JP: The Lost World

FrizzleFried

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On IPDB JP: The Lost World (Sega) gets very little love. Is it really that bad of a game? One has come up local and I'm considering an offer... from what I've seen it looks to be in decent shape but certainly not perfect (cabinet seems to be in the worse shape (7/10) and the translite seems to be really color faded (could be bad photo though)). Opinions?
 
Don't get it - you'll be tired of it very quickly.

Save your money for a better pin.
 
Well... I was considering an offer of about $500.00... which is a 50/50 shot I'd estimate on where i'd get it or not. Even at $500.00 though I am worried as the game doesn't really rate very high. That said, most of the higher ratings I've seen are from people claiming the game is difficult, but fun once you develop some skills with it. Also, most of the gripes I've seen are about the audio... and the fact it's only a mono title (mono in 1996? Sega must have been REALLY hurtin').
 
Well... I was considering an offer of about $500.00... which is a 50/50 shot I'd estimate on where i'd get it or not. Even at $500.00 though I am worried as the game doesn't really rate very high. That said, most of the higher ratings I've seen are from people claiming the game is difficult, but fun once you develop some skills with it. Also, most of the gripes I've seen are about the audio... and the fact it's only a mono title (mono in 1996? Sega must have been REALLY hurtin').

If you can get it for 500, go for it... The Sega boardset is nearly worth that... the game really is pretty aweful... I usually don't bash pins, as I like all of them, I am not a B/W snob and have had a pretty diverse collection....

If you are looking for a keeper, it definitely won't be this title.... The original DE JP is sooooo much better...
 
I doubt you would get it for $500 if it works well and is truly 7/10. Can't hurt to try though. You can always dangle a vid in trade that you have a minimal investment in.
 
I have Jurassic Park, and it's light years better than The Lost World, but at $500 I'd grab it. It's true that it might not have the best staying power, but should be fun long enough to validate that $500 tag.
 
I'd like to get the original first, but if that is on your list to get a lost world next to it would be awesome... So don't write off a good deal off the bat.
 
Don't get it - you'll be tired of it very quickly.

Save your money for a better pin.

Why do you feel this way? I really disagree with many of the reviews on this machine. This is not a bad game.

I picked this machine up very cheap and as a project. B4 I purchased it, I read the reviews so my intent was just to resell it. After actually giving it a chance, I have been playing it for over a year.... Im not sick of it and its staying. I wouldn't compare it to "deeper" pins like IJ and STTNG. however, the price range of this machine is 1/2 to 1/4 of what these pins demand. I think this machine is a pretty good bang for the buck....

Here a few positives about this machine:

Inexpensive Dot Matrix pinball
6 Player Game
Shaker Motor
Cool Snagger
Magnets
Hatching Egg
Very Challenging, Very Fast when set up properly and nearly impossible to complete all modes.
Nice theme - kids LOVE it

Negatives

Appears cheaply made...
Mono Sound (a little dissapointing to me but its not as bad as some say)
Awful Video Mode (Very dissapointing to me LAME)
Sega Title - Not a Williams (opinion held by many)
It is a sequel - there were "high hopes" when it was released and I believe many people were "let down" that played or owned the original.

I think you could do alot worse in this machine's price range... just my opinion but BTTF is absolutely awful in comarison to JP lost world (I own both machines).

If you find a nice one for ~$1K, I dont think you will be dissapointed. $500 would be a steal if you ask me.

BTW, did I mention I am in the market for a LOTR... Did I also mention how crappy it is? (not)... Please tell the world how bad LOTR is so hopefully one day I can afford one. hehehe ;)
 
Lost World:JP is a good game!

I disagree with the pooh-poohing of LW. I have been playing pinball for decades, and have owned a LW for about 11 years now (got it NIB, truly HUO). I really like this game--it is a fast, 'expert' pin.

There's a nice open layout for the shot arrangement in the upper playfield, similar to games like Medieval Madness or Attack from Mars: 2 orbits, an inner orbit, 2 ramps, a scoop, a drop target, and an upper pop area. The rules are straightforward, but getting high scores is not easy. There is a 4-ball multiball mode (seems like 7 or 8!) based on activating and locking the lock lights in the 3 orbits (the drop target activates, orbits lock).

The main part of the game involves activating and then beating 5 separate modes: a ramp mode (GPS), a multiball spinner mode (Mobile Lab)--spinners are in the 2 outer orbits--activated by lighting the 4 inlanes/outlanes; Egg mode (scoop); Raptor mode (2-ball with jackpots in the inner orbit, activated by the 6 side stationary targets); and Site B mode (the small standups at the ramp/orbit entrances, activate by hitting all 5, then hit the lit one 3+ times--flippers move the lit target).

The shaker motor is cool too; it vibrates when the ball is in the pop bumpers and during multiball for extra 'oomph.' There's also a thumping vibration of the dinosaur tail for the Match animation.

This game is HARD, because you need to hit your shots accurately, and a few modes are timed (GPS, Egg, Site B)--a shot into the pop bumpers stops the clock and can add more time. Flippers are strong, and playfield is fast. If you complete all 5 modes (indicated by insert lights above the flippers) you start a timed multiball mode (San Diego) where everything scores. Almost impossible to get (esp. on 3-ball play!).

