Captain America - First Impressions

[Womble]

Most of the time it does, but sometimes it will pick the wrong ramp and you have to keep searching.

Aye, just found that tonight. I've amended my previous observations.

(Basically, hitting the Cosmic Cube isn't as useful as I first thought, in many of the modes.)

Re the Supply Drop and the subsequent Ambush mini-game:

- a man symbol will award you a Commando
- a skull symbol will start Red Skull Multiball
- a parachute symbol will give an Extra Ball
- a X symbol will light the Bonus Held
- a square symbol will start Zemo Castle mini-game. You first need to shoot the left ramp in a 150K Hurry Up. Whatever score you get, will be the score for each of the targets in the mini-game.

(Presumably, selecting Jacque Dernier for 30X scoring on targets, and then being quick enough, will make each of these targets worth 4.5million each...)

How are people doing Death Saves on this table? What are you hitting, and when? I'm holding up the appropriate flipper, and hitting the up nudge as the ball gets close to the drain, but the ball never comes close to jumping back up through the flippers.

[edit]

OK, finally made a Death Save. W00t. Haven't found a reliable way of doing it though.


Regarding the possible Bucky Skill Shot bug, well I can confirm it now: sometimes you have to hit the right ramp just once to get Bucky, other times you have to hit the ramp twice.

[Solitude]

I think it would be cool if you could manually reset the Cheevos. I'd do it periodically just to create the challenge again. High scores are obviously fun to post, but having an additional objective...a lil somethin' to conquer...is always fun.

In fact, it'd be nice (and I can't believe I'm making this correlation) if they had something similar to Call of Duty Black Ops. Not necessarily contracts...but daily "missions" or goals that gave you additional things to try and accomplish. It would also create incentive to go back and visit those tables you've forsaken for so long. I might even create a thread on such an idea. I think it'd be awesome because it would give us additional things to shoot for from time to time on a given table, long after the cheevos have been taken down. I dunno. Just a thought.

It's funny. I designed several new systems for Pinball FX2 without having played the last couple CoD games, and it turns out that several features were nearly identical to CoD's, including the one you mention.

It's not coming until late next year probably, but it's definitely the next major step for the game.

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

Good news: the scores and cheevos are back on XBLA. Crackervizzio's score has been defeated, god is in his place, all is right with the world.

Wait so the achievements we got on Thursday went live? I didn't need to recover my gamertag and re-earn them?

[UranusIsBroken]

It's funny. I designed several new systems for Pinball FX2 without having played the last couple CoD games, and it turns out that several features were nearly identical to CoD's, including the one you mention.

It's not coming until late next year probably, but it's definitely the next major step for the game.

That's really awesome. Even though "late next year" is a really long time out, it's awesome to hear that the plans for this suite extend so far ahead as to include that time frame. There's so much that's bound to come out in the meantime.

From time to time, I play other games and wonder how some of their features would relate to FX2. I also love playing Pac Man DX, and a lot of its timed modes and what not often make me think of applications for pinball.

At any rate, thanks for continuing to support and build upon this game.

[Womble]

Wait so the achievements we got on Thursday went live? I didn't need to recover my gamertag and re-earn them?

Correctamundo.

[later...]

Actually... when I was on the 360, it was showing my Cheevos. But the Cheevos are showing as padlocked on xbox.com. I guess we'll find out soon enough.


More random thoughts:

- In Sleeper Multiball there's a single Jackpot shot on the table (the captive ball). Unfortunately, the Jackpot value sucks, so you have to build it to 3 million by hitting each of the 3 Cosmic Cube targets. You can then double this, and triple it, by locking balls in the ASSAULT lock. Since the multiball starts with balls entering the upper right loop, this is best done by immediately making shots on the lock via the upper right flipper. I think this is more trouble than it's worth, given the degree of difficulty in making the captive ball shot when it's on the right-hand side. However, if you have a Bonus Multiplier active, the EOBB is nice.

- In Adhesive X, there's a puddle of glue on the right orbit, above the upper-right flipper. If the ball rolls down here, it's murderous; the ball almost always goes SDTM. You can avoid this by hitting the ball with the flipper, but this wastes precious time. Solution: just stick the flipper out, and the ball will miss the centre drain.

- I have a hard time nailing the left-loop -> upper-right flipper shots on ASSAULT/Lock. I'm finding it much easier to shoot the Red Skull ramp instead, which will drop the ball above the upper-right flipper for a more controlled shot. Plus, it racks up the count for Red Skull Multiball.

- This is Zen's best table so far! I'm loving it!

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

RED SKULL MULTIBALL, how do you increase/collect Jackpot?

[Womble]

RED SKULL MULTIBALL, how do you increase/collect Jackpot?

Shooting the spinner (right orbit) increases the Jackpot.

To collect, shoot the ramp where Red Skull is hovering. (He changes position during the round. A flashing "Jackpot" light will show you which one to go for.)

[Womble]

Found a visual bug:

- Started Resistance mode, found the 2 Resistance members. Then made the left ramp shot, started the Castle mini-game

- After playing the mini-game for a few seconds, the ball reached the bottom of the target corridor. But by spamming the flippers I was able to get the ball back in to the corridor.

