Good point. Tron pinball without Daft Punk could still be good but it wouldn't be *amazing* as it is with it. A good soundtrack really can propel the player's experience.

That would also be a reason why I'd recommend giving TNA a chance sometime. The guy who designed the game also wrote/recorded the (awesome, imo) soundtrack for it, and even made a custom stereo to make the game sound amazing. That, and the co-op multiplayer and team vs. team multiplayer since it sounds like you'll be playing with your family a lot. Best plan in my opinion is IM for now, and TNA further down the road when it's more readily available.

I have owned them all. TNA is best for you IMHO, esp if the family is all into it. I saw you guys playing on route last Sunday and the whole family seemed really into TNA. Did you play any CoOP games with all 4 of you working together to destroy the game?

Also, for the poll... Pinside historically has a bunch of people that are hardcore on ST (esp defenders of the premium/LE looking to dump and hoping they will eventually stop loosing value on the secondary market), so that will almost always skew a poll like this. Too many defenders of the game they own rather than purely judging on what they really feel is best for you in their opinion.

Ironman would be my second choice for you based on what you seem to like in pinball.

ST would be a distant 3rd. You have already been down that road and it did not stick for a reason.

TNA has some demerits it still has a lot of great aspects.

Some people love it so I may too.
Great lighting effects.
Great music.
Great multi player game.
Shorter game type.
Great theme.

Some weaknesses:
Limited shots.
May tend to play the same way all the time.

On the whole TNA seems like a good choice but so does IM which you can get for less money.

Regarding Tron, I’d say IM is very similar with good callouts music theme and poor DMD clips from the movie. I’d call IM a poor man’s Tron.

TNA has 13 shots from the main pf. 7 more shots from the upper. 20 total shots from 3 flippers.
IM has 18 total shots from 2 flippers.
ST has 21 total shots from 3 flippers.

All 3 games are very similar in number of shots. Someone at one point came up with this narrative that TNA has limited shots when in reality it has similar amount of shots as every modern game.

I think TNA would be a mistake.

Lol. TNA feels like 4 shots. It don't care how many targets there are. A standup bank is not a bunch of shots. Does a center drain count too? What about if ball-save is on?

Let's start a new category of "feels like" shots then.

IM is also punishing. Not a casual player friendly game. Lots of cabinet slapping and nudging to play well.

EDIT: Welp, apparently my "feels like" joke became reality and I've created a category. Hopefully this winds up on a podcast.

Lots of people consider ‘shots’ being different than stand up targets (at least I do).

All shots are not created equal. Is the lock target or spider sense target at important or fun to hit as the three ramps on SM?

IM has : 6 (non-target shots)

2 orbits
2 ramps
1 Center orbit
1 War Machine kick back

The remaining are stand up (drone, whiplash, monger).

TNA has 4 (non-target shots)
2 orbits
1 scoop
1 drop target area

————

So IM has 50% more non-target shots.

Why stop there? Let's add in the 2nd drop, 3rd drop, and that scoop in the back of the drops for a new total of 23 shots!

I have not played a ton of TNA so not trying to be the worlds authority on TNA but the upper play field takes up let’s say a third of the entire game area? You flip the ball hit something or not and then the ball drains to the lower PF. It’s not like these shots are monumental not like you are trying to hit the center spinner on IM for 40M point shot probably a 4 year old can hit some targets up there by accident or randomly and get rewarded.

Much like the upper PF on Woz or the lower PF on AcDc which are a subplot of the game. AcDc completely does away with the lower PF on some versions that’s how unimportant it is.

I’m not attacking TNA still want one but I’m just pointing out what some people might call a weakness.

Seven shots on the upper PF?

fair enough if that is how you play pinball and think about it. I can totally understand "feel" of a shot as being your qualifier for a shot.

