game or not. If you're missing shots, JP is an annoying game.

5. The Mandalorian - I cannot believe I'm rating it this high. Personally I think the game is a mess. I don't like the shots. I don't like the physical layout of the game, and I didn't much care for the software. I liked the TV show, but the game just didn't cut it. It is not a great game at all. I keep playing it in hopes that one day I will like it more, but I doubt it.

6. Stranger Things - I'm not a fan of the show, and I didn't like the game. I don't think the mechanisms work great. I didn't find it much fun. Now I will grant you, I hit a roadblock with this game. The copy I play is brand new, but I can't get into it. And unfortunately I don't want to take the time to get to know it better. I have access to too many games that I felt are better. So ST just stays out in the cold.

27. Munsters - I am about to offend fans of the game. I know they exist, even though I have no idea why. This game is SO boring. I was excited when the theme was announced. I was a fan as a kid. And I was fine with the reveals. And then I playe.... zzzzzzz. Oh, sorry, then I "played" it, and was so bored I didn't want to finish the game. But it was release code, so it had to get better, right? So a few months later I ran into it again and gave it another shot. OMG, I was bored by the middle of ball 2. I tried it a couple more times since then, and every time was the same experience, boredom. So my advice on Munsters is that you damn well better determine if you are a fan of the game before plopping down your money. If you are a fan, have at it. But if you're not, that game is going to be a tough sell later.

None of these are wrong, because they are just my opinions.

I’ve played all these pros on location…most of them actually just the other day on the boardwalk (and whomever is in charge of those shame on you, they’re disgusting…except mando) but you get an honest feel for the gameplay when you can’t really hear shit and mando shot the best…but maybe that’s because it wasn’t 5 years past due for a shop out
And turn on the f’n air up there…I was sweating buckets

Eh. Elwin games are built on great shots, but Rush has monster flow and combos for miles as well.

I love the Stern pro pins but at my stage in life I’m willing to pay for the extras. DP premium not greatly different but has the small lift ramp that allows the right orbit to fully loop, has drop targets instead of stand ups. Overall not much extra but I’m willing to pay for such like the moving Dino on JP etc.

1. Deadpool- Classic case of couldn't care less about the theme, but the game is just fun and exciting.

2. Stranger Things- Best theme of the bunch for me. Game doesn't completely live up to the promise, but theme keeps it in the top 3. And I got a Brian Eddy-signed Stern banner that I will always cherish.

3. Godzilla- Creative and innovative game. Not cold, but luke warm on theme.

4. Rush

5. Mandalorian

6. Munsters

7. Jurassic Park- Can't figure out why this game is such a big deal no matter how many times I try to "get it".

Jurassic Park
Godzilla
Rush
Deadpool
Munsters
Mandalorian
Stranger Things

Yeah what the hell on that comment. No flow?! Elwin fanboys are something else.

Wow, thanks for sharing this! Looks very cool for sure! I played a premium SW once in a arcade but could not hear it very well and didn’t get much done on it in the time I had.

Great thread! I am new to pinball and own one pin also, so am always taking mental notes for future trade/purchase.
OP, I agree with your insight about the Top 100 use of pro vs premium, etc. I wish Guardians of the Galaxy or Ghostbusters was on your short list for comparison!

Yeah, me too. Rush Pro is a flow monster and enjoying the music and humor really helps. Was surprised by how much I enjoy it. Just traded to get something new to play and it's a longer term keeper for sure. (Traded Star Wars Pro for it) I did a massive DIY audio upgrade and it is a tremendous experience.

From best Pro to worst:

#1 Deadpool (Pro)

#2 Stranger Things (Pro)
#3 Jurassic Park (Pro)
#4 Godzilla (Pro)

#5 The Mandalorian (Pro)

#6 Rush (Pro)
#7 Munsters (Pro)