Pinball Wizard Tips and Cheats
Game Description:
One of the worst machines released by JPM for some time. It may appear good to play at first but once you get to know it you’ll understand that it is extremely hard to make profit. Because the machine only likes paying out wins of $5 and less it makes the features and wins very obvious as to what they will do, even to top feature High Score constantly pays $4 because the next win will take it over $5. It’s a shame that they made a machine like this because it not only frustrates the player but also lets the image of JPM down.
Strategy:
From a feature entry ladder that goes up to 17 and a bonus that starts at four, the minimum number for a cash win is eight and a successful gamble there after will allow entry in to the Pinball feature. Each successful gamble after $1 will add one to each pot fill so the higher the amount you exchange the more features and nudges etc. you will have available. As you work your way around the feature you will land on pot fill squares, which will add either one or two to the corresponding pot. While on these squares you can high – low gamble to add the same amount to the pot. This can be a quick way to build up your features but remember that it will nearly always kill you if the win takes you above $5, even so it can be tempting to gamble on good numbers. There are also Bumperball squares which will add random amounts to various pots, these to can also be gambled on. The other good square to land on is Multiball which will help complete the Multiball trial to gain access to the super feature. Gambling on this will nearly always result in lose.
Because the machine counts wins of $6 and over as a jackpot it makes it extremely difficult to get a win of more then $5 which also makes even the supposedly best features a complete waste of time. The features are described in detail below (Lowest features first):
Bumper Fruit – Exactly the same as Reel Blasts except you only get one shot. Cashcade – Three shots on the cash ladder trying to work your way up as high as possible. Usually around $3 but can be more.
Cash Flash – Although not true skill it is still quite fun. A Fast Cash feature where a rapidly fast moving light moves up and down the cash ladder.
Money Belt – A various number of wins scroll along the display. Stop it on the highest possible, which should always be $4 or $5. Remember that $3.20 etc. will round up to the nearest pound.
Fruit Flipper – A Mix and Match feature. The first reel spins and you choose whether the Mix and have a go with the middle reel or match and take that win. You have three chances and should get between $3 and $5.
Sharp Shooter - A win will appear in the centre of the display either collect or wait a second for another win to appear. The average win is $4.
Mega Game – Nothing ‘mega’ about this. A very poor win series where wins roll in then you get a repeat chance for another win. It may sound good and be one of the top features but it will never offer more then $5.
High Score – The worst high – low cash feature I have ever seen. Plays the same as Nemesis on Roller Coaster but will always ‘bump’ you on $1.60 as this adds up to $4 so the $2 win will add up to $6 which as I have explained is a jackpot and the machine will not want to pay this.
Multiball – The top feature. A light flashes on various wins then stops below one of them, but even this is very poor. Sometimes you will only get $12, and although it is amazingly hard to get, the Multiball feature never seems to go above $15. There are also mystery squares on the feature board, the random options are:
Bumper Ball – Adds a random amount to various pots.
Extra Ball – Extra life.
Multiball – Helps fill the Multiball feature.
Time Out – You must collect one of the pots. Press the pot you want or start for a random choice.
Bonus – Adds one to a pot. Press the pot button to add or press start for a random choice.
Tilt – Game over.
Skill – Moves up to three spaces in either direction.
Lose – Game over.
The machine also has a bonus position at four on the feature entry ladder, there are some good ones, but it never seems to give them. Watch out for random stop going up to $15 or various high wins, also choose a trial can go very high.
