TWD (I prefer pro version) is an awesome game due to Lyman's code. It's simply his best coded game. It's a great game but you need an altered sound package (many around, I have one for the premium). The game does suffer slightly to minor design flaws (pops exit is the biggy) and it's a little too bash fest like Metallica (bash drops, bash prison, bash well walker, bash bicycle girl), it's why I prefer the pro over Prem. It's a better pin than SMVE if you like the theme and layout which both are unique. I'd have one instead of GOT or SMVE but wife and toddlers in house trump the theme

AC/DC is another stellar game. The fun factor isn't as good as SMVE though. I had an AC/DC prem awhile ago, it's both great and frustrating - I didn't find it 'fun' in a small lineup. There's only one wizard mode and it's a grind to get to. But I have recently played the pro and thought it was a blast (more so than my premium); so I am contemplating getting a pro vault back in the lineup.

As for SMVE; you know I used to bash SM. The main reason was the movie theme. The characters, sound package, art package just didn't feel like Spider-Man to me. I hated that package, and you know it. I even owned the original twice trying to look past the movie theme package cause the game is great. My other problem with the game is the easy gameplay and long ball times made it feel repetitious, there was no risk/reward to the multiplier or mode completion rules. The code wasn't deep like LOTR, TSPP, or FGY but ball times were. So Removing center post and adding lighting flippers fixed this in a big way. Now there's that element of risk involved. Ball times are shorter which fit the rules better. I've been to super hero 10 times in the 8 mos I owned it with this setup and have completed it twice. But I still haven't got there with good multipliers. And it's seldom I get battle Royale going with the right multipliers - although I did it the other night and blew BR up for 110mil. Whereas on factory settings, I would just shoot at will with all miltopliers lit beating super hero with ease. It's just more fun and having shorter ball times is welcomed. Add in the new comic vault package with color dmd and the game is a winner in my book.

All in all, I'd rate them TWD (pro) > SMVE > AC/DC. But all 3 are stellar in my book. Pick your poison: TWD = a pros pro game but can be very frustrating at times. SMVE is more casual stress free which is the more fun pin of the 3 and a must with the harder setup. AC/DC least fun of the 3 but has amazing elements and is the fastest but also most brutal. Love all 3 of these pins.

Not very imaginative rules, I'll grant you that...but it's the same rules to start MB as IronMonger (and Whiplash for that matter) in IM, which works just fine.

You've been Lonnied!

Wrong, all the excellent nuance that makes IM IM is due to Lyman.

Compared to Wolverine -

Iron Monger:
-You have to hit the spinner shots first to battle him
-Monger rises from the playfield, which is cool...Wolverine is always there
-Fighting Monger makes sense thematically...why am I hitting Wolverine, the hero?
-Monger Multiball has that super satisfying Super Jackpot ...the tight shot right up the middle

Whiplash:
-Farther shot, not as much as a gimme
-Has a nice stack strategy by starting War Machine first, then Whiplash.

Overall, IM is a simple game where the code/playfield work perfectly together. X-Men has WAAAAY too much stuff to slog thru which amounts to nothing.

I agree that I had some long ass games on SM, but I really enjoyed that. I beat Superhero twice myself, but with the post in and regular flippers. If you were beating it that much than you must be one hell of a player. And I know you're good, but thats downright dominant.

I do loves me a good Lyman rule set, so I guess I'll have to buy TWD at some point and mod the call outs. I've had some fun playing the game on location, but the total package never really grabbed me, which is a bummer because I'm an avid fan of the show. I have a love/hate thing with the ramps (they're just freaking weird).

I'd like to try an XMEN at home someday. If I ever find a killer deal I'll own one.

My single point was that you bash away at each to start the MB. There are no locks. You're correct in that you have to hit spinners first to commence the IM bashfest.

I have no clue what to do once Wolverine MB starts. Is it a boring MB with no satisfying objective or payoff shot?

X-men has one of the best dots ive ever seen. Looks exactly out of a comic book and both le cabinets looks amazing. Spiderman is alright i guess. I'm one of the biggest spiderman fans but the pin(movie and ve) dont do it for me. That being said i will own a VE towards the end of my collection

I did. I sold my SM to get my XMLE. I really like SM, but I'm fine with my decision. I don't think the OP can go wrong with getting either pin. Two different games, but both fun.

If I remember correctly, it's hit all the lit shots and then the final one is Super Jackpot. Each shot results in him killing someone on the DMD...final shot, he escapes. I remember it being fairly easy to just keep it going for quite some time, and ending it on purpose quite often...but then a few more "accidental" hits to Wolvie, you're back in it again. Iron Monger is so much more satisfying...you battle him, he lowers into the playfield, revealing the tight Super Jackpot shot.

Not exactly a boring bashfest, is it?

