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The Most Criticised Star Wars Pinball Machine? | Stern Star Wars Pro Review

Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama·video·26m 21s·analyzed·Mar 9, 2026
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.027

TL;DR

Gonzo reconsiders maligned Stern Star Wars Pro after learning rules; praises UK pricing progress

Summary

Gonzo reviews the Stern Star Wars Pro (Steve Ritchie version), which he previously disliked but now enjoys after understanding its ruleset. He discusses how UK pricing barriers have been reducing, making Stern Pros more competitive, and argues the game's negative reputation is undeserved—it has solid rules, addictive gameplay, and reliable hardware despite lacking the Death Star shot and hyper flippers of Premium editions.

Key Claims

  • Star Wars Pro has chronic launch geometry issues where balls drain without hitting targets

    high confidence · Gonzo describes persistent plunge problems he experienced: 'the ball used to launch it used to hit the three targets there then hit the force target on the left and then it would drain... there have been times where i've actually had a three ball game and not been able to hit a ball'

  • Stern has introduced recommended retail pricing in the UK, EU, and US, reducing Pro prices by nearly £1,000

    high confidence · Gonzo states: 'Stern have introduced a recommended retail price, not just in the States, but in the EU. And they put one for the UK as well, which is far cheaper... within the last month or so, the price of a Stern Pro pinball machine has become nearly a thousand pounds cheaper'

  • John Borg's recent Star Wars was not available in the UK or Europe

    high confidence · Gonzo: 'their more recent Star Wars, their John Borg Star Wars game wasn't available in the UK... It also wasn't available in Europe as well'

  • Steve Ritchie originally planned to include a Magna Save feature in Star Wars Pro using 'the force'

    medium confidence · Gonzo notes: 'I know when Richie was originally designing it, he was going to have a Magna Save, which was going to be the force, the force controlling the ball. So it doesn't have that.'

  • Stern Spike 2 machines are among the most reliable games on location

    high confidence · Gonzo: 'on the Spike 2, certainly, they were probably the most reliable games on location. You knew they lasted. I've got my my Deadpool... have I had to do stuff? Yeah, there's been some flipper rebuilds... Nothing much. Basically these machines work.'

  • The Pro version lacks the Death Star shot and hyper lube found on Premium/LE editions

    high confidence · Gonzo states: 'The pro version, what's it missing? It's missing that sort of hyper lube, it's missing the Death Star shot.'

  • Star Wars Pro has received harsh criticism and negative reputation in the community

    high confidence · Gonzo: 'I think this game has such a bad rap and has such negativity surrounding it. It's easy to think it is terrible... I always find that when your expectations are so low, they can't help but be exceeded.'

Notable Quotes

  • “I could not be happier with this game... I find it incredibly addictive because of the rules.”

    Gonzo@ 2:17 — Opening thesis—complete reversal from prior dislike of the game

  • “if you've got some geometry issues with the ball path on on plunge on launch then for me the game just didn't work”

    Gonzo @ ~2:00 — Identifies core design flaw affecting gameplay experience

  • “Stern Pros should be budget cheap pinball machines and they've just not been over the years.”

    Gonzo@ 4:59 — Explains historical UK market pricing frustration

  • “within the last month or so, the price of a Stern Pro pinball machine has become nearly a thousand pounds cheaper. That's significant.”

    Gonzo@ 5:44 — Key market signal—UK pricing restructure with major impact

  • “in terms of flippers, ramps and rules, they're hard to beat”

    Gonzo@ 6:47 — Summarizes Stern's core competitive strengths

  • “It's just a terrible, terrible game. And I always find that when your expectations are so low, they can't help but be exceeded.”

    Gonzo @ ~15:00 — Explains why negative reputation made game underrated

  • “the best pinball machine is the one I'm playing”

    Gonzo@ 12:48 — Personal philosophy—encapsulates current engagement

Entities

GonzopersonSteve RitchiepersonJohn BorgpersonCraigpersonStern PinballcompanyStar Wars ProgameStar Wars (John Borg version)gameBatman 66game

Signals

  • ?

    product_concern: Star Wars Pro exhibits persistent ball drainage on launch due to playfield geometry issues; balls hit targets and force target then drain without player intervention; affects both initial launch and auto-plunge after ball save

    high · Gonzo reports multiple instances: 'the ball used to launch... hit the three targets... then hit the force target on the left and then it would drain'; 'there have been times where i've actually had a three ball game and not been able to hit a ball'; 'I even got one on video'

