Revenge From Mars
Encyclopedia
Revenge from Mars is a 2000 pinball machine manufactured by Midway
(under the Bally label). It is the sequel to Attack from Mars
, that also has the same theme.
This game was the last machine manufactured by Midway and the first to use the Williams Pinball 2000
system that overlays interactive video onto the mechanical playfield (see also Star Wars Episode I
).
An additional first was the default non-existence of a replay/special. Instead of awarding the player a free game when reaching a certain amount of points, it was decided to rather award extra balls (default at 50 million and 200 million). Additionally the match sequence at the end of a pinball game (a random free play award) was discarded. This default behaviour can be changed by the operator though.
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
(under the Bally label). It is the sequel to Attack from Mars
Attack From Mars
Attack from Mars is a 1995 pinball game designed by Brian Eddy, and released by Midway .In this game, Martians began to invade the Earth, and it's up to the player to destroy the Martian fleet, save all the major cities, and then head off to Mars to destroy the Martian empire and conquer Mars.Among...
, that also has the same theme.
This game was the last machine manufactured by Midway and the first to use the Williams Pinball 2000
Pinball 2000
Pinball 2000 is the last pinball hardware and software platform developed by major pinball manufacturer Williams, and was used in the machines Revenge From Mars and Star Wars Episode I before Williams exited the pinball business on October 25, 1999...
system that overlays interactive video onto the mechanical playfield (see also Star Wars Episode I
Star Wars Episode I (pinball)
Star Wars Episode I is a 1999 pinball game released by Williams and the second machine to use the Pinball 2000 hardware platform. It is based in the Star Wars film The Phantom Menace....
).
An additional first was the default non-existence of a replay/special. Instead of awarding the player a free game when reaching a certain amount of points, it was decided to rather award extra balls (default at 50 million and 200 million). Additionally the match sequence at the end of a pinball game (a random free play award) was discarded. This default behaviour can be changed by the operator though.
Gameplay
There are 9 different main modes which can each be completed to obtain a Saucer light. These 9 modes are divided into 3 different groups and are listed below. The initial mode begins upon its selection at the start of the game (either manually with the action buttons or automatically after the choice times out). The modes move from left to right in sequence automatically after the previous mode has been completed (i.e. there is no "start mode" shot), with the exception of the middle group (Saucer) which begins after one of the other two mode groups has been completed. Each individual mode continues until it has been completed, even between balls. When a mode has been completed, the video will display a report. If the mode is completed properly according to the directions on the video display, the player will receive a "Flawless" rating. This rating must be achieved in order to obtain one Saucer light. Thus completing all of these modes with a Flawless rating will light all 9 Saucer lights. This, along with the other 2 requirements (Martian Multiball and Mothership Multiball), will light Attack Mars. Saucer lights can also be obtained in other ways (Martian Multiball, Stroke of Luck, Bonus Wave Multiball, Super Jackpot), so getting Flawless on all (or even any) of these modes is not a requirement.Red Lights
- Alien Abduction — The scene is in front of the White HouseWhite HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. A large saucer is hovering overhead, with smaller saucers appearing to the sides. Various objects (sportscars, cows, etc) appear at the sides as well, and the smaller UFOs attempt to use their tractor beams to steal these objects (these objects can be cycled through by using the Action buttons). The scoring is based on saving the item being beamed up and goes up to 3 million. Regardless of where an item's value starts, it counts down fairly rapidly (i.e. a hurry-up) once the Martians start abducting it. Shooting the Martian to save the item immediately awards the current item's value, and adds the item value to the mode "jackpot" (which starts at 1M). Once all items have been rescued and the center ramp lights, the mode jackpot will start counting down as a hurry-up until you shoot the ramp to collect. Hitting the center targets, ramps and loops will destroy the smaller UFOs, as will the missiles. After seven of the smaller saucers are destroyed, one final hit up the middle Mini ramp will destroy the large saucer, ending the mode. Destroying all seven saucers will award a Flawless rating and a Saucer light. The whole mode features various audio samples made by a Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
impersonator. - Martian Happy Hour — In this mode, there are five Martians sitting at the bar in various states of inebriation, cracking bad human jokes, consuming various flammable substances and engaging in dangerous pastimes. Overhead are suspended three "kegs" of kerosene, gasoline and propane, which can be set off by the Missiles with devastating effects. The Martians on each of the ramps can be destroyed by one hit apiece, the ones on the Capture Lane and Martian target (left of the Center Target bank) take two hits apiece, and the one in the middle takes three hits (these hit numbers can be adjusted by the difficulty setting). Each Martian destroyed awards 1.5M points. Each orbit will set off one of the kegs on the sides for 4M apiece. To destroy the center keg, one must shoot the right ramp (after taking care of the Martian that's blocking the way) and the center ramp will briefly pop up. If you successfully make this shot, it is worth 6M points. (Note: destroying all three kegs will immediately blow up the bar, ending the mode and possibly denying you of a Flawless rating unless you've already killed all the Martians). When the three center Martians are destroyed, the center ramp will pop up to end the mode, awarding 2M for any remaining kegs at the top of the screen. Destroying all five Martians will award a Flawless rating and Saucer Light.