In most case I guess I would agree, esp if a game has four standups in a bank and you can hit any one of them to award the shot (i.e. Whiplash you can hit either and in fact they are angled for that reason). TNA each standup is a specific shot and programmed into the game with the need to hit specific shots so I personally think they all feel really different, esp in actual game play. For example, I can promise you when you are on reactor 5 and all you have let is the "D" target, it feels extremely different then the "R" target in that same bank.

If you really want to think of shots as how they "feel" then I would say TNA has 11 main shot "feels"
Left RAD targets (in progressively harder to hit as you go down)
Left orbit/ spinner (man this feels great to hit, esp in combo and when supper spinner is rocking)
Red block targets (one on each side but they feel similar to me with a nigh deflecting hit to be safe and often the easiest feeling shot for me)
Left scoop (love this sound, feel, challenge, and speed of return)
Keypad standup bank (in your face and all 3 targets feel similar but I treat them different as the outside can be glanced easier and center can be death)
Drop 1 (beautiful either forehand or back hand and the return bounce is quick due to position at front of channel)
Drop 2 (I prefer forehand for this and the channel often makes it a less predictable return)
Drop 3 (I prefer back hand and the channel tends to have enough space for a predictable and smooth exit)
Right Scoop (oh so satisfying to hit, the sound followed by the drop resets in mutli is music to my ears and feels amazing; also the return speed is completely different thane the drop inlines)
Right Orbit (probably my most challenging shot but butter smooth)
Right pop bumper smash (k-thunk sound of hitting this to vlow a reactor is like none other)

I own TNA, great game, plenty to do, it has 4 main shots.

This response makes it obvious you have not played the game much. Not trying to be a dick here and you are entitled to your opinion, but yes shooting top lanes from upper pf and hitting standups in upper pf are extremely important when going for big points and all very makeable and controlled shots.

I suggest getting a nights session on the game with someone that can show you the ropes and explain on the fly. The speed of the game can make you miss the importance of each shot if you are just too busy reacting and slapping the ball around.

I think you have wanted a Premium Star Trek for months now. I don't see that itch going away. If you get IM or TNA, you will be thinking to yourself-why didn't I just get ST like I wanted? I think you should pop for a ST LE-just to get it out of your system(should be able to sell for what you purchased for at later date). By the way I also think you need to consider Star Wars-it is stellar!

now for IM feel of shots, I put it at 10 main "feel shots"

Left bank are all similar in feel
Left orbit is great and smooth/satisfying to blast
War machine with the in your face return
Left ramp is so much fun and the exact right amount of smoothness and need of clean shot
Center spinner is tight feeling when you need it but not so important most of the time
Whiplash while 2 targets they dont feel any differnet and either functions the same.
Right ramp actually feels very simialer to left but just opposing flipper. I actually think its beast feature is the tie in to other ramp and hitting them alternating on the fly is super fun!
Right spinner/orbit feels similar to left but nice and clean also
Right target bank all feel similar.

IM again has similar number of "feel" shots as TNA. However, for me personally IM is more bilaterally divided in design so I find the right and left sides of the game feel similar and I take points away for that (i.e. left and right orbit, left and right target banks, left and right ramps are similar feel, just opposite sides of pf). This bilateral design is part of the appear for the game, but to me it 'feels' much less diverse in shot type than a game like TNA.

I also own the game and this is my sentiment exactly.

I love TNA, IM, and ST, all great games. IM has 7 shots, ST has 8 if I remember correctly and TNA has 4. No clue what you mean when you say feel shots and that you are subtracting from IM's shots because it is bilateral. It is no more bilateral then TNA and a shot/defined ball path is a shot. You don't get to remove one because its a "feel shot"

If anything TNA is much more bilateral. 4 shots, the orbits are essentially the same, the scoop and the drops are very close to in the same spots as well. Very similar positioned shots from either flipper.

Do you have a TNA in your collection? I ask as you seem to talk about it quite a bit.

