Why does everyone hate 24?

[Big Boss]

Why does everyone hate 24 so much? The ipdb ratings and pinside
ratings are really low on this game. There are very few decent
comments though. Most of the low ratings are just "game sucks" or
something sort of useless. The game also has a ton of really high
ratings. Some people seem to just love the game.

I finally got to see one today and I love it. Now I may be a bit
biased as I am a huge Steve Ritchie fan. I own Spiderman, STTNG, T2,
T3, Getaway, am buying No Fear, and have AC/DC on the way. I've never
been able to find a working 24 to test out (until now) and always
stayed away from buying it because of its low ratings and general
disrespect. I'm just as much of a fan of Lyman Sheats (the best SW
guy in the biz IMO). Ritchie + Lyman Sheats is like some dream team.

As for the game play itself, the game is fast. You are constantly in a
"hurry up". All the modes stack - this is really great fun as you can
stack multiballs, complete modes during multiballs, etc. There's some
decent flow. There are several tight shots (such as sniper and
safehouse). There are two wizard modes. The layout feels like a
Ritchie layout. The stacking nature of the game is just fantastic! The
fact that you're always in a hurry up keeps your adrenaline very high.
After every game my heart is pounding.

The game is a bit on the easy side and ball times are somewhat long.
But there are other games with longer ball times that get a lot of
respect (Batman dark knight, monster bash, attack from mars). Attack
from mars is also on the easy side. I'd rate this and attack from mars
difficulty about the same.

I realize the game has a couple really cheap looking toys. But those
can be replaced with some mods. I can see having the ramp shots stop
the ball being a downer, but with the latest software version, you can
double flipper the left ramp animations and get the ball back right
away. Plus, this only happens when locking a ball or starting a mode.
Other times the ramp shots flow. I can see some complaints perhaps
about the modes themselves not having much variety. They all seem to
be similar in you just pick off the red arrows or whatever. Still, due
to the stacking nature of the game, you're usually picking off those
arrows while in one or two hurry ups to start the next multiball.
Also, I've heard that its a "one shot game" where people think you can
just back hand the left ramp over and over and over. I don't see that.
If you do that, you'll miss out on all the multiballs and high
scoring. (I guess same could be said about STTNG, you could just left
flipper into mode start over and over.).

Anyways, I think this game is really great. I can't imagine what
people dont like about it. Is it the theme? I know that Chloe sounds
boring, but that's how she sounds on the show....nor does that seem
alone enough reason to hate a game.

Any real pinball players here that have put some time into this game
want to chime in? And if you are a hater of it, do you like other
Ritchie titles?

[Pin Lord]

game sucks

[Jeff Palmer]

I have never played it. So "everyone" doesn't hate it :)

[TunaSled]

well said

[goatdan]

On Feb 9, 11:18 pm, Big Boss <bigb...@thebigboss.org> wrote:
> Any real pinball players here that have put some time into this game
> want to chime in?

I don't know if I count as a 'real pinball player' or not, but the
thing that I didn't like about it was the constant hurry ups. In
moderation, I love hurry ups and the intensity that they give. Just
about anything with a count down, really. But, with 24, while it fit
the theme perfectly, having everything be a hurry up made me not
really care about any particular one, and when that is the main
feature of the game if you don't agree with it, well... yeah.

I have heard that the code was updated since I played the one that I
played, but I haven't yet tried it. I keep my original ratings on
IPDB until I get another chance to play the games and then I'll go
back and change them. I use it as a sort of memory bank to see what I
thought of games in the past that I might be interested in picking
up. I do change them when I have new experiences, and 24 is really a
title I'd love to play again...

> And if you are a hater of it, do you like other
> Ritchie titles?

Yes. Quite a lot, actually. I don't own any of his games, but that
has far more to do with how I buy games, and far less to do with what
I would like to one day own. If it was up to me, I'd have about a
half dozen of his games set up right now... well, if it was up to me,
I'd have a way bigger house and all of his titles set up, but in the
current situation, about a half dozen seems right.

[pinballtom264]

I picked one up recently and absolutely love the game. I think it
takes a few plays to get into it but the modes are great and the
multibal stacking is awesome it has a good balance between having deep
enough rules for the more advanced player and fun right off the bat
for the casual player it's been a hit for both in my gameroom,

[yenningComity]

I played it on location so here are my thoughts.

Unimaginative inserts, a grid, really?
Hideous artwork.
Cheap toys. Seriously stern hit a new low with the toys on this one as
far as how they look.

I won several free games on it, but ended up leaving credits on it. I
found the rules uninspired. It just was hurry up after hurry up.


--
yenningComity
This USENET post sent from http://rgparchive.com

[JimB]

Pin Lord;1881722 Wrote:
> game sucks

Sorry, disagree 100%


--
JimB

[ldnayman]

I haven't played it enough to love it or hate it. It does seem a
little half-baked to me...kind of like it was taken away from its
designer halfway through production...

The theme, art, and sound are all awful though so it certainly doesn't
have any of that stuff going for it. And the toys seem pretty cheesy.

[Mike Flanagan]

I would like to add that the voice calls with the game (Chloe) are
horrible. Not Lionman repetetive horrible, but horrible nonetheless.
Just not a good voice actor.

