The Star Wars pinball machine, manufactured by Stern Pinball, emerged as a significant title for enthusiasts and collectors alike. Released in June 2017, this solid-state electronic pinball machine tapped into the enduring appeal of the Star Wars saga, specifically Episodes IV, V, and VI. Designed by Steve Ritchie, with software by Dwight Sullivan and artwork spearheaded by Bob Stevlic initially and later Randy Martinez for the Comic Art editions, the game promised an immersive experience within the Star Wars universe.

History and Background

Stern Pinball aimed to capture the excitement of the original Star Wars trilogy. The design team, including Jerry Thompson for sound and Elliot Eismin for mechanics, worked to translate the films' iconic moments into pinball form. The initial release in June 2017 included the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models, all built on the Stern SPIKE 2 system. This platform allowed for modern features like LCD displays and enhanced sound capabilities, crucial for bringing the Star Wars theme to life.

Production began in June 2017, with the Pro model. The Premium edition and the Limited Edition, followed shortly after. Notably, the Limited Edition was restricted to 800 units, each accompanied by a serialized number plate and a certificate of authenticity, enhancing its collectibility.

In October 2019, Stern expanded the lineup with Comic Art versions of both the Pro and Premium models. These reissues maintained the core gameplay and mechanical elements but featured entirely new artwork in a comic book style by Randy Martinez. The Comic Art Pro and Comic Art Premium, offered a fresh aesthetic while retaining the gameplay of their predecessors.

The Star Wars pinball machine quickly made its mark, appealing to both seasoned pinball players and Star Wars fans. Its release was a notable event in the pinball world, leveraging a globally recognized franchise to attract a broad audience.

Signature Features and Design

Each edition of the Star Wars pinball machine presents a unique set of features, tailored to different player preferences and price points. The Pro edition serves as the entry point, featuring a static, non-exploding Death Star toy and an interactive Tie Fighter bash toy as its central playfield elements. It includes two ramps and utilizes artwork by Bob Stevlic that focuses on key characters from the original trilogy.

Stepping up, the Premium edition significantly enhances the play experience. It boasts an exploding Death Star toy, complete with green LEDs, and a Millennium Falcon model situated on a habitrail. A key addition is the "Hyperspace loop," a magnetically accelerated ball ramp that adds a dynamic shot to the game. The Premium also features chrome metal ramps, a departure from the Pro's plastic ramps, and artwork with an Empire-centric theme, also initially by Bob Stevlic.

The Limited Edition mirrors the Premium in terms of features and mechanics, including the exploding Death Star and Hyperspace loop. Its distinction lies in its exclusivity and aesthetic differences. The Limited Edition showcases unique cabinet and playfield artwork, again initially by Bob Stevlic, emphasizing Rebellion characters (though notably excluding Luke Skywalker on the translite). It also features gloss black powder-coated armor, hinges, and lockdown bar, along with a signed collectible and extra translites of the Pro and Premium editions. These elements contribute to its higher collectibility and price.

The Comic Art editions, introduced later, are primarily defined by their distinct art packages. Both the Comic Art Pro and Comic Art Premium retain the mechanical features of their original Pro and Premium counterparts, respectively. The defining characteristic is the artwork by Randy Martinez, which reimagines the Star Wars universe in a vibrant comic book style across the cabinet, playfield, and translite. This aesthetic overhaul provides a visually different experience without altering the core gameplay.

In summary, the editions differentiate themselves through playfield toys, ramp materials, artwork themes, and exclusive elements like the Limited Edition’s collectables. The Pro provides a foundational experience, the Premium adds significant interactive toys and mechanical features, the Limited Edition offers exclusivity and premium aesthetics, while the Comic Art editions present a stylistic variation on the Pro and Premium models.

Playfield and Mechanics

The playfield layout across all editions centers around key Star Wars elements. Major shots include ramps, stand-up targets, drop targets, and a horseshoe lane. A scoop and spinners are also integrated into the design. The Pro edition features two ramps, while the Premium and Limited Editions expand to three ramps, incorporating the Hyperspace loop ramp.