Brad

I’m not against TNA, I may buy one. I’m just saying there are other great games and saying that does not mean TNA is not great as well. It’s in the discussion certainly for this thread.

I’m planning to play TNA at my friends house but we have to sync up our schedule.

we can agree to disagree.

I did not state the "feel" idea but I can get behind it and understand how people perceive shots based on fell. Also just pointing out how TNA has lots of "feels"

Orbits feel completely different on TNA. I think everyone will say the left is easier to hit than the right and on different flipper position. Scoops are completely different on R and L also (both position and depth of field and return)

for sure, 100%

I think all 3 games in discussion here are super fun. We are splitting hairs and just having fun discussing.

I still think you cant go wrong with either. For the OP, I personally suggest TNA as I think the family will really love the Co-Op and that is a big sell in this case. Great to get the family playing together.

I’m certainly able to change my opinion.

I was mildly against Woz and TWD on first impressions but now love both.

I was more against Woz during the initial year or two it was out especially on location but in a home environment I love it.

Does your wife and kids really play that much pinball? If so it's great to bring in games that everyone will enjoy. If they just play some and you are trying to get them more involved it likely won't happen. If that's the case buy what you want as they will just play are few games randomly no matter what games they are.

I can’t get enough of Iron Man. It’s perfect. No pins offers the same rush.

ACDC and BSD maybe? My favorites machines

I currently own Iron Man and Star Trek, and a friend just bought TNA. So out of the 3 of them, I've definitely played TNA the least, but I do like the game a lot. It's like the best classic Stern ever made. I'm sure I will own it at some point.

I wish I could rate TNA properly. It is an ass kicker with that classic feel. It was the first game Spooky did that I didn't hate. There is something about the surprising speed of the game. So I will say it is a good option.

Iron Man is fantastic. I love the game because if I only have 10 minutes, I can get 3 games in on it. And as I said in a different thread, I swear more at Iron Man than any other game I own. It provides pinball satisfaction quickly. The rules are easy to understand, but accomplishing what you need to do is tough. However its weakness is being set up wrong. If it is set up easy, there isn't enough to keep it going. Getting the Do or Die hurryup every other game, and taking that right into Jerhico too often becomes boring. It needs to be setup nasty to be fun.

Star Trek, well another game I love, but for different reasons. It is more complex, and a bit more strategic than the others. You can play the game multiple different ways, with different strategy. Some more rewarding, but with a bit more risk of a bad score if you fail. I really enjoy the game, but it isn't a butt kicker. It is a fun romp. The deeper objectives are difficult enough to remain interesting. Overall a winner, but I'm not sure that is what you are asking for.

So it’s ok to electrocute sparky but zombies are a deal breaker? gotta love all our wives!
I own ST premium and love it but want an IM vault as my next pin. To me it’s perfect mix of fast and brutal. Good luck in your search!

I own both IM and ST. And am in line for a TNA. I can tell you this, based on what you are looking for IM would be the way to go. Star Trek is a beautiful game but the way it sounds like you want to play ST Is not the way to go.

Also IM can be had sooner than TNA. I always pick IM when I only have a few minutes to play. Cause the game can be that brutal.

But like others have said. All three games are really good!!

Mabye you could sell Metallica-sounds like you have had some good time on it and get your Star Trek Premium to satisfy that itch. Then maybe purchase a Medieval Madness Remake for the family. Out of all of my games-MMR is the most family friendly and gets played the most by kids and wife. Basic rule set, comical call-outs, and just plain fun.

Did you find another one? Prying your IMVE from you was the best pin purchase I ever made

Since the poll asked "which one would you purchase?", meaning which one I would purchase I presume, I voted TNA. Which I did.

Not that I have anything really against the other two, it's just that my main game room is my living room, and I'm really particular not only what I play, but what I have to look at every day.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it. My friend has a nice one which I'd like to pry from him at some point. IMO a tastefully modded IMVE in unrivaled and I will find another.

I see you are a man of good......taste!