# Batman 66 Gameplay **Source:** Straight Down the Middle **Type:** video **Published:** 2017-02-09 **Duration:** 11m 25s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9rOUAbY_FY --- ## Analysis Casual gameplay video of Batman 66 pinball featuring the host (Zach Sharpe) playing through multiple modes including Penguin, Riddler, and Joker challenges. The commentary reveals mixed reactions to game mechanics: appreciation for satisfying shots and callouts, frustration with unclear skill shot mechanics and ramp-heavy design requiring repetitive hits, and criticism of code design decisions that allow undesired mode continuation. Host acknowledges poor personal play skill while discussing game design philosophy. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The code allows players to continue playing the Riddler mode even after beating it, which the host questions as a design decision — _Host directly observes and comments on the mechanic during gameplay: 'I don't know why it lets you continue to play the Riddler'_ - [HIGH] Batman 66 requires hitting ramps 'a hundred million times' to progress, indicating ramp-heavy playfield design — _Host commentary during gameplay: 'the ramps, you gotta hit those things a hundred million times'_ - [HIGH] Mystery shot mechanic gave the host nothing despite being lit — _Direct observation during play: 'the mystery shot was lit as well and it gave me nothing'_ - [HIGH] Host prefers playing through modes and game progression over multiplier optimization and scoring — _Direct opinion stated: 'I'm not a multiplier kind of guy. I like getting through the game. I'm not crazy about points or scoring'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Ah, horrible. Get out of there." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, mid-gameplay > _Reaction to missed shots during Penguin mode, illustrating frustration with own play execution_ > "I have no clue what the skill shots mean, but I try to hit them when all three are lit." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, early gameplay > _Indicates unclear skill shot mechanics on Batman 66; design feedback about game legibility_ > "I don't know why it lets you continue to play the Riddler... That's a... I don't know why it lets you continue to play the Riddler" > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, mid-gameplay > _Questions game code design decision; suggests unintuitive mode progression logic_ > "The ramps, you gotta hit those things a hundred million times." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, late-gameplay discussion > _Criticism of ramp-heavy playfield design requiring excessive repetition_ > "I like that shot. That is a satisfying shot. This feels good." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, mid-gameplay > _Positive feedback on specific shot design/feedback quality_ > "Holy Extra Ball Batman. Now that callout was cool. I like that." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, multiball segment > _Appreciation for themed audio/callout design consistent with Batman 66 IP_ > "I'm just not a multiplier kind of guy. I like getting through the game. I'm not crazy about points or scoring or anything like that. But I have a lot more fun just playing the mode." > — **Host (Zach Sharpe)**, gameplay philosophy discussion > _Reveals personal play style philosophy emphasizing progression over optimization; acknowledges this may explain poor scoring_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Zach Sharpe | person | Host playing Batman 66, content creator for Straight Down the Middle | | Batman 66 | game | Stern Pinball machine being played and analyzed; based on Batman '66 TV series IP | | Straight Down the Middle | organization | YouTube channel/podcast hosting this gameplay video | ### Topics - **Primary:** Playfield design and shot layout, Code clarity and mode mechanics - **Secondary:** Audio callouts and theme integration, Host play style and skill level, Shot feedback and mechanical satisfaction ### Sentiment **Mixed** (0.55) — Host appreciates certain design elements (audio, specific shots, satisfying feedback) but expresses significant frustration with game mechanics (unclear skill shots, ramp repetition, code design choices). Self-deprecating about own play skill. Overall tone is casual/entertainment-focused rather than harshly critical. