Quoted from taz:There are different kinds of brutal. Mine are mostly associated with cheap SDTM drains.
TWD - When I played my first game prior to leveling it out, I think I put a flipper on a ball twice in one entire game. It was draining SDTM down along the right ramp and if I was able to hit the ball, also from the prison. It was so absurd that I laughed at the time, but little did I know how difficult it would be to setup TWD to minimize various cheap drains. Now that I've got it reasonably set up, I still accidently hit the prison with a weak shot after ball save has expired and take a SDTM.
IMVE - A miss of the left ramp where it joins the center Monger shot that hits square on the drone target in between sends a zinger SDTM. And it's not as if IM needs a SDTM to kick you in the nutts, the outlanes are brutal when side-to-side gets going, plus the Monger/Whiplash magnets know just how to hit the left and center drains, which seems to happen at least once a game. My IMVE sits next to Avengers and I've come really close to doing a Hulk smash on the playfield glass many times.
This post hits my point straight on.....examples of brutal ( for the sake of this thread), and only referencing my lineup:
1) Brutal 1- a game that punches back. IMVE and TRONLE . With the shot layout, and certain mechanisms, these dare you to complete modes, then makes you pay dearly. IMVE has so much orbit speed and magnet action it is literally a relentless assault at times, Tron's disc is a game changer ( at least w the clear one), and to make certain shots it will punish you.
2) Brutal 2- AFMRLE- maybe because I haven't played it enough, but this thing is begging you for combos, destroying martians and spaceships ( so far). It feels like there are 12 posts in you face, and the outlines are 3 feet wide. Miss a shot, or get the side to side going, and profanity starts....
Non Brutal: ( a couple)
WOZ- frustrating? Yes. I may own the game forever and never see the rules through...play for melt the Witch almost exclusively, but I never have to take a defensive posture, just try and stay calm. Magnet action is fun, but don't ever find it threatening.
TAF and WCS- both my " wind down" games. I know them very well, have beaten the crap out of both of them, but still find great enjoyment with a friendly , relaxed session. Enough flow, great callouts, beautiful games, etc. to be keepers, but never an " aggressive" play.
As stated initially, I just love playing pinball, and really enjoy my lineup at the moment. Just anxious to hear of other aggressive, ball breakers out there....some fun reads, so far....