  • $

    market_signal: Stern has introduced recommended retail pricing across UK, EU, and US markets, reducing Pro model prices by approximately £1,000 and making them cost-competitive with boutique manufacturers like Spooky and JJP

    high · Gonzo: 'Stern have introduced a recommended retail price... in the EU... and the UK... which is far cheaper... within the last month or so, the price of a Stern Pro pinball machine has become nearly a thousand pounds cheaper'

  • ~

    sentiment_shift: Star Wars Pro is shifting from heavily criticized/dismissed title to re-evaluated gem; community bias based on learning curve and expectations; Gonzo's reversal exemplifies broader reconsideration

    high · Gonzo: 'I think this game has such a bad rap... It's easy to think it is terrible... when your expectations are so low, they can't help but be exceeded. And I found myself really enjoying this game'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Steve Ritchie originally planned Magna Save feature using 'the force' mechanic for Star Wars Pro but design was not implemented in final version

    medium · Gonzo: 'when Richie was originally designing it, he was going to have a Magna Save, which was going to be the force, the force controlling the ball. So it doesn't have that.'

Topics

Star Wars Pro game design and reputationprimaryUK pinball pricing restructuring and market accessprimaryStern vs boutique manufacturer competitionprimaryPinball ruleset complexity and learning curvesecondaryHardware reliability of Stern Spike 2 machinessecondaryLaunch geometry issues and machine setupsecondaryVideo mode scoring and accessibilitymentionedMagna Save feature design and Star Wars themingmentioned

Sentiment

neutral(0)

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.079

0:00
So we've got a brand new pinball machine in flipperama towers it's this Star Wars Pro the old version the Steve Ritchie version I've got to tell you I could not be happier with this game I've got a checkered past with this particular game because we've had it here before and I didn't get on with it and one of the biggest issues I had with it
0:30
Was the launch what used to happen is the ball used to launch it used to hit the the targets three targets there then hit the force target on the left and then it would drain the geometry on it just seemed all wrong of course you've got the timer on here so you'll get the ball save and then what would happen is there'll be an auto plunge and yep it would do the same thing i've even got one on video and there have been times where i've actually had a three ball game and not been able to hit a ball i tried everything adjusted
1:00
The plunger power tried adjusting the the ball guides it just wasn't working I was very very unhappy with the game I found the grain incredibly frustrating it's a tough game anyway this is a hard game it's very very fast so you need all the help you can get with it really and if you've got some geometry issues with the ball path on on plunge on launch then for me the game just didn't work however I listened to a number of people who said would that wasn't
1:30
www.willywonka.com

  • UK distributors previously added middleman markup to Stern Pro pricing, making them non-competitive

    high confidence · Gonzo explains: 'unlike a lot of the rest of the world. A Stern Pro pinball machine is not significantly cheaper than anything else... it would go from Stern to the middleman then to the distributor and the middleman would be taking that cost on.'

    • John Wick
    game
    Deadpoolgame
    Spooky Pinballcompany
    Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP)company
    Barrels of Funcompany
    Elton Johngame
    Compulsive Pinballcompany
    ?

    manufacturing_signal: Stern Spike 2 platform machines demonstrate high reliability and longevity on location; minimal maintenance required over thousands of plays

    high · Gonzo on Deadpool: 'six, seven thousand plays... Have I had to do stuff? Yeah, there's been some flipper rebuilds... Nothing much. Basically these machines work'; 'on the Spike 2, certainly, they were probably the most reliable games on location'

  • ?

    product_strategy: Star Wars Pro positioned as budget entry point lacking Death Star shot and hyper flippers; Premium/LE variants offer enhanced playfield elements; pricing restructure makes Pro viable budget option

    high · Gonzo: 'The pro version, what's it missing? It's missing that sort of hyper lube, it's missing the Death Star shot'; discussion of competitive pricing making Pro 'significantly cheaper than a Spooky or a JJP'

  • ?

    content_signal: Third-party tutorial content (Craig's wizard mode walkthrough) significantly influenced player experience and community perception of Star Wars Pro ruleset; knowledge transfer crucial to game enjoyment

    high · Gonzo: 'I listened to a number of people who said... Craig got to wizard mode on this game... once I learned how to play it, I was thoroughly enjoying it... I find it incredibly addictive'

  • ?

    licensing_signal: John Borg's recent Star Wars was deliberately unavailable in UK and Europe; regional licensing/distribution constraints affected Stern's market presence in these territories

    high · Gonzo: 'their more recent Star Wars, their John Borg Star Wars game wasn't available in the UK... It also wasn't available in Europe as well... there was a lot of frustration that the new Star Wars wasn't available in the UK and in Europe'