Why do people dislike this game? I can think of a few reasons. It is a tough game, not a lot of bonus points to be had, scoring must really be earned, failing to complete a started mode makes it harder to start and complete the next time. The one "video mode" is really dumb (2 timed presses of the ball launch button to complete). And, probably most significant, the 5 small greenish standup targets next to the ramp/orbit entrances are FAST! If you miss a shot and hit one of these (or hit one on purpose), it flings the ball back (generally towards the flippers) at a high speed. Tough to control at times, and makes the game more challenging/frustrating at times.

I have this game sitting next to a Cirqus Voltaire, which is much mellower, 'friendlier,' easier to score and get different modes and features happening, still fast but the action is not as 'edgy.' LW is a great game to develop precision skills for ball handling and accuracy, which you need to score well. (The scoop is great for practicing drop catches on the left flipper.)

For $500 working, this game is a steal. For $1000 I think it is still a great deal. It has the shot array of other popular games, but is a bit harder because of the standups. And did I mention it is really fast?

[Edits after reading above post:] I put in a second generic round speaker, wired in parallel--really easy and cheap--maybe $5!--took about 10 minutes to do, and it sounds much better. And not only does this game have 6-player capacity, but if you play 4-player, it automatically totals the scores for players 1/3 and 2/4 for "team" play. And it includes both "League Play" and "Wizard" modes, which you activate simply by holding the left or right flipper button, respectively, when pressing the credit button. These modes take out the random awards and makes them a fixed order, etc., with the Wizard mode being harder than League mode (shorter timers or more shots needed to complete certain modes).
 
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I disagree with the pooh-poohing of LW. I have been playing pinball for decades, and have owned a LW for about 11 years now (got it NIB, truly HUO). I really like this game--it is a fast, 'expert' pin.

There's a nice open layout for the shot arrangement in the upper playfield, similar to games like Medieval Madness or Attack from Mars: 2 orbits, an inner orbit, 2 ramps, a scoop, a drop target, and an upper pop area. The rules are straightforward, but getting high scores is not easy. There is a 4-ball multiball mode (seems like 7 or 8!) based on activating and locking the lock lights in the 3 orbits (the drop target activates, orbits lock).

The main part of the game involves activating and then beating 5 separate modes: a ramp mode (GPS), a multiball spinner mode (Mobile Lab)--spinners are in the 2 outer orbits--activated by lighting the 4 inlanes/outlanes; Egg mode (scoop); Raptor mode (2-ball with jackpots in the inner orbit, activated by the 6 side stationary targets); and Site B mode (the small standups at the ramp/orbit entrances, activate by hitting all 5, then hit the lit one 3+ times--flippers move the lit target).

The shaker motor is cool too; it vibrates when the ball is in the pop bumpers and during multiball for extra 'oomph.' There's also a thumping vibration of the dinosaur tail for the Match animation.

This game is HARD, because you need to hit your shots accurately, and a few modes are timed (GPS, Egg, Site B)--a shot into the pop bumpers stops the clock and can add more time. Flippers are strong, and playfield is fast. If you complete all 5 modes (indicated by insert lights above the flippers) you start a timed multiball mode (San Diego) where everything scores. Almost impossible to get (esp. on 3-ball play!).

Why do people dislike this game? I can think of a few reasons. It is a tough game, not a lot of bonus points to be had, scoring must really be earned, failing to complete a started mode makes it harder to start and complete the next time. The one "video mode" is really dumb (2 timed presses of the ball launch button to complete). And, probably most significant, the 5 small greenish standup targets next to the ramp/orbit entrances are FAST! If you miss a shot and hit one of these (or hit one on purpose), it flings the ball back (generally towards the flippers) at a high speed. Tough to control at times, and makes the game more challenging/frustrating at times.

I have this game sitting next to a Cirqus Voltaire, which is much mellower, 'friendlier,' easier to score and get different modes and features happening, still fast but the action is not as 'edgy.' LW is a great game to develop precision skills for ball handling and accuracy, which you need to score well. (The scoop is great for practicing drop catches on the left flipper.)

For $500 working, this game is a steal. For $1000 I think it is still a great deal. It has the shot array of other popular games, but is a bit harder because of the standups. And did I mention it is really fast?

[Edits after reading above post:] I put in a second generic round speaker, wired in parallel--really easy and cheap--maybe $5!--took about 10 minutes to do, and it sounds much better. And not only does this game have 6-player capacity, but if you play 4-player, it automatically totals the scores for players 1/3 and 2/4 for "team" play. And it includes both "League Play" and "Wizard" modes, which you activate simply by holding the left or right flipper button, respectively, when pressing the credit button. These modes take out the random awards and makes them a fixed order, etc., with the Wizard mode being harder than League mode (shorter timers or more shots needed to complete certain modes).

Well said. Great post!
 
Well... I was considering an offer of about $500.00... which is a 50/50 shot I'd estimate on where i'd get it or not. Even at $500.00 though I am worried as the game doesn't really rate very high.

For $500 it's totally worth it. At that price, if you don't like it- you could easily sell it and make a few bucks. It's a weird looking game (it looks like orange/lime sherbet) - but when I've played it I actually thought it was pretty fun. Sega's aren't as bad as people say. Sure, they're not the real collector type pins you're gonna love for years and years - but for a little bit of fun - esp. for the price, they're pretty cool. Most people hate Twister...I was playing it at a friend's house ,and yeah the sound is pretty annoying - but the magnet/spinner multiball is cool as hell.
 
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