September tenth, 2020
Tony: There is a brand new roll and write primarily based on pinball known as Super-Skill Pinball 4-Cade. Do you need to overview it?
Me: Yes!
November 18th, 2021
Tony: There is a sequel to Super-Skill Pinball. Do you need to overview it?
Me: Of course!
July 2nd, 2022
Tony: There is a brand new Super-Skill Pinball utilizing the Star Trek IP. Do you need to overview it?
Me: Star Trek??? No. Call me after they have an actual IP, like Star Wars, Marvel, or 3 random Christmas motion pictures.
One Month Later
Tony: What are your three favourite Christmas motion pictures?
Me: You have GOT to be kidding me….
That is the true story of how I obtained my copy of the Super-Skill Pinball Holiday Special.
Gameplay Overview:
Super-Skill Pinball Holiday Special, a standalone sequel to the aforementioned Super-Skill Pinball video games, is a roll and write pinball recreation that enables one to 4 gamers to compete for the very best rating. Games can take between 30 to 75 minutes, with greater participant counts taking longer.
A flip consists of three phases:
- Roll two cube
- Choose one of many cube and transfer your ball primarily based on the die chosen
- If the transfer scored factors, document the factors earned
All play is simultaneous, and all gamers use the identical cube roll. If a participant loses a ball, they begin their subsequent spherical. In different phrases, gamers might be on totally different rounds, relying on their choices (and luck). A participant’s recreation ends after they’ve misplaced two or three balls, relying on the desk. The recreation ends when everybody has misplaced two or three balls. As all the time, the participant with the very best rating is said the winner!
Game Experience:
I need to focus my recreation expertise on the three new tables included in Super-Skill Pinball Holiday Special. To see how the sport performs please learn my unique overview.
Before I get to the gameplay, there are two adjustments from the earlier video games. First, there are solely three new tables (Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story), whereas the earlier video games all included 4. Second, Elf and A Christmas Story final solely two rounds, whereas Christmas Vacation lasts solely ONE.
My tables, so as from most to least favourite, are Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and Elf.
Christmas Vacation
While that is my second favourite of the three motion pictures, it was my favourite desk. Yes, it solely lasts one spherical, however it has essentially the most happening and a few enjoyable tie-ins to the film.
The major approach to rating massive factors is by scoring the sunshine bonus. Just like within the film, the purpose is to place so many lights on your home that you just trigger a rolling brownout. Because you solely have one ball, timing when to attain your lights (tracked on the backglass and erased as soon as scored) versus build up the bonus is essential.
Another approach to rating factors is thru the multiball bonus. Unlike the opposite two tables, the multiball in Christmas Vacation is triggered by finishing the SQUIRREL set, which might be triggered a number of instances in a recreation, as an alternative of through one-time bonuses.
I additionally love the tie-in to Cousin Eddie’s explosion that lets you take a direct double-score bonus, as much as 3 times a recreation, for finishing the GAS set.
Finally, I actually loved the Boss Bonus which, as an alternative of being tied to your decisions, will increase each time doubles are rolled. Trying to finish the BOSS set earlier than one other pair of doubles present up, probably resetting the bonus again to 1 level, might be enjoyable/infuriating.
A Christmas Story
The greatest Christmas film of the bunch; nonetheless, is simply the second-best desk.
The backglass is extra energetic because it contains each the Santa Visit bumpers in addition to the tracker to your Air Rifle bonus. Unfortunately, at the very least for my copy, the desk doesn’t line up completely with the backglass, making me need to shoot my eye out…..sorry.
I additionally actually beloved the Air Rifle Bonus. There are 8 totally different units that may be accomplished. Each time one is accomplished, you mark it off. If you full all 8 earlier than the tip of the sport, you get a 25-point bonus. You can even full it at finish recreation by having the final roll be lower than or equal to the variety of targets, however that’s not as cool.
Obviously, these units cowl well-known scenes from the film, just like the decoder ring, the leg lamp, and the BB gun (these grant one-time double-score alternatives and are enjoyable to attempt to time).
Finally, the DARE set lets you gamble factors. Once you full the set, you choose Single, Double, or Triple Dog Dare. On the subsequent roll, if the roll is greater than the rising requirement primarily based on the dare chosen, you may rating bonus factors (no, you can not nudge to enhance your roll).
Elf
While I take pleasure in Elf, it’s each my least favourite of the flicks AND the tables.
This is essentially the most fundamental desk and is supposed for newcomers within the recreation. There are not any difficult bonuses to determine outdoors of timing when to set off multiball, however that may be stated for each desk. It consists of bumpers and units to finish, in fact, all tied to the film.
The exception to that is that the NICE and NAUGHTY units impression the scoring of the Clausometer bonus. When accomplished, apart from granting the standard one-time bonus, the NICE set lets you rating the subsequent tier on the Clausometer, whereas NAUGHTY makes you’re taking a step again. Balancing when to finish these two units is essentially the most attention-grabbing side of Elf.
Overall, I proceed to benefit from the Super-Skill Pinball collection; nonetheless, I do have three considerations particularly with this recreation.
First, whereas my grievance about greater participant counts has been partially mitigated by decreasing the variety of rounds, it nonetheless exists. I nonetheless don’t discover this recreation as enjoyable at participant counts greater than two.
My second concern, which is the character of the sport and can’t actually be addressed, is that the sport ends at totally different instances for every participant. With 4 gamers, three individuals might be ready whereas the final participant completes their recreation. This existed within the earlier video games and it exists right here; nonetheless, the discount in rounds does assist.
Lastly, there are solely three tables included within the recreation. Yes, the MSRP is decrease ($19.99 vs. $24.99), however you continue to get much less bang for the buck. Stupid inflation (and IP license prices).
Final Thoughts:
I’m a sucker for Christmas motion pictures. I can image breaking this out each Thanksgiving and enjoying video games every weekend till Christmas whereas watching the film within the background. I actually loved Super-Skill Pinball-Holiday Special’s three new tables. The recreation nonetheless travels effectively, so it’s excellent to tackle a (Christmas) trip.
To summarize,
- If you’re new to this franchise and love the IP, that is the right introduction to the collection
- If you’ve performed the opposite video games and just like the IP, I might suggest this to you
- If you’ve by no means performed the opposite video games or don’t take care of these motion pictures, then I might have a tough time recommending the sport to you and would steer you to both the unique or the sequel.
Final Scores: 3.5 Stars – An wonderful roll and write with IP I like; nonetheless, I want there have been 4 tables like all different releases
Hits:
• Very thematic and true to every IP
• Easy to show, performs quick solo or at two gamers with little downtime
• I nonetheless love the Nudge and Multiball mechanisms
• Still travels effectively
Misses:
• One much less desk in comparison with the opposite three releases
• Higher participant counts aren’t as enjoyable (however extra enjoyable than in earlier releases)
• Waiting for the final participant to complete
