# 4K PORTRAIT: Venom Pinball Gameplay Guide - Limited Edition (LE) Model (Flip N Out Pinball, 2023)

**Source:** Flip n Out Pinball  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2023-10-18  
**Duration:** 24m 18s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck0N0LedxKo

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## Analysis

Flip n Out Pinball presents an extended gameplay guide for Stern Pinball's Venom Limited Edition machine, showcasing its dynamic host-selection system where choosing different characters (Eddie Brock, Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker, Flash Thompson) physically changes playfield layouts and shot sequences. The video emphasizes Venom's integration with Stern Insider Connected XP progression system, which unlocks characters and modes through repeated play across multiple games. The host demonstrates battle mechanics against opponents (Riot, Grendel, Null), multiball features, and the Scream video mode, while highlighting the game's fast lock system and responsive ball physics that prevent waiting between shots.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Venom comes in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models — _This particular cornerstone title for Sturm Pinball comes in a Pro model, a Premium model, or an LE Limited Edition model._
- [HIGH] Host selection physically changes the playfield layout and shot sequences — _Eddie Brock goes into a stand-up bank and right loop, Gwen Stacy has two loops/horseshoe, Peter Parker has a 180 ramp and orbit shot._
- [HIGH] The game features a fast lock system that automatically kicks out balls to prevent waiting — _if you hit a ramp over there, it will automatically just kick out another ball before that ball even gets to this lock._
- [HIGH] Insider Connected XP progression is required to unlock all characters and content — _If you continue to log in to Insider Connected and continue working through the different challenges...you're going to be able to see everything._
- [HIGH] Final boss 'Null' requires level 30 to challenge; defeating it unlocks Venomized versions of Hulk, Captain America, or Wolverine — _once you have a level of 30 built up, you can challenge Null...If you beat Null, you get to unlock either Venomized Hulk, Venomized Captain America, or Venomized Wolverine._

### Notable Quotes

> "Choose your host. Change the game. Choose your host, change the game is the tagline for this particular pinball machine, and rightfully so...quite literally, as I choose different hosts, the physical game does change."
> — **Zach (Flip n Out Pinball host)**, Early gameplay section
> _Explains core mechanical differentiator of Venom's host-selection system_

> "It's an introduction of what gaming knows as XP. Using Stern Insider Connected as we log in...saves our progress. We can build XP. We can unlock characters if we do well enough."
> — **Zach**, Rules explanation section
> _Highlights Stern's progression system integration into Venom_

> "I dare you to have more fun in pinball than this right here. It just feels good. I feel like a fighter pilot."
> — **Zach**, Multiball sequence
> _Expresses enthusiasm about the multiball experience and game feel_

> "It's so hard to play this game if I'm not progressing with an insider connected, scanned in. It's just, it makes you feel complete. It's hard to play pinball without it. I'm not going to lie."
> — **Zach**, Pre-game setup
> _Indicates Insider Connected is perceived as near-essential to player experience_

> "Grindle's lit. All you need is 20, a level of 20 to get to Grendel...This would be big for me."
> — **Zach**, Mid-game boss fight
> _Demonstrates progression structure and difficulty scaling based on player level_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Venom | game | Stern Pinball's 2023 Marvel-themed machine featuring host selection, dynamic playfield changes, XP progression, and battle modes |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Venom pinball machine; also produces Insider Connected ecosystem |
| Flip n Out Pinball | organization | Content creator channel demonstrating Venom gameplay; also operates as pinball retailer (flippingoutpinball.com) |
| Zach | person | Host of Flip n Out Pinball channel; plays Venom LE and provides gameplay commentary and rules explanation |
| Insider Connected | product | Stern's digital ecosystem that tracks XP progression, unlocks characters, enables achievements, and saves player progress across games |
| Dwight | person | Credited as someone involved in Stern Pinball production; mentioned in passing during skill shot commentary |
| Corey | person | Credited as someone involved in Stern Pinball production; mentioned alongside Dwight |
| Eddie Brock | game | Venom host character whose selection creates stand-up bank and loop shot configuration |
| Gwen Stacy | game | Venom host character whose selection creates two loops/horseshoe shot configuration |
| Peter Parker | game | Venom host character whose selection creates 180 ramp and orbit shot configuration |
| Flash Thompson | game | Venom host character available for selection during gameplay |
| Null | game | Final boss opponent in Venom requiring level 30 to challenge; described as significantly difficult |
| Grendel | game | Mid-game boss opponent in Venom requiring level 20; features multi-phase fight mechanics |
| Riot | game | Early-stage boss opponent in Venom; one of four ladder endpoints alongside Agony, Phage, Lasher |
| Doppelgänger | game | Physical toy feature on Venom playfield that swings out with dangling targets during hurry-up sequences |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Host-selection mechanic and playfield configuration changes, Insider Connected XP progression and character unlocking system, Battle mode mechanics and opponent difficulty scaling, Fast lock system and responsive ball physics
- **Secondary:** Multiball features and combo scoring, Video mode (Scream) mechanics, Game-feel and player enjoyment
- **Mentioned:** Retail availability through Flip n Out Pinball

