Quoted from branlon8:actually, it’d be great if you did write a big review of JP because I have no clue why it is getting such high reviews in pinside. I had a few games at Pincinnati and it felt like any other Stern pin. Shots were maybe a bit tighter than other games. I also read through the rules in the Tiltforums - like every Stern pin - there are modes directed by rgbs, 4-5 multiball modes, some playfield multipliers and some wizard modes. Granted, the newton ball on the vehicle which changes which mode you play next and the right ramp feeding the upper flipper are nifty twists, but that can’t be it, right?
My theory up to now has been people are having a knee jerk reaction thinking since it’s Keith Elwin it must be great. The rating comments are not much help. I’ve had a chance to play Iron Maiden a bit more since there is one here in an arcade, it’s definitely a nice game with clever rules, truly innovative layout, not sure yet if I have to have one.
So what’s up with JP?
It gets high reviews for the following reasons...
1) it’s not a safe fan layout
2) it was designed for a more advanced player
3) 4 ramps, good loops, tons of combos
But equally as important...
4) the rules
The rules in this game are awesome, and similar to IMDN, there are multiple ways to attack it. Sure you have the map in the middle which may seem at quick glance as the only thing that matters, but there’s more to those than meets the eye (and not all that matters). Each paddock on the map can earn you unique features. Additionally there are carnivores and herbivores, having different levels of aggression. This is why the truck direction plays into strategy for advanced players. So even the rules are “immersed” more than something like GOTG’s “shoot green arrows this mode and red that mode, because... points”.
From there, similar to IMDN’s power features and something else I’m forgetting, JP has Trex modes and Control Room modes. Trex is linear I believe, and control room is selectable.
Then throw in Chaos MB, the raptor pit rules, the missiles, and some of the coolest spinner rules I can ever remember seeing (way cooler than a mystery super spinner award or lighting spinner for more points after a target bank is completed), and there’s a ton to unpack and digest before fully appreciating what’s going on here.