Hey guys one of the things I really like when I play pinball are all the cool mechs, ball locks in particular can be really cool and fun, and I think can really help give a gym its unique personality. Because, if done right, its not just a physical mech, but can also be implemented in a cool and unique way into the code and strategy of the game.
I thought it would be fun to list some of your favorite ball locks and why you like them and whats unique about them.
My favorites are:
Breakshot: A really fun and unique ball lock. Love the newton-esque element of hitting the centerpost and sinking balls into the back locks. It can be a dangerous shot, but of course the risk reward is always worth it. Just love the kinetic-satisfaction of this one. Simple, but really cool.
Aerosmith:This ball lock really blew me away. It looks cool, and having the balls shoot up into it is really fun, and always makes locking a ball an event,or special moment.What i like about this game. Its approach to mb in the code allows you to take mb at I believe 3 balls or hold off till 6, but if you wait, you get higher jackpots. Of course in a multi player game if you had 5 balls in the lock and your opponent only just locked three he can take the mb and get all the balls you stored. His points would be locked at the 3 ball, and the ball saves won't keep putting more than 3 back out once you drain. But, more balls can lead to more points(and of course you don't lose your progress). So just a few interesting strats can come from that aspect. But, really amazing ball lock.
Iron Maiden Prem/Le: A very unique ball lock for the mummy mb. Turning a normal ball into a captured ball, that is really, really smart and unique. Really feels like you earn that ball once you spell out all its letters, just smart integration.
TNA: This one to me is just so simple, I'm surprised it hasn't been done sooner, and its also so much dang fun to lock a ball and to start the mb. Its just fun.
Alien: I really don't like this pin. I think its a snoozefest, and just doesn't excite me at all. But, the ball lock. Man, that has to be one of the coolest things ever. I've played it more than a few times at galloping ghost and the only thing I really like about this game is the ball lock. Just an amazing mech(I hear its amazing so long as it keeps working. But, again the one at GG works).
MM: Its not so much that the lock itself is so amazing. Its a basic lock. But, the shot itself is a nice one, and also I really like the fake wall aspect of shooting the castle. How when you shot the castle it triggers a cool animation of a catapult damaging the side of the castle making the whole bigger and bigger, till MB starts and the enemy soldiers come out and you have to dispatch them. Just how its implemented into the code is so dang good. To me it makes MB an event.
BSD: Mist mb. Its not a traditional lock. But, I think for arguments sake you could say it is a ball lock, since shooting the ball would start you into mb. And that has to be one of the coolest starts to mb ever.
Lastly for just a little bit of a minor honorable mention is Deadpool. I like the lil deadpool mb. I know they nerfed it a bit so you can't get it as much. And I know its basically inspired by TNA. But, to me its fun to lock and to hit and start the mb.
I hope I didn't forget any of my favorites. I think this covers it. I'm sure you all will come up with some cool ones too. So I'm looking forward to reading what you all respond with.