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Casual gameplay commentary format; host providing real-time reaction and design critique for audience entertainment and education (confidence: medium) — YouTube gameplay video format with running commentary on mechanics, design, and personal reactions - **[design_philosophy]** Skill shot mechanics unclear to player despite active engagement; player unsure what skill shots mean or how they function (confidence: high) — 'I have no clue what the skill shots mean, but I try to hit them when all three are lit' - **[design_philosophy]** Ramp-heavy playfield design requiring excessive repetition ('a hundred million times'); host suggests this mechanic feels tedious (confidence: high) — Direct commentary: 'the ramps, you gotta hit those things a hundred million times. I'm gonna have to clean it out. That's just... okay.' --- ## Transcript Alright everybody, let's see how horrible my Batman skips are. There we go. Now my penguin is ready. Answer the phone. I'll show him in one. Now I'm going to hit those things up. Hit the crane, hit the crane baby. Ah, I missed him. Missed him. Got it. That sucked. Alright, so it still should be on penguin mode. See the, I have no clue what the skill shots mean, but I try to hit them when all three are lit. See, I hit nothing but I still got 650,000. Get out of there. One more shot. Ah! Not where the screen comes off. Missed it. Missed it. Alright Zach, you got this baby. Got it. Alright now, scoop, collect. Scoop, collect. Yeah, come on. Missed it, but I did lock the ball up there. Scoop to collect, come on. And he missed it. There it is. So now the penguin is jailed. lock a ball up there. Scoop the collapse, I'm going to go for the river. I can try to lock the ball up there. No, I can't lock the ball up there. Don't want to start the penguin. Ah, horrible. Get out of there. Alright, what am I going to shoot at? Shoot a camera. And I'm missing. Do not want to shoot the joke I don want to shoot the joke Brick City And that's Batman. I mean, when you suck at playing with me, it's nothing but brick shots. Oh, man. keeping their lives at given oh man I don't know how this ball is lasting look at this oh oh so sad so sad oh thank heavens alright so here's what the code I think lacks you can pick Let's pick Egghead. So I'll pick him, but nothing happens. I'm answering the phone for somebody. Who am I answering the phone for? I'm answering the phone. For the Ridley. So now I've got the green shot. And a miss. After your shot, the red showed, I believe, a combo shot. Oh, it's coming back down. So that should be ball two is locked. I like that shot. That is a satisfying shot. This feels good. Get out of there. I like it. Oh, no. Alright, what do we got? This sounds even clunkier than the glass. Oh! See, the mystery shot was lit as well and it gave me nothing. Alright, we're locked here. I really got to be about done missed There's that third one. There a multiball Shall we Robin Let Batman Here we go I think pretty much we're just shooting for jackpots and... ...and little shots, but... Oh, it's down to the left. Nope. You got some studs right somewhere here. Alright, here we go. I don't know where the jack is. Pretty good multiball game. Holy Extra Ball Batman. Holy Extra Ball Batman. Now that callout was pretty cool. I like that. Holy Extra Ball Batman. Alright, what are we on? Ball three? Oh, we got an extra ball. Alright, ball two. Three points. Alright, so I got the Riddler, I got the Penguin. Now we're going to go for... No, you do not. I don't know why it lets you... That's a... I don't know why it lets you continue to play the Riddler... The Bingbug. Where's the red light? Alright, I need some joker action here. I found that the cat will now know these settings, but the ramps, you gotta hit those things a hundred million times. I'm gonna have to clean it out. That's just... okay. All right So I want the joker right in the middle or I want Catwoman Reigns And I get my... Zack. All right, so I can answer the phone so I can compete against the Joker. Clunk! I don't know what the hell that is. Alright, so now you're hitting the Joker shots, which are the red-lit shots. I think it's a roving shot as well. Oh! Oh! One-foot-clutch. Lance completed. Let's stay here. And damage ring! Five. What do we got? One more ball. A lot of people play for multipliers and stuff like that. I'm just not a multiplier kind of guy. I like getting through the game. I'm not crazy about points or scoring or anything like that. But I have a lot more fun just playing the mode. And that could be an excuse for being so bad at pinball. Alright, here we go. Again, TV shot is lit. It doesn't do a whole hell of a lot. And I drained. I'm going to call a foul on the little dog coming out. All right, so that's Batman. Not a bad sport. Not very so. _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 71e27190-ab73-4db7-a252-ac278b712296*