  • ?

    industry_signal: UK distributor middleman markup historically inflated Stern Pro prices, making them non-competitive vs imported boutique machines; Stern's RRP initiative bypasses this channel issue

    high · Gonzo: 'unlike a lot of the rest of the world... it would go from Stern to the middleman then to the distributor and the middleman would be taking that cost on... Stern Pros should be budget cheap... they've just not been over the years'

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Star Wars Pro features complex, addictive ruleset centered on shot multiplier progression (up to 40x); learning curve high but payoff significant for engaged players

    high · Gonzo: 'because I now know how to play the game... I find it incredibly addictive... I find the ruleset very, very addictive... I find myself not particularly playing the modes, just really playing for score'

    • 2:00
    Brilliant tutorial on this channel, which was done by Craig. Craig got to wizard mode on this game. And it's somewhere, I'll try and link it in at the end of this video. It's got quite complicated rules. But what I gotta tell you is, I'm finding this game incredibly addictive because of the rules. It's a Steve Ritchie layout. It's a fan layout. And there's nothing really to the game shots wise that's particularly innovative. There's nothing new. There's nothing you haven't seen before on this.
    2:36
    And as a result, it could be any number of games that have been made by Steve Ritchie. But because I now know how to play the game because of that tutorial, I need to go and refresh my memory on it. But particularly in terms of the shot multipliers here, I find it incredibly addictive. In the same way that when I had Batman 66, I was very addicted to getting the Commissioner Gordon multipliers and the individual shot multipliers once, and it was Ian that showed me how to play it. Once I learned how to play it, I was thoroughly enjoying it. And I found the same on here. All I seem to want to do is get that up to a 40 times multiplier and try and get as big a score as possible.
    3:16
    I don't really play pinball for scores. I think if anything I play pinball to maybe complete modes and that's why I get frustrated with pinball machines sometimes because often I just can't. It's why John Wick didn't last very long with me at all. I never completed a single mode so I found it quite frustrating. On this I found myself not particularly playing the modes, just really playing for score and I've not got a really good score on this yet. In fact I've not bothered, I've not even got anything up on the leaderboard. But it was the right game at the right price and I cannot stop playing it.
    3:49
    And it's a really good time for me to talk about Stern in particular I think because I've kept quiet on Stern and for very good reason. First of all their more recent Star Wars, their John Borg Star Wars game wasn't available in the UK. I did a couple of videos on it but the last thing you guys need is me moaning all the time that I don't have certain games over here. The majority of the audience when this channel started was in the United Kingdom, so there's lots of people who share that frustration. It also wasn't available in Europe as well. So in Europe there was a lot of frustration that the new Star Wars wasn't available in the UK and in Europe.
    4:28
    I just thought I'd left it. Anyway, we've also had another problem over the years in the UK, and that is unlike a lot of the rest of the world. A Stern Pro pinball machine is not significantly cheaper than anything else. And that is because in essence we've had a middleman, so it would go from Stern to the middleman then to the distributor and the middleman would be taking that cost on.
    4:59
    So realistically Stern Pros should be budget cheap pinball machines and they've just not been over the years. So in terms in the UK, you would compare them price wise to something that was a lot more packed and there wasn't a lot of difference in the price. What seemed to be happening now, there seems to be a levelling out. Something is happening. Stern have introduced a recommended retail price, not just in the States, but in the EU. And they put one for the UK as well, which is far cheaper and far less than we have traditionally been paying, which is really good.
    5:36
    I think there's still some leveling out to go to do as far as price is concerned. But pretty much, I think it'd be fair to say within the last month or so, the price of a Stern Pro pinball machine has become nearly a thousand pounds cheaper. That's significant. So now you're starting to look at it and the Pro becomes a viable option because the Pro is now significantly Cheaper than a Spooky or a JJP or something else. So then you're looking at no pinball is on a budget. Pinball is far too expensive for everybody, let's be perfectly honest.
    6:16
    But what it's also done is I think it's lowered the price on games like this, which is the second hand market, which is why I got this on a really, really good price. So make no mistake about it. If you're trying, you're not really comparing, you not really comparing apples with apples when this is at the same price point as an Elton John for instance You just not You can even compare the two The Elton John has far superior sound far superior artwork It's a better machine all round.
