This is a game that I initially did not like very much. I drank the Kool-aide that the shots were too tight. But Houdini kept drawing me towards it. I found myself always spending a lot of time on it at shows or on location. I watched some videos and learned the rules. Then finally, I took the plunge and made a trade. Wow! What a great decision.
Theme: OK, I'm not a big Houdini or magic fan. I enjoy watching magicians, but really a magic-themed game never appealed to me. However, I really appreciate how the team decided to go all in regarding this theme. The game encompasses Houdini's best known tricks, his famous jail escapes, his fascination with the occult, and even his film career. Honestly, I had no idea about much of this stuff, but the game is like a living documentary.
Gameplay: Man this game is fun! On my first game once I set it up, I started Séance multiball and trunk multiball. Modes are easy to start. There are super smooth orbits and ramp shots. The spinner is fantastic. The key lane and alley shots are a bit tighter and the inner loop/trunk shot is an easy backhand or a challenge from the left flipper. But boy is that left flipper shot smooth and satisfying. The milk can is easy to repeat off the tip of the right flipper, but still a challenge if trying to make it on the fly. Hitting the shots makes the game flow. Miss a shot and recovery is pretty likely.
Code: Boy is this where the game shines. Super deep and varied. Lots of modes between films and tricks. Fun jail escape hurry ups. Nice combo challenges are available. Multiballs are fun to start and can be stacked. Modes are very unique and this game has best shaker integration of any game I've ever experienced. The game shakes every time the elephant takes a step towards the crate giving you a physical countdown to the end of the mode.
Toys and gimmicks: The game has a 2 foot catapult shot. 'nuff said. Plus the stage, plus magnets, plus chains and locks, and plus a second shorter catapult. This game is loaded.
Lighting: very good and varied. Nice and bright GI compared to other current games
Music/callouts/animations: I can get where this is criticized. I didn't like the appearance of the animations when I would play at shows and locations. But it is serviceable and I appreciate it more at home. I really like the music and enjoy how it progressively gets more intense with each ball. Callouts are fun and let you know what to do.
Build: Game is solid. I would rate it just beneath JJP in terms of how solid it feels...and the weight. Definitely can't toss it around like a Stern. I really like how they incorporated the lcd into the backglass.
Conclusion: I'm in the honeymoon, but this game won me over slowly over time and I can't stop playing it. Don't let the comments about the shots throw you off. By your second game you will be hitting them consistently, if not on your first. And a miss usually hits something else that keeps your progression going. I never thought that I would say Houdini would be bolted to the floor, but it might just be.
Edit after 3 months: game is now out of my collection. Bottom line, it got old quick. Shots are tight, but make-able...but this creates most no flow. It is a stop and go game. The callout voices just got on my nerves. Especially after starting modes over and over again. I loved the quirky humor, but the voice actors were just bad. Like a bad audio book or podcast. The catapult was fun at first, but really doesn't add to the gameplay. This is one of those games that is best to play on location or at a show every once in a while, but at home was just a bore.