Last Action Hero (pinball)

Last updated

Last Action Hero
LAH pinball.jpg
Manufacturer Data East
Release dateJune 1993
SystemDataEast/Sega Version 3b
DesignTim Seckel, Joe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula, John Borg
Programming Lyman Sheats, [1] Lonnie D. Ropp, John Carpenter
ArtworkMarkus Rothkranz
Music Brian Schmidt
SoundBrian Schmidt
Production run9,008 (approx.)

Last Action Hero is a pinball machine designed by Joe Kaminkow and produced by Data East Pinball. It is based on the motion picture of the same name.

Contents

Development and release

Last Action Hero was one of the first games that noted pinball programmer Lyman Sheats worked on when he joined DataEast. [2] Reports at the time alleged that Schwarzenegger requested that his image be made larger than the other characters on the backbox. Production began in August of 1993. [3] The table includes part of AC/DC's "Big Gun" (main theme), Megadeth's "Angry Again" (multiball), and Queensryche's "Real World". [4]

Design and layout

Instead of a typical plunger, the game features an auto plunger shaped like a Ruger Blackhawk .45 caliber pistol that launches the ball into play. [5] The pinball machine features a shaker motor, two captive balls and a crane toy that can pick up the ball and deliver it to another part of the playfield. [6] The game also includes three magnets under the playfield which sends the ball in different directions; similar to The Addams Family . [7] [8]

Gameplay

Completing the three lanes above the bumpers doubles the bonus. [6]

Reception

A range of Last Action Hero games were released around the same time for different consoles as part of a heavy merchandising strategy. [9] [10] However, the film's poor reception may have contributed to its poor performance. [11] One early review of the game called it, a "stinker game... that let players act out their violent fantasies." [12]

In a review for The Flipside the geometry of the game was found to be flawed with the autoplunger often launching the ball into the drop-targets, rebounding into the right outlane. The rest of the game was found to be fun and smooth flowing, but a 10 second delay for every mode start broke up that flow. [6]

Digital versions

Last Action Hero is available as a licensed table of both The Pinball Arcade and its spin-off Stern Pinball Arcade for several platforms. [8] Data East logos were removed because of licensing. Also, for the same reason, main play theme was edited.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. Horowitz, Ken (2023-04-27). From Pinballs to Pixels: An Arcade History of Williams-Bally-Midway. McFarland. ISBN   978-1-4766-4796-8.
  2. "Pinball pro". Daily Press at Newspapers.com. 1993-08-02. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  3. "The games people play". Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com. 1993-08-10. p. 64. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  4. "AMOA EXPO '93". Play Meter. Vol. 19, no. 13. December 1993. p. 129.
  5. "What's new - Last Action Hero". Play Meter. Vol. 19, no. 11. October 1993. pp. 30, 64–65, 219.
  6. 1 2 3 Rosenhouse, Rob (1993). "Playing the field - Last Action Hero" (PDF). The Flipside. Vol. 2, no. 4. pp. 12–14.
  7. Michael Shalhoub (2012). The Pinball Compendium. Schiffer. p. 169. ISBN   978-0-7643-4107-6.
  8. 1 2 Rignall, Jaz (2016-12-07). "Stern Pinball Arcade PS4 Review: Superb Silverball Simulation". VG247. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  9. Davis, Justin (2014-07-21). "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Awesome Video Game Appearances". IGN. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  10. Weigel, George (Feb 12, 1993). "Some really weird toys shown to 22,000 retailers at N.Y. fair". The Evening News at Newspapers.com. p. 19. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  11. Lawler, Joe (2010-12-15). "A haven for Packers lovers". The Des Moines Register. p. 87. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  12. Leavitt, Marco (1994-03-10). "Innovations in pinball machine technology just a waste of time". The Daily Utah Chronicle at Newspapers.com. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-03-14.