    6:47
    But as I've always said with Stern, in terms of flippers, ramps and rules, they're hard to beat. And this is what you've got with this game. I just think it's a brilliant, brilliant game. And I think going forward it's going to be really good in the UK because I think it's been hard because of the pricing, because you felt that we'd been left out of the, certainly the most recent John Borg Star Wars game. It was hard to get excited about anything that Stern were doing. Now it looks like they're changing their model slightly.
    7:22
    It looks like we're going to be getting our hands on a more at a far more competitive price. So now, I think for the first time ever since I've been doing this channel, you're going to be able to make judgments on these machines based on the fact that particularly the pro versions are going to be far cheaper than any other mass produced game. And I know that some of these companies are called boutique companies, but I think, you know, certainly JJP, I don't consider to be a boutique company. I don't consider Spooky to be a boutique company anymore.
    7:54
    And I think Barrels of Fun are making really, really good pinball machines as well. The thing is, you're now going to be able to get one of these in this country, a pro version of a Stern for significantly cheaper. That's going to make a hell of a difference. And when you're going to be making your decisions, it also will. So this game in particular, this particular one, I haven't even checked how many plays it's had. But that's one of the great things about, I think, an older Stern on the Spike 2. I've not played a Spike 3 yet, but on the Spike 2, certainly,
    8:27
    they were probably the most reliable games on location. You knew they lasted. I've got my Deadpool. Deadpool's probably had six, seven thousand games on it, something like that, six, seven thousand plays. Have I had to do stuff? Yeah, there's been some flipper rebuilds. There's been stuff that you would expect to do on a pinball machine. A couple of switches here and there, Nothing much. Basically these machines work. So I've not even checked, I've not even checked the number of plays, but if this had, if I turned it on and this had 5,000 plays, it wouldn't concern me at all. That'd be absolutely fine. It just seemed to go on and on.
    9:05
    The pro version, what's it missing? It's missing that sort of hyper lube, it's missing the Death Star shot. But it's been really interesting to sort of reacquaint myself with this game as well, because I forgot how much I enjoy this TIE Fighter shot. It's really good. I think the Death Star looks really cool. It's a decent size for the game. And I've actually forgotten that the, I can't even think of, you know, the main Death Star weapon, the one that they use to blow up Princess Leia's homeworld when millions of voices all cried out
    9:41
    in one, well I can't even remember the quote I should do really, shouldn't I? This all lights I'd forgotten it did that. So I think this game has such a bad rap and has such negativity surrounding it. It's easy to think it is terrible. It's just a terrible, terrible game. And I always find that when your expectations are so low, they can't help but be exceeded. And I found myself really enjoying this game. The rules, I've said, are really good. I actually like the video mode on this game.
    10:15
    I know there's people who don't like it and they think the scoring is disproportionate on the video mode and the multipliers. I don't mind. That actually allows someone like me who's not very good at playing pinball, that allows me to sometimes have a really, really good game. So this works for me. And if you think about it, this game's probably done really well on location. And I think that's what you want to do. If you're just a Star Wars fan and you're not a pinball fan and you see this at an arcade, You're going to want to fly the Millennium Falcon through the asteroid field. You're going to want to do that.
    10:46
    I think one of the other things that's always been levelled against this game is it didn't feel like Star Wars. Now, yeah, I can understand that. And I'm trying to think which pinball machine it is. Maybe the Star Wars trilogy. It might be a Sega game. I'm not entirely sure. Might be a Sega game. And that's got the big cannons on it, which I think is really good. It's definitely got a pinball moment. And I would definitely say this pinball machine does not have a pinball moment.
    11:20
    I know when Richie was originally designing it, he was going to have a Magna Save, which was going to be the force, the force controlling the ball. So it doesn't have that. But it's not true that it doesn't feel like Star Wars. It's got the classic battle between Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in here, which is fantastic, which is obviously one of the modes. There's a lot going on on this game and there's a lot to enjoy. And if you love Star Wars and you love pinball, then like I do, then there's a lot.
    11:52
    There's lots to enjoy at the right price point, which is exactly what I got this at. There's a lot to enjoy. And it's just it's actually made me rethink a lot of stuff, a lot of maybe older games which I might have dismissed. Peter Vogark for hickaxe esfabrications.com
    12:34