Wolverine/Weapon X
Multiball mode. This is stackable on top of villain modes. Shoot the lit red shots to advance in the multiball mode. The red shots that flash faster advance you faster out of his captivity. The DMD also indicates which half of the playfield advances Wolverine faster. The first Mystery award from the Blackbird will be an add-a-ball. After shooting a path, an armed guard will be on the DMD and lit at Wolverine. After shooting thru a path and thru a few armed guards, an armed boss will be lit at Xavier/Magneto/Cyclops. The minimum path to the boss can be 3 shots and 2 guards, while the maximum can be 7 wrong path shots and 6 guards. Shot any of those shots twice and Wolverine will be lit to bust thru the last door. Shooting the wrong path or the armed guard at Wolverine is worth 250k + 50k for each previous Wolverine completion.
Shooting the right path is worth 700k plus 100k for each previous Wolverine completion.
Shooting the armed boss shots are worth 900k plus 100k for each previous Wolverine completion.
Shooting the exit door at Wolverine is worth 2m plus 2m for each previous Wolverine completion and adds 3x to the bonus multiplier up to the game’s per ball maximum bonus multiplier.

Hey I think Xmen is good and a pretty good value, but just don't think it is better than SM, but after reading this thread and all the info about Xmen I would like to try it out again for sure.

Bad thing is you have to pick a side on two good games in these "vs" threads. Good thing is you get to hear some in depth info about both games. I like to read info about the game that is not my choice to see what I am missing on it. There is a lot of good info here about Xmen for sure. Thanks!

Can you explain multipliers in SM?

Watch Bowens tutorial. I watched it on a whim the other day and got really into it.

Just because I'm here I'll try to answer it but I'm sure someone knows it better.

It seems like you shoot all white targets to start a mode. When mode start is lit, it lights all white lights. The next shot you hit, starts a mode and anymore shots to that lane are doubled for the rest of the ball. When A mode is finished, you get a shot to pick a lane that is tripled for the rest of the ball. Ideally, if you finish all modes in one ball, you can x3 all shots to every lane: The two loops, the two ramps, and doc ock.

I never knew this as a route spiderman player.

Edited for more specifics.

If you ever see a Battle Royale score that seems beyond you, this is how you do it. If you are near Battle Royale and complete a mode, set the 3x on the right ramp which is the super jp for that mini-wizard. Never reached Super Hero on location so don't know what you would do there with the 3X.

As a proud owner of an X-Men LE for the last 3 years ... it is my favorite game by far ... period!

I have a LOTR LE, an IJ, a STTNG, and an Indy 500.

Don't get me wrong. The rest of the collection is killer, but X-Men ...

To put it in perspective, I have access to the other games sometimes in the basement (won't go into details).

But X-Men Wolvie has been in my living room for 2+ years all alone. Why? I just couldn't swap it out. Been playing it daily.

One more game. One more game. One more game. FOR 2+ fricken years! It never gets old. It's that F'n good!

Yes the wizard modes (Danger Zone and Dark Phoenix) are worth it. But even more important, the journey is beyond amazing. Killer Combos and modes! Love me the Deadpool rewards.

Only 550 of these bad boys made too. 300 Wolvies and 250 Mags.

Don't wait to get a deal on one. Seriously, early code hurt the rating of X-Men. It is a top 10 machine. Especially the LE.

Get one before they are too hot!

ROTFL.

Too funny. Look, glad you enjoy it - but its reputation was fairly earned and baked in the cake. It's not gonna swing upward at this point.

Funny how xmen wasnt well received upon release, kinda like that bs cartoon family guy...

49% to 46%. Still close.

Oh hai troll.

That was kinda funny, cause it's true (except the "bs" part).

It's a false equivalency in an attempt to insult me. Sorry, didn't work. The show is watched by millions. Pinball machines are played by a micro percentage of the population and ratings/resale are determined by an even smaller percentage.

FG always did well - but when it first aired it was up against Survivor and Friends and no one could beat those in the ratings. DVD sales proved the fanbase was always there and passionate - the rest is history.

I just thought it was a joke.

I voted XMLE, I have not owned either SM or SMVE, but have played both and prefer XMLE. Game play wise, both are great games and you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with either. I have learned that no matter how good a game is, I tire of it after a while, so I play one of the others for a bit, and come back to it.

There are a faction of people here who, for some reason, think it's clever and cute to take personal jabs at me...like I need to justify my career or be ashamed of it or something. They usually end up on my ignore list.

Is that the Xmen I forgot you in parking lot at Kingsport?

I own both XMLE and the original SM. While both are fun I find XM more challenging. I'd say go for the super hero theme you like best.

I am disappointed that SM vault doesn't have JK voicing the call outs

I was doing cartwheels when his call outs and all the others were replaced. Apples vs oranges

Why? Awesome call outs by real actors got replaced by horribly written and voiced callouts that almost ruin an amazing game.

Ftfy

Because actors dont always make the best pinball call outs. Im not going to bite too hard on this argument cause i know a lot of people like the original call outs - i dont. I think the new ones are great and really make the game feel like a spider-man comic themed game. I didn't like the movie themed call outs nor the actors portraying comic heroes both times i owned the original.

