I played a bit of Deadpool on location and sometimes wondered why it was so revered. Shots and layout were smooth. Animations were alright. The modes seemed OK. But it never clicked. And yet, I wanted to try one at home anyways when a trade opportunity came along.
Fast forward a little over 2 months from pickup, and this Premium is seriously sweet. The sound callouts/effects, music, pf artwork, and theme integration are all fantastically top notch. Zombie Yeti absolutely at his A game on the playfield. Slight gripe on cabinet looks but it's certainly sharp and plenty serviceable. Definitely prefer the Pro translite, but I've grown plenty fond of the Premium one as well at this point. And the other issue is the playfield isn't that well lit in the center. Between the art and the lighting it's pretty dark when the ball is in the center.
The modes are really well thought out. I love all of the multiballs. Each boss battle brings its own flair with callouts and shots. If there's one gripe in the game, it's that the boss battles seem a little linear in the progression, even with you choosing the order. Can't tell you how many times I've battled Sabretooth at this point. He's told me he's going to rip me apart plenty. My own doing but kind of just how I work through the game. The final shots into the scoop never seem to get old and still seem all so satisfying even if the battle itself sometimes seems like work or a chore to go one more time. Really more so with the 3 lowest level enemies as Megalodon , T-Rex, and the Sauron multiball always come across as a hoot. Same with Snikt! Shot when I hit it. Really satisfying when you're playing well and nailing the shots in this.
The mechs and toys are pretty fun. Dazzler/Disco ball really changes up the music and feel for a bit. Honestly, the team just did a great job at bringing Deadpool personality into the game. Katana lock rocks. Like it even better with a mod to make the balls more visible. Love the katana vdiverter on the Prem. I like the drops and Lil' Baby Deadpool as well.
Really, there's a lot to like. I wasn't sure of DP on location but bringing it home the music and sound when heard ratchet this game to a much higher level. Haven't quite made it to Mr. Sinister, but been close. I brought it in on what I thought would be a temporary trade but I'm really trying to figure out if I could justify keeping it even once I fill my tiny roster of 5. Only thing that will likely hold me back is I wish there was a little more depth. But there's certainly nothing wrong with a game that allows you to just jump on and flip for sheer fun either. Especially when it's so well done. And undeniably, above all else, Deadpool is fun.
EDIT 4/17/24 after trading away: Decided to trade out of DP. This game is a hoot, but ultimately falls short in one key place. Lastability. Had the designers finished the code and added more bosses, it may have helped a little. The boss battles are basically a duplicate of themselves, and the initial strength of Deadpool is also its greatest weakness. The theme integration, art package, sound, shots, fun...It's all there in spades. But it's better suited for location imo unless you have room for a large collection. 3-5 title collections and the Hit Scoop, Start battle, Rinse, Repeat doesn't offer enough variety. There's some side modes that don't even offer a reason to play them other than just because they're there. Hurts to say, but the "One more game" excitement of initially bringing DP into the house grows a little stale and the all-encompassing rest of the package can't overcome that. Still a great title, and if you've got room bring it home, but otherwise play on location in short bursts and keep the magic alive with Deadpool while leaving the space for another title in your home.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Rouyn-noranda, QC
Lyon
Rovato