    I've got an Evil Dead video as well, so there's lots and lots of stuff to enjoy now. But I just thought I'd share this with you because I've just, in all honesty, I've been playing this for the past five or six days and nothing but this. As I always think, the best pinball machine is the one I'm playing and I'm just playing this all the time. And as I say, I find the ruleset very, very addictive. We'll have a little game now. I won't be very good, so I'll just pre-warn you now. You not going to see anything amazing now not even close to it but hopefully you see why I enjoy this game so much Okay I just balanced it up It seems to be shooting well enough at the moment Just so you know I haven got the glass on so you can see better
    13:18
    The sound will be worse because you'll hear the ball clunking around. I've not got my good camera on, so apologies for the picture quality. All my good cameras are all set up for my work videos at the moment, and that's where they've got to stay. And right anyway let's let's have a go I'm gonna start now I'm gonna go on to Luke I've got my three multipliers on these shots just to start so fast it's such a fast game thank goodness for that oh dear it wants me to shoot the Devils though but quite frankly it's all I can do to hang on to the ball at this point
    14:01
    Oh, that one's going to hit the tie fighter shot as well. Oh, man, got to hit the targets there. I've missed those, so I lost my bonus. I'm back to plus two bonus. Such a fast game. The Ball Oh, come on, Mr. Tie Fighter.
    14:41
    Okay, so we're going to go with this one here, a duel on Cloud City and the Rancor. I know the Rancor Tim Kitzrow is hit ramps and then you cash out on there so we'll go with that one but this is this is doing two at once not playing anywhere well enough at the moment to do this but I don't mind I'm just enjoying playing the game such a brilliant fast game multipliers are doubled Come on, you've got to hit that, blimey, that was risky.
    15:22
    Hit the tie-pies. Got it there. Oh, man. I'm hitting the button basically. Oh, man, I was trying to hit the button. And then it dis-ejected it straight down the middle. I might adjust that plunge a little bit. Oh, it's a shame. Real shame, that. Real shame. Don't shoot there.
    16:18
    No, no, no, no, no! Oh man! It's a brutal game! Needs, definitely needs to sort that. Get that out when it comes out of that scoop.
    16:48
    We meet again at levels. I left you who I was supposed to learn from, now I am the master. That's what we want. Whoa, it's so fast. It is so fast.
    17:18
    No, no, no, no, no, shite! pettip cyclists P diciendo alex a to a me
    17:49
    I hope you can still see on the camera. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm not in control of this asshole! Fuck! Excuse me, excuse my language. That's terrible. Sorry. Do or do not. Do as you try. Bollocks. Sorry, sorry about that as well. I know! I dunno. Excellent. Please enter your... Oh, I'll do that. I need to change that. I need to change that so you can put the whole
    18:23
    name in. Sure you can do that, can't you? Alright, well I'll take that. Lightsaber Duel Champion! Okay, let's have one more game. Let's have one more game. Alderaan. That's what I was trying to think of. Alderaan. Alder M. Remember, the force will be with you. Always. R2-D2. Let's have a go with R2.
    18:55
    Mystery is lit. Mystery is lit! That was a bit of luck.
    19:26
    Video with subtitles Oh there we go
    20:01
    I'm not very good at this, just to let you know. I don't know any dimensions of the Welcome really. Oh shite
    20:41
    Come on! That's all I've got. Look at that shield generator. That shield complete four green shots. Four green shots. Areas 2017 2020
    21:27
    I'm fucking out sorry schooge my language Hard to play pinball without swearing, don't you think? These are the low-grade swear words I'm using here. If that camera wasn't on, there'd be worse stuff being said. Realistically, before we get into bollocks and fucks, I'm in full control.
    22:03
    Fuck off! Sorry. That's Tourette's pinball, isn't it? Right, what am I after? Green shot. Come on! Oh shit, I don't want to lose it. I'm on 26th bonus, I'm going to lose it now.
    22:45
    LieleUTL Complete Cameraman Soundtrack
    23:18
    Arse Ow Super jackpot Here's a super jackpot. I don't even know what a super jackpot is Apparently not that one I feel like I just hit almost every shot I still didn't get the super jackpot. Bollocks.
    24:06
    Oh, come on. Excuse me, my language is atrocious, I do apologise. Oh, it's not liking that, no. Oh, yeah, indeed. Well, there you go. I want a little look at the game.
    24:40
    So just see if I can remember. I think it's pretty cool. Yeah, I like it. I'm really happy with this. I've got to tell you, I'm really happy with this.
    25:16
    There you go. Oops. Got the mirror blades. I don't know if the original had that thing on the backboard. I don't know. I like it anyway. The Big old command ship and the X-Wings and the TIE fighters having a right old tear up Yes lovely Lovely game
    25:47
    Lovely game probably not a forever keeper if we're honest but nice to have it back enjoy it for a few months I might put it on rent or so I don't know you know get rid of it put it on rent something like that But yeah, one to really enjoy. There you go. Star Wars. There you go, by Stern. We've got that old Stern badge there.