The flow of the game is designed to be fast-paced, encouraging players to keep the ball in motion. The layout incorporates three slingshots and two pop bumpers, with a slingshot strategically positioned to interact with the bumpers, adding an element of controlled chaos. A miniature LCD screen embedded in the playfield displays animations and game information, enhancing visual feedback during gameplay.

Artwork on the playfield is thematic across all editions, depicting scenes and characters from the original trilogy. The initial Pro, Premium, and Limited Editions by Bob Stevlic utilized a photo-realistic style, while Randy Martinez's artwork for the Comic Art versions adopted a dynamic comic book aesthetic. Lighting plays a significant role, with RGB LEDs used extensively throughout the playfield to highlight features, indicate game modes, and create atmosphere. Zoned red, white, and blue general illumination LEDs, along with green LEDs on the Death Star in Premium and Limited Editions, contribute to the visual depth.

Mechanically, the Premium and Limited Editions introduce a diverter and a right outlane ball save, features absent in the Pro and Comic Art Pro. The Premium and Limited Editions also incorporate magnets, notably four of them, enhancing the Hyperspace loop mechanism and contributing to gameplay effects. The interactive Tie Fighter toy, present in all editions, serves as a bash toy target, while the exploding Death Star in Premium and Limited Editions adds a visually rewarding element to multiball modes.

The design philosophy aimed for player immersion within the Star Wars universe, achieved through thematic artwork, sound effects, music from the films, and interactive toys that represent iconic elements from the movies. The playfield is intended to be challenging yet rewarding, with a focus on shot accuracy and mode progression.

Gameplay Dynamics

Gameplay in the Star Wars pinball machine revolves around completing various modes and missions inspired by the films. The game features nine multiball modes and a wizard mode, providing numerous objectives for players to pursue. A core mechanic is character selection at the start of the game, allowing players to choose between Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca, each offering unique gameplay modifiers and advantages.

The scoring system is designed to reward skillful play and strategic mode selection. Shot multipliers are integral to maximizing scores, encouraging players to chain shots and complete objectives efficiently. Modes are often stacked, allowing skilled players to run multiple modes simultaneously for increased scoring potential and complexity.

Examples of game modes include missions based on iconic scenes like the Death Star assault, the Battle of Hoth, and the escape from Cloud City. Multiball modes are triggered by hitting specific targets or completing certain objectives, with each multiball themed around different aspects of the Star Wars saga, such as Tie Fighter Multiball and Death Star Multiball. The wizard mode represents the culmination of game progression, challenging players with a final, high-stakes objective.

The action button on the lockdown bar introduces an additional layer of player interaction, used in specific modes for actions like firing weapons or activating special features. Gameplay is generally fast and demanding, requiring precise flipper skills and an understanding of mode objectives to progress deeply into the game and achieve high scores.

Reception and Legacy

The Star Wars pinball machine garnered a mixed reception within the pinball community. Strengths frequently cited include the strong thematic integration, the use of original Star Wars music and sound effects, and the fast-paced, challenging gameplay. The Comic Art editions were particularly praised for their vibrant and visually appealing artwork, with many players preferring Randy Martinez's style over the original photo-realistic art. The Hyperspace loop in the Premium and Limited Editions is often highlighted as a standout feature, adding a unique and satisfying shot to the game.

However, criticisms were also voiced. Some players found the gameplay to be overly fast and draining, with outlanes considered unforgiving. The initial ruleset was perceived by some as complex or unclear, requiring significant playtime to fully grasp the scoring mechanics and mode progression. The playfield layout, particularly in the Pro edition, was sometimes described as sparse or lacking in depth compared to other modern pinball machines. Some reviewers noted a lack of innovative toys beyond the Tie Fighter and Death Star, suggesting a missed opportunity to incorporate more interactive elements from the Star Wars universe.

Despite these criticisms, the Star Wars pinball machine remains a significant title in Stern's catalog and in modern pinball history. Its use of a globally recognized license ensured broad appeal, introducing the pinball hobby to a wider audience. The variety of editions offered catered to different segments of the market, from entry-level players to serious collectors. The machine's legacy is tied to its successful integration of theme and gameplay, even if some aspects of its design and rules were debated within the pinball community. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise and its ability to translate into engaging pinball experiences.