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Host expresses genuine enthusiasm for Venom's mechanical features, playfield responsiveness, and multiball experience. Describes the game as 'magnificent,' 'badass,' 'cool,' and 'so much fun.' Despite acknowledging difficulty and occasional frustration with own play, sentiment toward the machine itself remains strongly positive throughout extended demonstration. No criticism of game design or quality detected.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Insider Connected integration positioned as essential engagement mechanism for unlocking content; host emphasizes progression is 'hard' without it and makes player feel 'complete' (confidence: high) — 'It's so hard to play pinball without it. I'm not going to lie.' Progression visible in level increases from 40→41→42 across gameplay
- **[design_philosophy]** Game features multi-phase boss fights with escalating difficulty and dynamic visual/audio feedback (achievements, shaker integration) designed to create satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay (confidence: medium) — Grendel fight shows phase progression (1→2→3→4); achievement notifications trigger during combat; shaker activations described as satisfying
- **[market_signal]** LE model (Limited Edition #305) used for primary demonstration, suggesting LE availability post-release (confidence: high) — 'This particular one is Limited Edition number 305'
- **[product_strategy]** Host-selection system creates physically distinct playfield layouts for each character, enabling variable shot sequences and strategic diversity within single game platform (confidence: high) — Eddie Brock creates stand-up bank/loop, Gwen Stacy creates horseshoe loops, Peter Parker creates 180 ramp/orbit—all confirmed through visual demonstration
- **[technology_signal]** Fast lock system with predictive ball physics automatically prevents shot wait times by ejecting next ball before current ball reaches lock (confidence: high) — if you hit a ramp over there, it will automatically just kick out another ball before that ball even gets to this lock...nonstop web slinging action