- However, the view switched out to the overhead view (as if the mode was complete), instead of the close-up view. I was still able to play the mini-game, but now from my normal view. The mode continued, and the timer ticked down, but it was very hard to complete the final targets. Completed it with 1 sec to go.

(I've had this bug twice now.)

[Womble]

Couple more bugs:

1. Started Assault mode (by hitting ASSAULT ramp 7 times). Cap said something like "OK, let's hit the Castle".

Problem: hits on the Castle ramp didn't register. Hit it twice in a row, nothing happened. Should have been taken to the mini-game.


2. Started Resistance mode. Hit one of the 5 shots, found 1 of the Resistance members. Then I hit the Cosmic Cube, which performed one of the shots. "Nothing found here".

Problem: I then hit the other 3 shots, all which said "Nothing found here". The mode timed out with only 1 Resistance member, and no more shots left.



I was doing well this game, too. Ripped off!

[Cloda]

Played the table for the first time yesterday and must say I'm having a blast. The tables layout and scoring approach is such that for beginner players it is very inviting (e.g. points for half completed missions). None of the individual missions are very difficult, and you can always select which one you would like to do and thus practice the one you struggle with. I haven't figured out how to do the Zemo Castle properly yet... I'm just bashing buttons and with lots of frustration I manage to hit all the targets... any tips for that? The Wizard mode is also easy in the sense that you can lose all your balls and it will still continue with only one ball (or even a new ball) and not reset the table as on many of the other tables (e.g. F4 and Ironman).

I haven't figured out how to consistently hit the multiplier targets but I found a nice strategy to start the game off with which gives you a nice scoring boost, quickly advances the multipliers and bring you much closer to extra ball - just immediately go for the Red Skull Multiball The other advantage of going for Red Skull Multiball straight away is that it also very quickly get you in a position to start the Sleeper Multiball. My end of ball bonus was also above 50million when I started the game off with Red Skull Multiball and immediately afterwards did Sleeper Multiball.

My guess is if this table is going to be the next tournament table, the top 30 scores are all going to be above 1 Billion with the sky being the limit for the first few positions. I'm sure the clever guys will figure out some tricks with the end of ball bonus or some other trick

Anyways... really like the table but am in a strange way already impatient again that Zen should quickly patch Fantastic 4 so that I can play it... I have not nearly exhausted my play time on that table with the excellent mode / multi-ball stacking that results in constant activity.

PS: The rulesheet explain just about everything you need to know to complete the table... so just go through it after you have played the table for a couple of minutes and know where everything is.

[Womble]

You're doing very well to defeat the Wizard mode considering you've just got the table!

I've only just got around to the Wizard mode, and I choked on the Cage. Sad panda face.

Came across another Ambush mini-game red symbol: Man/person. (It awards a Commando.)

As for the Zemo mini-game, I'm pretty much just spamming the flippers, left and right as required.

Gotta say: I do not miss the video modes. Would much rather play these mini-games instead of lamo video games!

[shogun00]

Came across another Ambush mini-game red symbol: Man/person. (It awards a Commando.)

That's the Supply Drop mini-game, which gives you a random reward when complete.

Hit the bumpers and spell out the word, then aim for the Howlers hole. You will automatically hit the supply drop target on the way and it'll start up the mini-game.

[KGSoloman8000]

That's the Supply Drop mini-game, which gives you a random reward when complete.

Hit the bumpers and spell out the word, then aim for the Howlers hole. You will automatically hit the supply drop target on the way and it'll start up the mini-game.

Yea, he knows how to activate the minigame... He is just compiling data for those red lights on the minigame playfield, trying to figure out which one corresponds to each random reward.

Cloda and I both need some tips on the other minigame on the table. The one where you activate the magnets. We have just been mashing the triggers, but we feel like we're doing it wrong... Anyone have any tips on how this minigame is supposed to be played? I'm sure once the table reaches the masses someone will find the "correct" way to play this minigame.

I'm going to type up my pinhead review for Cap tonight. I will post it up either tonight or tomorrow when I wake up. I forgot to ask Mel when the press embargo has lifted (I assume it's today since the table hits PS3 tomorrow)

[ShoryukenToTheChin]

Wow im seriously hooked on this table, so Womble what are the other 2 rewards for the supply drop.... I can never seem to access them if they even exist.

[Cloda]

I changed my mind on the Red Skull Multiball as a strategy... it can pay off but doesn't always. I forget about the Multiplier etc. for now and just focus on completing the missions because when you get to the Wizard mode you have four Multiball modes that helps push up your Multiplier.

I also search for all the Howlers as quickly as possible as I feel you can make really good use of the different guys and can call in supply drops once you have all of them. So far it just hasn't worked out nicely yet - I lose too many balls trying to get all of them and I struggle to activate the two howler mission buttons and then quickly enough get the ball in the supply drop hole before the very short timer runs out - but so far I see that as the most likely way to get extra balls during a game.

I also encountered the Assault ramp glitch where you have to hit the castle ramp but the shots doesn't register even though there is a countdown.