EDIT: Because i owned the original twice, it was really weird and difficult to adjust to the new call outs and theme. But 20 plays in, never going back. Vault for the win!

JK Simmons is an incredible actor and did a fantastic job on Spider-Man.

"Here's the headline!: TERRIBLE PINBALL PLAYER TERRORIZES ARCADE!"

Even the clips worked great. Willem Dafoe's laughs and taunts are perfect.

SMv voices aren't as bad as X-Men, that's for sure...they just present a really random and poorly written narrative, and Spider-Man sounds super derpy. "I'll never look at a Sand Castle the same way again derp derp derp!"

Agree. One. Thousand. Percent.

JK's callouts are fantastic. Some actors don't work for me. I don't like Ernie Hudson's on GB. But second to LOTR callouts, I love SM the most.

Jonathan Rhys Davies is the freaking king of callouts! His Sallah super jackpot callouts and Gimli super jackpot callouts are the BEST in Pinball by far.

The reason JK & Gimli work so well...those are gruff & aggressive characters...you know who they are just by their voice...you don't have to see the character, but you know who they are, and their voice can sell excitement. Ernie, while a great actor and a real Ghostbuster...was the "every day joe" of the Ghostbusters. While he had some great lines in the movie (I have seen shit that'll turn you white!), his voice isn't one you hear and think "Excitement/comedy". It's unfortunate they couldn't get Dan Akroyd, as his very unique and manic voice *IS* Ghostbusters, and would have been a far better fit. I cringe when I hear Ernie saying "Tex" in GB pin.

It's also usually the case that a good voice for your adversary makes for better pinball callouts . JK is taunting you. Stephen Lang in Avatar is also taunting you. Karl Urban in ST and Ernie in GB...they're your buddies...and it doesn't work as well. The Klingon in ST, though...while not a celeb (it's one of Stern's programmers), is actually a damn good pinball voice.

I defend his right to prefer the new version. He stated it was his preference. It is like convincing me that I should like lobster. It's fine with me that many like it. It's just not for me.

Namaste

This.

I agree with much of Eskaybee except his dislike of SM call outs. JK Simmons custom call outs and Willem DeFoe as well all the other movie clips are fantastic I also like IM.

This is actually a great thread to bring up the Karl urban call outs in ST. His initial call outs were just thrown into the game and it sounded like crap. It wasn't til later code (after you sold your stle) that they mixed in the call outs properly, both in the sound mix and with the choreography. They sound sweet!

So just like xmen; releasing early shisty code out into the world will print a negative stamp into some people's memory which is hard to overcome. Same thing happened with WOZ - I thought the game was fantastic and surprised when I talked to people who said it was so meh and unpolished only to learn their experiences were from early release.

Oh gawd. Can't stand his voice! But I know most like it, that's fine. Quirkiness is what comics are - you should know that. And if you're going to compare scripts you should compare scripts from the same character and not be so selective. The reporter comic call outs are fantastic, humorous, and not so grainy and irritating. Again, just my opinion.

Didn't Lonnie talk into a coffee cup and out echo on it for the "super pops" and "super spinner" call outs in TFLE? Some of the worst ever! That's something truly cringy about TFLE. I know your mileage varies!

Hahahah...oh yeah, I forgot about that lol. The custom Megatron and Starscream in TF were pretty good, tho...but Optimus and the Super callouts were bad.

David Thiel & his wife did the custom stuff in Tron and it came out really good!

Just played a game of my Baywatch and Hasselhoff is pretty terrific with his custom callouts in the game.

I'd say TF Optimus callouts sound like George Peppard, but that'd be insulting to George Peppard.

My favorite thing is the use of "Baywatch will be right back" lol ....

That's a very clever callout. I also like "Best office in the world" just because I always repeat "Best orifice in the world".

I've owned both and I give the edge to SM. XMENLE has a lot going on toy wise and a lot of shots, but for me the code on the villains gets old because you have to hit the harder ones what seems like a million times.

Bring Deadpool into the more challenging villains modes. He helps.

A number of people still knock the callouts on XMEN. Why is this still a problem? I thought Pinball Browser was supposed to unleash the artist within. Hasn't someone come up with improved ROMs like they did on TWD or for the music on Tron and AC/DC? I want to like XMEN but don't think I can accept them as 'originally performed'.

If it had the voices and music from the movies it would be incredible.

I think xmen call outs are hit and miss. Some sound great and fit the theme and choreography well. Others just feel out of step and not in line with the pin. I feel star trek was kind of the same - which is why karl urban got so much flack from the pinside community. But then something happened in one of the updates where they mixed it all in very well to fit the choreography and overall package to give it an outstanding sound package today. Maybe that's what is missing from xmen, a nice polish of sound quality.

It's exactly what's missing. The last code release ironed out all the rules, but it's rare for Stern to polish off any code. If it gets finished it's due to Lyman, and Lyman takes no ownership of X-Men, so it won't happen. Waison doesn't take ownership of his products like Lyman does.

It's not as much an issue with the game. This is Pinside. People like to bitch. Period.