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## Transcript

 Did you know that it is a fact that pinball has just been deemed the greatest gaming device and toy in the 2020s? I just, people talk, numbers don't lie. That's what they're saying. And today I get to show off one of the coolest gaming devices and toys that there is on the market right now. And that's Stern Pinball's brand new released game, Venom. Never would I have imagined someone brave enough to actually bring Marvel's Venom, the anti-hero, to the world of pinball. Sturm Pinball has done just that, and I get to show you some gameplay of this magnificent, fast, web-slinging game. This particular cornerstone title for Sturm Pinball comes in a Pro model, a Premium model, or an LE Limited Edition model. Now, this particular one is Limited Edition number 305, so you guys get to see all of the glory that is Venom Pinball. We're going to play some today, but keep in mind, for whatever reason, And this particular game, it's not my lack of playing ability, I assure you. I'm just, this game kicks my butt. So you guys get to laugh and poke fun as I struggle and I get my doppelganger booty kicked by Venom. Choose your host. Change the game. Choose your host, change the game is the tagline for this particular pinball machine, and rightfully so. I'll show you why here in a second, because quite literally, as I choose different hosts, the physical game does change. But it's also a fitting tagline because, figuratively speaking, this title is a game changer for pinball. It's an introduction of what gaming knows as XP. Using Stern Insider Connected as we log in right down here, it saves our progress. We can build XP. We can unlock characters if we do well enough. Probably not going to see that today. But it doesn't matter if you're the greatest pinball player or you know nothing about pinball. If you continue to log in to Insider Connected and continue working through the different challenges, the different mini modes, the different multiballs, the different experiences that this game has to offer, you're going to be able to see everything. You're going to be able to battle even the toughest of foes, which is Null. I'm no expert at this game, but I'll try my best to give a brief overview as to what we're doing here. First, I'd like you to look down at the grid here. See the grid? Each host that you choose works its way up this grid to an opponent. Now that is the left side battles riot, the left middle agony, right middle phage, right side lasher. So you're working your way up one of these ladders and then you play Grendel once you have a level of 20 built up. We'll talk about that soon. And then after that, once you have a level of 30 built up, you can challenge Null, the final opponent. opponent. If you beat Null, you get to unlock either Venomized Hulk, Venomized Captain America, or Venomized Wolverine. And that's essentially it. Each of these dots, as we're working our way up to rows of three, they're each a mini mode. The mini modes are just a two combo shot that blinks, you hit it, it's blinking again, or it stays lit. You hit it again, boom, you complete that. You get three in a row. And if you have 10 battle level 10, then you can battle one of those. but sometimes you want to change your host so you can build up that level. A lot of unique features of this particular title, such as fast lock system right here, this can physically lock balls right there, and you have to make choices of if you want to battle through lasher, if you get two balls locked, or if you get one ball locked, agony, different. This is different things. This is how you change hosts. This is how you keep the ball. But it's fast. Like if you hit a ramp over there, it will automatically just kick out another ball before that ball even gets to this. And it makes for a different playing experience, because it can sense if the ball is going up a ramp here, it can sense that and it'll shoot out a ball right here so you don't have to wait. This is nonstop web slinging action. And it will destroy you. As I'm working my way through the game, I can also get some team ups over here by Hybrid, Sleeper, and Miles Morales. Some Carnage multiball. He's got three different modes that I can work my way through and multi-balls there. but the game changer here is this booty. If you all seen that, look at that booty. Gooty, gooty, gooty. No, that's Dobbleganger. At some points in time, he'll swing out. He's got different dangling targets that you have to hit as a hurry up. That's a cool feature. But no, the game changer here is this physical device right here and right there. But if I choose different characters, that is a different staging system. Game state change it. If I'm choosing, let's say Eddie Brock, it will go into a physical state that is different than if I were to choose Flash Thompson or Gwen Stacy or Peter Parker, et cetera. I almost forgot rules wise down here, as I'm working my way up these ladders, there are different rewards like extra time, plus one play extra ball save, web two times combos. There's different rewards that I can get if I encapsulate that particular award with my mini mode. So if I'm using, what's his name? Eddie Brock going up the left here and I get let say I get these two and then I got Flash Thompson here and I get all four dots right there Boom, boom. Then I get that thing. Simple enough, right? You got the scoop that's responsible for hurry up, special attacks, a scream video mode. This game's badass. You're going to see why right now. And of course, before I begin any game on the new Stern pinball machines, I got to get my insider connected, scanned in. Oh, it's so hard to play this game if I'm not progressing with an insider connected. It's just, it makes you feel complete. It's hard to play pinball without it. I'm not going to lie. All right, so