I've always been a bit of a DMD era pinball fan, and felt slightly bemused by all the love directed at Sys 11 machines by some people here. I mean, they look OK, but the sound is pretty basic and alphanumeric displays can hardly rival DMD graphics or even ColorDMD loveliness, can they?
But I recently took possession of an Earthshaker, and after a few hours on it I finally get it.
There's something about the simplicity of the graphics and sound that makes the gameplay standout, and much to my amazement there is a shedload of rules and complexity in the old machine. Perhaps not as much as in AC/DC or something like that, but I guess it's like comparing a classic 8 bit game with some of the stuff that plays on the PS4 now. It's simpler but incredibly fun in its own way.
I'm a big Pat Lawlor fan and what's great about Earthshaker is that you can see so many of the features of his later games in embryonic form in it. It has his design hallmark stamped all over it. You work for miles, like in RS, you've got a shelter like the bookcase shot in TAF, visiting the fault is much like hitting the left ramp in TAF or getting hitchikers in TZ, there's the Lawlor classic shot through the pops, and on it goes.
Anyway, I realise now that all the Sys 11 fans on here are not completely deluded after all. A whole new area of pinball has just opened up and I love it!
Phew. Glad I got that off my chest...
But I recently took possession of an Earthshaker, and after a few hours on it I finally get it.
There's something about the simplicity of the graphics and sound that makes the gameplay standout, and much to my amazement there is a shedload of rules and complexity in the old machine. Perhaps not as much as in AC/DC or something like that, but I guess it's like comparing a classic 8 bit game with some of the stuff that plays on the PS4 now. It's simpler but incredibly fun in its own way.
I'm a big Pat Lawlor fan and what's great about Earthshaker is that you can see so many of the features of his later games in embryonic form in it. It has his design hallmark stamped all over it. You work for miles, like in RS, you've got a shelter like the bookcase shot in TAF, visiting the fault is much like hitting the left ramp in TAF or getting hitchikers in TZ, there's the Lawlor classic shot through the pops, and on it goes.
Anyway, I realise now that all the Sys 11 fans on here are not completely deluded after all. A whole new area of pinball has just opened up and I love it!
Phew. Glad I got that off my chest...
