Iron Man Extra-Ball Help?

[Loc_Dog_]

I really dove into some of the "new" tables when Zen Pinball 2 finally came out. New for me at least; I've really enjoyed Epic Quest, Paranormal, and Sorcerer's Layer so far. Zombies vs Plants is beautiful and the goofy girl doing the voice over makes me enjoy that table an extra bit somehow.

Any-who, after taking a few days break I think I'll start playing the familiar Marvell tables some more and I was looking for some advice for attacking the table that has challenged me the most. As frustrating as Blade is to me at least I know how to and can somewhat reliably get extra-balls even if I rarely get to Wizard and never beat it. Iron Man is the same and each game brings a new frustration; usually the multi-ball mission or any number of weird ball drains. But one thing I have never figured out is how to have any chance other than an occasional lucky extra-ball.

I get that there is only one way, getting 10x multipliers. And it seemed on Marvel pinball (haven't played much or gotten an extra ball yet on Zen 2) that you couldn't get an extra-ball when your extra-ball was "in-play" meaning after you drained and got to "shoot again"; I remember that happening one of my "better" games on Marvel Pinball's Iron Man table as I was about to jump for joy at getting 2(!) whole extra balls but the second 10x didn't light up the extra-ball ramp. Maybe that is not that case anymore because all the tables seem to be changed over to the new 5 extra-balls per game rule instead of what Marvel Pinball seemed to go by which was an random number per each numbered ball in play.

Either way does anyone out here have any specific or general hints or help for achieve extra-balls on Iron Man? The most success I have is usually trying to nudge the ball into the bumper lanes on right orbit shots or during missions when the ball is hard launched after a task is attempted/completed. Then of course there is the mission that forces the ball into the middle lane from either orbit. Still I don't have much success. And one of the biggest deterrents for me is seeing the bumper lanes and therefor being able to move the unlit around to assist the multiplier increase. I play on what I think is now (and maybe was) View 4, that one that zooms back as the ball travels up the machine. I never tried to or was able to get used to the panning views and View 2 (the one most similar to multi-ball view) is the only view in which I can see the bumper lanes reliably but I have a hard time hitting orbit shots in this view, which cancels out the advantage I try to gain by using the view.

One thing I think would be a great feature to add, though I know this would be a lot to ask and I don't know how hard (probably very) it would be to make, would be some kind of mirror image of the three bumper lane lights on the backboard (dunno if that's what it's supposed to be called?). I tried out the Street Fighter table and saw this was very helpful being able to keep track of the bumper lanes on the far back wall rather than trying to peer through table features (though I realize it's almost impossible to see the lanes otherwise on this table).

I know the biggest answer is to keep the ball in play longer but any help is appreciated! I tried the table a few times when I got hold of Zen Pinball 2 but fell short a main mission or two like always. I know being able to have an extra-ball or two would really help me out, might even help me break that 100 million glass ceiling I've erected for myself on that table. Thanks Zen community!

/endrambling

[Bearded_Warrior]

Try this guide by our very own ShoryukenToTheChin:

http://marvelpinball.com/table_guides/Iron%20Man%20Table%20Guide%20By%20ShoryukenToTheChin.pdf

[caper_26]

Either way does anyone out here have any specific or general hints or help for achieve extra-balls on Iron Man?

I made a few pointers a couple of weeks ago in the FX2 forum. Try here: Iron Man Tips. The first post has some tips, but I added some more and elaborated a bit a few posts down too, so read them all...

[s-carnegie]

Thought I would ask here instead of starting new thread, but how does one get 714m on iron man. I struggle to get my measly 45m. Any score over 100m on this table imo is simply awesome.

[shogun00]

Thought I would ask here instead of starting new thread, but how does one get 714m on iron man. I struggle to get my measly 45m. Any score over 100m on this table imo is simply awesome.

A lot of grinding. I have almost 200 million points on the table myself. Completing the missions is the best scoring opportunity. Personally, I fought again Ultimo four time in that game.