now that we are up, let's play some Venom. Now, as you see, look at the play field right here. I'm going to choose my host. Eddie Brock. Oh, see, now it goes into almost like a stand-up bank. and then the right one goes into a loop. If I go to Gwen Stacy, actually the right one was a ramp, it goes down to a loop, two loops, so you get a horseshoe loop. Peter Parker then comes into the 180 ramp, but also you ramp up to an orbit right here. And then Eddie Brock back to, I think he gets a ramp too. Skill shots we're not going to go through during this game. I'm just going to try to keep the ball alive. Also, check it as I'm changing, like if I'm Eddie Brock right now, you see the path of purple that I would be going up. Flash Thompson, I'd be going up the red, so on and so forth. The only other thing you really need to know rules-wise, it's super easy to understand. Whenever I plunge this ball, you're going to see some lights right here. Those lights correspond to yellow, blue, and white. You see that far white right there? Legit, all I have to do is hit two yellow shots and that dot's done. I hit two blue shots, that dot's done. And I hit two white shots, that dot's done. And that is complete. That's all it is. We won't go into skill shots here, but let's start with Eddie Brock. He gives us some strategic stuff too, like starting with two locks lit, more valuable mayhem, multiball, etc. But we'll start with him. I told you it's mean y'all I told you okay now you guys see yellow blue white two yellow shots I complete it two blues I complete that two whites I complete that there's one blue that's going to blink there's one yellow that's going to blink if I can complete the combo the blue to the left Boom, completed that, so that stays lit down there. Yellow, got that, so that stays lit up there. It's going to lock a ball as well. Ball one is locked. I have choices though, if I get to lock my second ball, whether I want to keep that second ball and go to a multiball with two balls, or whether I want to keep building up for three ball, four ball, et cetera, multiball. slings are so mean to me. Yeah. Okay. Green. Simple enough. If I hit a ball into the green shots, I lock a ball. Right now I have white blinking. So if I want to complete this, I got to do that far right shot. So let's try to lock a ball. Got that. I'm going to hold the action button. It says hold the action button to cancel that multiball. Otherwise Otherwise, it would have started a two ball multiball. All right. Hold. I don't want a three ball. I want to keep building it up. See if I can catch this. I've got to find a way to get to that white shot, that right. I'm not so good at those orbit shots. Let's see if we can post pass here. Nope. Let's see if we can post pass here. There we go. Right shot. Don't blow it, Zach. Everything's on this. Yeah, I got it. I'm not going to hit that white one. Ah, got it, got it, got it. All right, white shot, white shot in the scoop. White shot in the scoop. If you wait too long, then it will go back and you won't get it. White shot in the scoop, got it. Okay, we're good there, we're good there. Now, if you see my level, as I continue to log into Insider Connected, it will continue to build up. I'm on level 40 now. So technically, if I got all the way to null, I could play him. But at a level of 40, the higher level you go, the more damage you're going to do and the easier it's going to be to defeat these opponents. 40 is not going to get it probably done for null for me. But I can play Riot. If I want to play Riot now, I do have the level of 10 to battle Riot. I think I kind of want to. Or I could choose my host. I could change it. Choose my host. and then start building up so that I can have different features to take into or different team-ups to take into Riot. But I think for the sake of this video, I just want to show you guys the different features so Riot is what we're going to do. Riot's lit. We're going to try to hit the center ramp as it says start to start Riot. Here we go. Now I can bring in Sleeper or Miles Morales. You all want to see some Spider-Man, don't you? Let's bring in Miles Morales to help us out in this battle. You guys see the bar up top there just like any fighting game? Oh, no. I do have to fight this one as well. That might be for another tutorial. All right, still got my ball saved. I'm good, I'm good. You guys see the meter up there as I'm fighting him? I'm hitting him good. I'm doing well. Did I defeat him? Kick his ass. unless I have to go into stage two. There's different stages for these guys. Yep. Oh, get the guy. I got the ball safe. Ball safe. Let's hit this red. Hit that red shot. That's what I'm looking for. Bam. Bam Thank you Bam Woo So much fun This thing right defeated Alright. Missing! Kickin' ass! Taking names. Next. Grindel's lit. All you need is 20, a level of 20 to get to Grindel. I do have that level. I have level 41. You guys wanna do it now? to Grendel or should I change my host first and try to build up more stuff? I'm going to see if I can do it. Let's see if we can plow through and defeat Grendel here. This would be big for me. Bring it, Grendel. You ugly dragon looking son of a bitch. I got my connector though. See that achievement I got? Oh, Grindle, I will mess you up, son. Yellow, baby. Oh, damn! Did you all see that? Phase two, Grindle. Phase two, Grindle. To me, Grindle sounds like a German pastry. Would you like to eat the Grindle? Oh, shit, he didn't like that. Okay. Get it under control, Zach. Oh, I've got to go. Oh boy. Come on. Oh boy. Oh, Zach. And Grindle will mess you up if you don't hit him enough. He will fire back at you. This is a flow monster game. I call it a gun slinger game. Yellow, yellow, yellow. Oh, Bricky. Why did I miss that? Did I get it? Phase three started. Here we go. Oh, calm. Calm down. Here we go. Here we go. Got