Venom Pinball Gameplay Guide - Limited Edition (LE) Model 4K (SDTM, 2023)

TL;DR

Greg Bone demos Venom LE #305, highlighting host selection, IC progression, and battle mechanics.

Summary

Key Claims

• Venom is a cornerstone title for Stern Pinball available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition variants

  high confidence · Host states this directly when introducing the machine; LE #305 is being demonstrated

• Venom's host selection mechanic physically changes the playfield layout (different ramps and shots for each character)

  high confidence · Host demonstrates Eddie Brock, Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker, Flash Thompson, and shows different shot paths lighting up for each

• Insider Connected XP progression is integrated into Venom gameplay and unlocks characters and battle progression

  high confidence · Host scans IC QR code at start, builds XP/levels throughout gameplay, mentions level 40-42 progression enabling battles against Grendel and Null

• The fast lock system can sense a ball going up a ramp and automatically kick out the next ball before the first arrives

  high confidence · Host explicitly explains this feature: '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'

• Venom features a Doppelganger bash toy that swings out as a hurry-up target

  high confidence · Host shows and describes: 'At some points in time, he'll swing out. He's dangling at different targets that you have to hit as a hurry up'

• The game's wizard mode is called Clintar and requires completing all major modes in one game

  high confidence · Host states: 'Clintar is like the ultimate, the wizard mode. If you get all of that in one game, then you can go to Clintar'

• Null is the final boss that requires level 30 XP to challenge

  high confidence · Host explains: 'after that, once you have a level of 30 built up, you can challenge Null, the final opponent'

• Venom includes a 'Scream' video mode accessed through scoop shots

  high confidence · Host activates and plays the Scream video mode: 'Left and right flippers to attack the infected'

Notable Quotes

• “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.”

  Greg Bone@ 1:58 — Core selling point of Venom's innovative host-selection mechanic

• “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.”

  Greg Bone@ 2:21 — Highlights Venom's integration with Stern's digital ecosystem

• “This is non-stop web slinging action, and it will destroy you.”

  Greg Bone@ 4:37 — Characterization of the game's difficulty and intensity

• “It's hard to play pinball without it [Insider Connected]. I'm not going to lie.”

  Greg Bone@ 6:37 — Commentary on how thoroughly Insider Connected is integrated into the Venom experience

• “I dare you to have more fun in pinball than this right here. It just feels good. You feel like a fighter pilot.”

  Greg Bone@ 19:10 — Enthusiastic endorsement of the multiball experience

• “Null is tough. Null is really tough.”

  Greg Bone@ 16:49 — Assessment of final boss difficulty

Entities

Signals

• ?

  design_philosophy: Venom's host-selection mechanic physically alters playfield layout (different ramps, shots, and gameplay paths per character), representing innovation in dynamic rule set design based on player choice

  high · Host demonstrates: '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, Jerry Thompson, or Gwen Stacy'

• ?

  product_strategy: Venom's fast lock system automatically ejects subsequent balls before previous balls reach the kicker, enabling continuous non-stop action without wait time—innovative mechanical implementation

  high · Host explains: '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.'

• ?

  technology_signal: Venom demonstrates Stern's commitment to Insider Connected integration as a core gameplay mechanic requiring player enrollment and progression tracking, making the digital ecosystem essential rather than optional

  high · Host states: 'It's hard to play pinball without it [Insider Connected]. I'm not going to lie.' and shows IC scans integrated into multiple game states

Topics

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Greg Bone is enthusiastic and complimentary about Venom throughout, praising its mechanics, fun factor, and integration with Insider Connected, despite acknowledging the game's difficulty and his own performance struggles. No significant criticism or negative commentary.