To me, LW is an underrated game, but I can see why. (I've owned a NIB LW since '98.) LW isn't as "glitzy" as JP. The layout is straightforward fan style, like AFM/MM but without the big toy. (The egg is just a simple mech over the scoop, and the ball-lock 'Snagger" is really just a single drop target with a cool ball lock toy.) Neither one is a toy you can beat on.
LW isn't so popular because it's a true player's game. Not friendly to novices (the game is screaming fast) and there are no mega-points modes. I really like that the score is extremely balanced. You have to be very accurate to score well. (A killer game on easy settings is about 20M, rarely attained.)
LW has 5 separate modes, plus a multiball.Each mode takes certain shots to start, and then needs more shots to complete. Modes are either timed (Site B, GPS, egg scoop) or 2-ball (raptor, mobile lab). Finishing a mode scores 1M plus points scored during the mode. If you don't complete a mode, it's harder to start and/or finish it next time!
What's amazing in this game is there.s not a SINGLE SHOT that is shared between any two modes, either to start OR finish. So, you gotta be very accurate with every shot on the pf to score well. Finishing all 5 modes in a game starts the wizard multiball (San Diego). This has never happened on my game. (One world-class player spent almost all night trying to get to the wizard mode. He may have completed 4 modes in one game. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was set to 'easy'!)
LW is pretty brutal and fast, but an extremely balanced and fair game--great for tournaments. May be the ideal tourney game, even. Only high accuracy will result in good scores. There are no crazy stacking strategies or mega-jackpots, just a lot of shots to make to progress.
I like LW as a challenge game, and it does make you want to play again to do a bit better. But it's not as player-friendly as, say, JP or other easier games.