TRON....

I love Tron.   the movie, TRON that is.   An ahead of its time science-fiction film staring a young 1982 Jeff Bridges - I even loved the current day remake/episode 2 of the series, but seriously?......

Out on Forest Ave lies a little hole in the wall bar called Forest Gardens.   I walked in at like 10pm on a Tuesday night to find the bartender asleep on his stool.   The bell startled him as well as did the fact as i was there just to play pinball.   Its a shame a six thousand dollar machine meant for professionals goes unused.   I literally had to wipe the dust off before i played.    

Unfortunately, this pinball machine is a downer.   Like, beat you over the head, write on your face with sharpie, steal all your money and take a picture to send to your loved ones.    I'd heard that the pin was "unforgiving," but I've come to find out that this machine was actually designed to limit the game-play time, thus increasing revenue.   Its made for pros, and i'm no pro.   I like to be able to explore a game, find its rythm and tricks, but this thing was so fast and consistantly draining that i never got a chance.   Five dollars of quarters and no progress to speak of - I'll pass.

In good news, I'm glad to say that I've spent some time on this rig.   As this machine was produced just a year ago (May 2011), it has many of the new advancements that Stern has to offer.   The spinning disc shot and upper-flipper light cycle shot are really cool as is the lighting on ramps and bumpers that replicate the effects from the big screen.   Also, the sound board on the machine really hits the movie right on the head.   Catch phrases from the film show up when you hit specific shots on the table - pretty cool.

I think Stern went a bit far with the complexities of the shots.   If you had this machine in your house and were able to really figure the order, it would be a blast, but in order to progress in the game-play one has to make shots in a specific order.   For me, it was just too much  Also, the outer rails are vicious as is the kickback off the disc spinner.   It would be alright too if there was a ball-save, but there isn't, so it isn't.   Ultimately, I won't go back....not for another year of playing is under my belt and need another dose of humility.

Monster Bash

This is the machine I fell in love with pinball on.   Monster Bash is fast, has tons of shots, is easy to rack a score up on, offers tons of multi-ball options and has a super long replay.....its a great time!   

At City Coast Comics (http://www.coastcitycomics.net/) lie five of portlands fastest and best kept machines.   These include Nightmare on Elm, Elvira, Dr. Who, Six Million Dollar Man (the OG), Batman (RIP) and the lovely machine in which you are reading about.    Amongst other countless reasons why I like this game is the fact that I have not grown tired of it yet.   Yes, maybe some rigs have more lights, crazier play or bells and whistles, but what other machine features Frakenstien, Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Mummy, the WereWolf, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and Egor?   None of em. 

 

Another big draw to playing at City Coast Comics: the guys at City Coast Comics.   Tristan (the owner of the joint) is extreemly knowledgeable and passionate about his pinball - not to mention comics, video games, figures, cards ect....   Tristan does a great job of maintaining the boxes too: most machines in town have defects or issues that are never resolved.....never an issue at CCC.   If I mention an issue with one of Tristan's units, he'll take care of it by the next time I visit.   Also, I appreciate that they are into pinball, because pinball is the bomb.   They keep the replay nice and long so that your money goes a bit further - people leave happy.   Plus, the staff are in to me bringing my kid - huge bonus.    She hangs out and steals goodies out of the quarter to dollar bin while I take my frustrations out on a little silver ball.   Classic.

Soon to come with a brief run-down on other machines.

For a full report on this and other machines go to:  http://pinball.org/rules/monsterbash.txt

Operation Pinball......

So, its my intention to find every single pinball machine in a twenty mile radius of Portland.   is that crazy?   well, its what i'm doing....other than being totally busy all the time.   but that's the beauty of pinball - while guys are out there pissing away their time and money on something like bowling (yea, thats for you christian), pinball only costs fifty cents....and if you're any good, you'll get a free game or two.   anyway....here's the first machine of my tour.

At the Yankee Lanes on outer Forest Ave lies a little played gem called "Cirqus Voltaire."   its bright, colorful, eye catching backboard drew me in.    love at first sight.   plus, the kids who usually play it don't know what there doing.....low replay score!   Anyway, the replay must be twenty second, so it's forgiving as you learn the ropes.    the game consists of defeating a RingMaster by completing assorted tasks on the play-board.   at first, getting the RingMaster out is no problem, but as the game continues, it gets more challenging to defeat him.

As in all games, there are assorted "SideShows," but these left me a bit perplexed.    in fact, this was my big criticisms for the machine - though the board is exciting, there are so many ramps, spinners, stoppers, gates, bumpers, slingshots and other assorted accouterments that it became difficult to figure which shots corresponded with the actions i needed to follow.  

As you can see, the backboard is really wild.   I didn't like the placement of the display board.    Being tall, it was difficult to see pop ups that corresponded with the game.    Esthetically, I think having the scoreboard so close to the game action was just a little too much.

Once played for a few games, the shots became more and more clear.   I figured out all shots other than the ball lock which seemed totally random.   but i got it.   twice in the same game.    strange.

Tons of shots.   Thank god for a twenty second ball-save!    above the left main bumper lies a strange entraped bouncy ball that deflects the pinball in strange ways.   one nice thing - if you do not make a shot up one of the ramps all the way, the ball has a tendency to shoot back in a non-direct path.    too many machines have steep ramps that shoot the ball straight down the center if you don't make them.    makes for nice long plays.    the neon on the right was a bit too much and out of place, but overall, this is a nice looking machine.

The backboard is really sweet.    the white slash behind the performer is actually a window - behind it is a cannon that is used in one of the mini games.   also included is some sort of wheel.  Flashy? yes.   Functional.   maybe?

Overall i thought this game was worth a play.   not crazy hard - i was able to get a double replay out of it, but challenging and different.

Bowling is for people who like to have a good time together.   be a loner.   play pinball.