[Loc_Dog_]

In my best games I usually get one or if I'm lucky two Extra-Balls, lose to Ultimo (maybe get 3-4 hits on him) and check out around 80-90 million. I cant image 3/4 of a billion. One thing tho since I made this thread is that now I have gotten better at nudging as the ball either goes around the right orbit or is launched through this lane as part/end of missions. I usually get 4x or 6x and then get the electric mission started to get an Extra-Ball. Still haven't gotten 3 in a game, I'd imagine someone getting 700m+ would take advantage of all 5 extra.

[SwitchBlade]

I think I had 317 million on the Marvel Pinball version. I've only played the ZP2 version once or twice. But I believe the Marvel version was harder than the ZP2 version because I beat Ultimo the first try on ZP2.

I would hold the ball with the right flipper, and shoot the left orbit. Once the ball was over the multiplier targets, nudge the table upward. There's a lot of luck involved and your timing needs to be perfect. Also, make sure the view you're using lets you see which lanes needs to be lit to increase the multiplier. If you're lucky, once you get the ball into the bumpers, it will bounce back up through a lane not already lit. Use your flippers to rotate lit lanes. Ive had times where I was able to get up to a 8x multiplier on one attempt just because the ball kept bouncing up from the bumpers into unlit lanes.
During the electro blast mission, I'd always shoot the left orbit and the ball will go down the center lane above the bumpers. Make sure the center lane isn't already lit by hitting your flippers.

[caper_26]

During the electro blast mission, I'd always shoot the left orbit and the ball will go down the center lane above the bumpers. Make sure the center lane isn't already lit by hitting your flippers.

The right orbit is better, since it doesnt spam the bumpers and complete the mission on you. Strictly my own opinion. I think is hits the spinner less too.

[snakeman07]

What others have said, left orbit+nudge. It's all about those extra balls on Iron Man, even with the easiness that this table is in ZP2 compared to MP. I got over 200m on my best game (for the ps nation tournament), met Ultimo like 3-4 times, beat him only once.

[SwitchBlade]

The right orbit is better, since it doesnt spam the bumpers and complete the mission on you. Strictly my own opinion. I think is hits the spinner less too.

I'll give that a try sometime. But right orbit was more of a dangerous shot for me in Marvel Pinball. For some reason it was always tricker to hit the right orbit than the left for me. Haven't played ZP2 enough to know if the right orbit shot is any easier now.
I didn't rely on the Electro Blast mission for the multiplier. I had more luck with the nudge above the bumpers. Whatever I got from the EB mission was just a bonus.

But whatever works best for you is the way to go.

[snakeman07]

I'll give that a try sometime. But right orbit was more of a dangerous shot for me in Marvel Pinball. For some reason it was always tricker to hit the right orbit than the left for me. Haven't played ZP2 enough to know if the right orbit shot is any easier now.
I didn't rely on the Electro Blast mission for the multiplier. I had more luck with the nudge above the bumpers. Whatever I got from the EB mission was just a bonus.

But whatever works best for you is the way to go.

Right orbit is easier now

[s-carnegie]

Thanks for the tips guys on the bonus multiplier, maybe I can increase my measly 45m to a hun and meet altimo. Come close too many times now, time for an extra ball or two maybe.

[Dorktron2000]

I only got 92M in the PS Nation tournament for Iron Man. The nudging method never seemed to work for me so I spammed the Mandarin mission. Still never got an extra ball though.

[caper_26]

During the Electro-Blast mission, I switch to view 2 so I can see the lights. I hold the ball with left flipper, and then change the lights using the right flipper until the right-most is UN-lit. This way, when you shoot the right orbit with left flipper, the lights change and will be correct when the ball goes down middle lane.

PS: Are the missions random when activated?

[s-carnegie]

Well still no extra ball for me yet but I finally got the iron man trophy on the 2nd ball. I was around 76m and hoping for 100m but I knew this wasnt coming easy since ive only beaten Altimo on easy mode with a wack of free balls. I got him on normal with 3 balls but fell short with 92m. Im more than happy with this but man this table makes you work for that extra ball.