SAW Homebrew (crappier Whirlwind) Pinball Review!! Spoiler: IT SUCKS!!

TL;DR

Walt Wood savagely reviews Saw homebrew as inferior Whirlwind copy with missing audio and weak rules.

Summary

Key Claims

• Saw is a copy of Whirlwind with worse game rules, audio, and light show

  high confidence · Repeated throughout review; core criticism comparing the two games directly

• The game lacks music, audio callouts, and proper gameplay documentation

  high confidence · Wood repeatedly points out absence of audio: 'No music, no audio' and criticizes video quality

• Every arrow flashes simultaneously, creating unclear player objective

  high confidence · Wood criticizes design repeatedly: 'Why is every arrow flashing? Every single arrow is flashing'

• The primary mode is simply spelling 'SAW' with unclear mechanics

  high confidence · Gameplay footage shows white shots spell letters, red shots lose letters, reach scoop to start

• Glenn and team didn't design the game; it's derivative of Pat Lawlor's Whirlwind

  medium confidence · Wood attacks credit listing: 'Pat Lawler did that game. Get your names off there'

Notable Quotes

• “All this is making me do is want to play Whirlwind. Whirlwind has better game rules, better audio, better dude, a better light show. It literally has Whirlwind is everything better than this.”

  Walt Wood @ Mid-review — Core critique summarizing Saw's inferiority across all dimensions

• “Why is every arrow flashing? Are you sure you didn't you weren't on drugs making this? Cuz every arrow is flashing, bro.”

  Walt Wood @ Early gameplay critique — Highlights specific design flaw and mockingly inverts Glenn's alleged criticism of Wood

• “This mode sucks. All they did I need a better gameplay video. You guys don't have any good gameplay video. They literally lit that target and that target. This is your mode, bro. You light these horrible standup targets.”

  Walt Wood @ Mid-review — Criticizes both gameplay design and marketing (lack of video content)

• “No, look, we got no game audio, no music. What's going on right here? I mean, dude, but also no gameplay video. Where's your Where's your online presence, dude?”

  Walt Wood @ Late review — Identifies multiple presentation failures beyond gameplay

• “It doesn't feel good hitting a stand-up target for the player. FYI, it feels good when you hit a shot for the player. So, put the arrow on a shot.”

  Walt Wood @ Design critique section — Provides actual design feedback emphasizing shot-based mechanics over standup targets

Entities

Signals

• ?

  community_signal: Interpersonal conflict within pinball homebrew community; allegation of Glenn criticizing Wood and other players; Wood using review platform to respond to personal grievances

  high · 'The guy who made this game is always talking shit about me' and repeated references to Glenn's alleged criticism about drug use

• ~

  sentiment_shift: Broad dismissal of Saw as failed homebrew; comparison to superior original (Whirlwind) unfavorable; skepticism about creator's credibility

  medium · Repeated assertion that Saw is 'worse Whirlwind' that only makes player want to play original game instead

• ?

  community_signal: Wood positions himself as honest, credible voice offering design mentorship; contrasts his credibility (ranked top player, tournament wins) against Glenn's lack of demonstrated skill

  high · 'I just won 200 Whoppers in Illinois...I can back up my shit...you show up and you give us this'

• ?

  design_philosophy: Specific playfield design flaw: simultaneous lighting of all arrows creates visual clutter and fails to guide player through clear objective progression

  high · 'Every single arrow is flashing...you got to have some like kind of symmetry in your modes...the player has to ask what's my action?'

• ?

  design_philosophy: Critical disagreement on shot-based vs standup-target mechanics; Wood advocates for shot-based design as more satisfying

  high · 'It doesn't feel good hitting a stand-up target for the player...it feels good when you hit a shot for the player'

Topics

Sentiment

negative(0.15)— Overwhelmingly critical review with harsh language throughout. Wood finds almost nothing positive about Saw, though he acknowledges Don's Pinball Podcast improved presentation with music bed. Positive sentiment only appears when discussing other community members (Canada, Kale, Rachel) and classic Whirlwind game. Personal animosity toward Glenn colors the entire review.