[Taxman]

> I would like to add that the voice calls with the game (Chloe) are
> horrible.  Not Lionman repetetive horrible, but horrible nonetheless.
> Just not a good voice actor.

Lionman, Lionman or Wrong Hat, Wrong Hat.

As long as the show is still a hit so with this game be.
What?
Oh the show vanished as fast as it was a hit?
How's that CSI doing?

Dave "Taxman" http://www.pinbald.com

[Pacpin]

Theme and artwork kill this game, plain and simple. If it were rethemed
as Monty Python Zombie killers, everyone on RGP would think it's the
greatest game ever.


--
Pacpin

[ldnayman]

And if my balls were made out of platinum I'd be a millionare.

[Taxman]

> And if my balls were made out of platinum I'd be a millionare.

I can't imagine how uncomfortable that would be when they got cold in
the winter time.

[James Lewis]

I didn't read the whole thread just yours but Ill give my 2 cents. I
really like the game for what it is which is. The game is fast and there
is a lot to do and I like the constant hurry up feeling the game has. I
like the rules to the game as well. I dint like the usual Sternnes which
is the cheap pixelated photoshopped pf or the huge mode inserts right in
your face. They cheaped out on the toys as well. The game itself, to me,
is fun.


--
James Lewis

[John]

I bought one NIB and really enjoyed it until I found out there would
never be an update to finish the game (including adding that Escape
insert by the shooter lane, the wizard mode, etc.).

After awhile it became a game with a hard to reach wizard mode that
was non-existent (at the time). Does anyone know if they ever did
update that game and polish out the wizard mode as well as make use of
the escape insert? There were other things I thought were missing
at the time, but I can't recall all the specifics.

[Pinballed]

retheme it and it flies. Some pinheads are fickle and will only play
what others say is good. Case in point. Striker Extreme. Most hate it.
Heck, most havent played it and still hate it...starting to get it?
Yet, throw the letters NFL on it and SUDDENLY its worth $2500 more and
the pinheads love it.
So, basically, dont worry what others think...most of them are sheep
anyways. Take advantage of the cheaper price and rock on.

[Frank Furhter]

It sucks to pay 1000s of dollars for something designed to be something
better than a rush out product and then abandoned.

[Captain Neo]

Since I beat Zach Sharpe on it last tuesday. I'm a fan of the
game. :)

[pinballtom264]

They did update the code it's complete now.

[John]

Darn it, I wish Stern would have just made it clear that they would
have eventually got to it, I'd still have mine.

[Pinaholic (NYC)]

There is one running on the latest code at Mugs Ale House in Brooklyn.
Decide for yourselves if you have a chance.

[CJ]

No, NFL sucks every bit as hard as Striker Extreme. It just looks
halfway decent in someone's gameroom with their favorite team
plastered on the backglass. It's the ultimate newbie or non-pinhead
homeowner pin, so it sold well. Put Manchester United or Liverpool or
whatever on the backglass instead of generic SX, and I'm sure they
would have sold just as many of them in Europe.

CJ

[bara...@gmail.com]

So true.

24 is a great playing game. Just everything but the game play sucks.

I personally love to play 24. There was one on location here for a while and i played the crap out of it.

[Pinball Life]

24 isn't a terrible game. There are much worse. The price is starting
to come in line with the gameplay so it's not a bad pin to run through
your collection. The variety of shots is actually very good and the pop
up drop targets are a good fun. The safehouse is a tough shot and
personally I've always had trouble hitting the sniper shot but maybe
that's just me :-).
Terry.


--
Pinball Life

[alveolus]

To each his own. At its peak, it was the most addictive show that I
had ever seen. So, A+ theme for me. No doubt it is ugly, though with
full led conversion it is much more palatable. Played it at the TPF
with shaker motor and thought it was a blast! Too bad they made so
few. No telling when I will ever see one again. Damn, I want one!

[Big Boss]

Had a bunch of friends over today and everyone love 24. Too bad for
me, this one goes back tonight. Now I have to buy one. When I do I'll
post pictures of the mods that I make to improve the cheap toys. With
the SW update, the game really feels complete. It's loads of fun.

[Taylorva]

alveolus;1882394 Wrote:

There is one FS in VA


--
Taylorva

[Nevus]

I played at the PHOF and thought it was good, but not great or must
have. With unlimited space, I would grab one at a bargain. With
limited space, too many others ahead of it in line. I would definitely
put quarters in one if I saw it on route though.

[James Lewis]

I can deal with the photoshoped pf and the huge "in your face" inserts
but the toys and plastics look so cheap. The plane and helicopter are
terrible along with the safe house and the suitcase. They could have
done a much better job but Gary is a cheapass and refuses to give people
their moneys worth.


--
James Lewis

[Ataritoday]

I loved 24. Watched it every week. I played the pin and for some
reason it just didn't grab me at all. Not bad. Just not exciting for
some reason.

[grh]

24 is a terrible game. Yes Ripley's is worse.

George

[yetterben]

I had a 24 for 2.5 days lol. I sold it back to my boss to put on route
lol.


--
yetterben

[Frank Furhter]

yetterben wrote:
> I had a 24 for 2.5 days lol. I sold it back to my boss to put on route
> lol.

Not only is the game a dog, but the artwork (as is most modern sterns)
just crappola.