to get my orange now. Simple enough. There's my orange. Now I got to get my yellow. Now I got to get my yellow. My yellow. Oh, baby. Get my XP up Level 42 Phase 4 There's one Oh I got a multiball going now Oh shit that was cool Okay I killed him That's what we call a moment right there The flippers died And I defeated him Now y'all Am I ready for Null on ball one, the correct answer is no. It really is no. But then again, if I change a host, I can change some of my shots, which is cool. I'll show you that maybe on ball two. I kind of want to play no. Now keep in mind, the reason that I'm up this high on my level is because over the last probably 20 games I've put on this on this as I level up on Insider Connected. I've built up to that point. Let's play Null. You ain't shit, Null. You ain't nothing. Shoot the blue, orange, and red shots. Alright, Zach. Gotta focus, baby. There's your shot. Oh. Did y'all even see that? I didn't. Catch that ball. Catch that ball. Little upside down loopy. Little bloopy. Little scoopy. A loopy to the scoopy. Boom. Booyah. Loopy to the scoopy. All right. Whoa. Da-da-da-da-da. Come on. Come on. Come on. Don't you dare. Look at this. Flows for days, babies. All right. We can. Oh, I've got your number. No. No. Mm. Mm. Oh, I'm working it. I'm working it. Look at those slings. Slings are mean. Slings are mean. Oh, boy. Oh! I about died right there. Oh, da-da-da-da. Triple, triple, phase two. All right, null is tough. Null is really tough. Okay. Oh, God. Oh, I almost ate that. okay so now that my nerves are getting to me now I can feel my nerves yep break through it Zack get pumped up yeah I can't hit a shot that's I think I think everything else yeah I deserved I was missing shots and no that is a creepy son of a web right there. Good boy. Look at that. All of my achievements are pouring in. There's nothing more satisfying than that sound right there. And that shaker. If you sit on the machine just right. It's ball two. I'm still level 42. I'm going to change my host now. I'm going to try to get some extra time. Some plus one play field. That's what I'm going for here. Now you've seen whenever I did change that, check the play field out. It's gonna go to different shots. Deuces score right now Oh boy Remember yellow blue white Oh did I keep it No So I didn't cancel. So this is a mayhem multiball, I think. I didn't cancel. I wanted to build it up a little bit more, but we got a four ball here. You guys can see the awesomeness that is this multiball. Oh boy. Starts out as one ball like this. Hit it up with that scoop. Boom. Combo, baby. Much more mayhem. Oh, here we go. It's such a moment, that start of that multiball. Because it builds. Oh, this is... Where is that? I dare you to have more fun in pinball. than this right here. It just feels good. I feel like a fighter pilot. Did I lose all my multiballs there? No, I got them. Now, if I was a great pinball player, I could tell you exactly what I was shooting for, but I'm not. So I won't. And right now, I'm trying to hit the lit shots and talk to you, which isn't easy. Why did I miss that one? And I got the doppel going. Come on, doppel. He's so... Oh, shiza. Okay. Oh, get that doppel shot. Didn't give up, did he? Ah, da-da-da-da-da. on down. Oh, I slid past him. I know I need one more target. And I get screamed, so I get to show you the video mode as well. Left and right flippers to attack the infected. And you can grab more than one at the same time too. Watch how hard this gets. It looks easy right now, right? It's so simple. Just wait. They go faster. And you got to time it just right, I about messed up. Coming in hot, coming in hot. Yep. Yep. I got me. Okay. Back to the action. Let's regroup. Yellow's blinking, blue's blinking, white's blinking. I know, I should be shooting them right now, but that's what I'm going for. Almost had the yellow, but I blew it. Klintar progress. So Klintar is like the ultimate wizard mode. If you get all of that in one game, then you can go to Klintar. Heard around the world. I started to scream. Didn't beat it though. So it was a good ball too. Good ball too. Whoa, whoa. Okay. As a reminder, if you guys want to buy one of these yourself, I don't blame you. All you got to do is go to flippingoutpinball.com and purchase one. Or you can email me at Zach, Z-A-C-H, at flippingoutpinball.com. Okay. Ball three. You guys want to see somebody else? Let's go with a little Gwen Stacy. Gwyneth. So Gwyneth, baby. That was a late skill shot, but they gave it to me anyway. Thanks, Dwight. Or Corey. Oh. So I can play Null now if I wanted. Do we want to play Null again? I kind of want to kick his ass. I didn't mean to shoot no I promise don't drain now See? So damn cool. No, I wanted to play more. Oh, well. Decent game here on Venom. As always, I've got to keep playing this thing. I don't want to bore you anymore with my shenanigans. Go out and play yourself some Venom pinball. GC, are you with me? Grand champion here. Ah, play yourself at your favorite location. That's where I'm at right now, my favorite location. Or you can order from us at Flip N Out Pinball. Go watch some of the other videos and if you haven't liked and subscribed and followed, please for heaven's sake do that. Whenever you get your venom, let me know if you like it, what level it took you to defeat Null and once you defeat Null, what your speed time was because you can do some speed time action on that. Wow, should we play again? Damn straight we gonna play again. You're probably thinking to yourself, they still make pinballs, you know. But first I must wipe down the glass. Yes, I wipe you down too. I wipe the glass. I wipe the glass. I tickle the ass as I wipes the glass. I wipes the glass. I wipes the glass. I tickle the ass when I wipes the glass.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 36d40b05-1b90-4389-a317-2f992ba703c1*