- Secret Weapon — This mode is depicted as hand-to-hand combat between the ABE (a giant mechanic version of Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
) and one of the Big-O-Martians. a "life bar" is shown at the top for the Martian, and various shots will cut down this life bar. Finally, when the life bar is down all the way, in a callback to the Mortal Kombat games, "Finish him!" appears on the screen, and one last shot will send the Martian flying upwards and hitting the saucer, causing it to explode dramatically.
Final Battle
- Tower Struggle — The Leaning Tower of PisaLeaning Tower of PisaThe Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa...
is being used for a game of Tug-of-War by four Martians. Shoot the left and right ramps to destroy the saucers with one hit apiece, and the two Martians that are located on the lock shot and the top Martian light. As in several other modes, there is a "life bar" which is decreased by shooting the tower (Center Target Bank), and enough hits will eventually raise the ramp to end the mode. Destroying the two Martians and saucers will immediately raise the center Mini ramp to end the mode with one more shot. All four must be destroyed for a Flawless rating. - Mystery Mode (?) — This mode will randomly select one of the following four modes:
- Martian Aerobics — This mode is a tribute to Space InvadersSpace Invadersis an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...
. By shooting any shot, some missiles will launch at the 24 moving Martians on the screen. Sometimes while playing this mode, a huge saucer floats down into the middle of the image. One can shoot it, but it is unclear yet whether or not one can destroy it without completing the mode the usual way. Destroy all 24 before they get to the bottom of the screen to finish the mode and receive a saucer light. - Martian Bowling — 10 Martians are moving across the screen. The action buttons are used to aim while the real pinball will resemble a bowling ball that can hit the Martian shaped pins.
- Martian Autopsy — At the start of the mode, a hurry-up runs on the center shot, starting at 3M. Whatever value one collects is locked in as the value for each object during the rest of the mode. 10 objects must be collected for a Flawless rating (and Saucer Light).
- Martian Tank — This mode is the toughest to complete. Basically there is a moving tank target with two Martians sitting aboard on both sides. The object is to destroy both Martians by shooting the ramps at the right moment. Destroying both Martians and the tank afterwards, a Flawless rating is received.
- Martian Aerobics — This mode is a tribute to Space Invaders
- Drive-In Demolition — The last saucer mode pays homage to the "Move Your Car" mode from Creature from the Black LagoonCreature from the Black Lagoon (pinball)Creature from the Black Lagoon is a pinball machine designed by John Trudeau and released by Midway . It is loosely based on the movie of the same name.The game's theme is 1950's drive-in theater...
, but this time, it's the Martians blocking the screen. As with Secret Weapon, all shots will inflict damage (there is a power bar that tells how much damage is still left to do). In order to get a saucer light one must complete the meter all the way down.
Yellow Lights
- Paris in Peril — This mode begins with a flying saucer located over the Eiffel TowerEiffel TowerThe Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
. There is a catapult in the center which is used to fire various objects (watermelons, spiked balls, cows, etc) at the saucer. Hitting the center targets will fire the catapult, with each hit doing 13% damage (this is operator adjustable and can be up to 25% or 4 hits to destroy). The missile lanes on the outside will do 25% damage to the saucer. After the saucer is hit once, 4 Martians will parachute in (some may not be initially visible as they float off of the screen) on the left and right ramps, the Capture lane and the Martian target to the left of the Center Target Bank. Each Martian can be destroyed by one hit from the ball, and are worth 1M, 1.5M, 2M, and 5M. All 4 must be destroyed for a Flawless rating. You can complete this mode with or without destroying the Martians by hitting the middle X times (the side shots do 2x the middle damage). After 8 hits of damage (again, operator adjustable), the center Mini Ramp will pop up, and one more shot will destroy the saucer, ending the mode and earning points. - Big-O-Beam — This mode is set on a farm, where the livestock seem to have taken on rather large proportions. There is a saucer hovering over the barn, and large barnyard animals to the side. Hitting the center targets will cause the barn to leap up and damage the saucer (makes a lot of sense, huh?) for 2M points per hit. The ramps and orbits will, in addition to awarding missiles, shrink the currently enlarged animals for 4M apiece. There are 4 animals (a cow, a duck, a pig and a chicken) which need to be "saved" for a Flawless rating. There is "Life bar" above the saucer that shows how much damage is left--once this is depleted the center mini ramp will raise and light. Shrinking all 4 animals will also cause the center ramp to raise and light to finish the mode, so you don't have to deplete the life bar. Overall, this mode is a good one to start out the game on, as this one is a higher-point mode than several others.
- Mars Kneads Women — There are six television screens you can tune in on. You can change the currently playing show on these by using the Action Buttons. The object here is to tune into a screen and watch the show You can always cancel a show by pressing all 4 buttons while it is playing The left TV screens can be viewed by either hitting the loop or the left ramp/middle ramp combo. Same goes for the right side. If you shoot either the left or right ramp, the center ramp will pop up for a shot to watch a show. Shooting the orbits is a better way to go, as this will start the show immediately and save you a shot (the rollover lanes will register here, but the jets are disabled, and the ball isn't returned to play until the show is over or cancelled). The center targets will light the 2 center TV screens (which, again, can be watched via the center ramp shot). Finally, after the two center TV screens have been watched, one more center ramp shot will destroy the console for a point value between 2-5M based on how many TVs were watched during the mode. Note, the screen will say "Destroy the Console" to let you know that the ramp shot will end the mode, so if you are not finished viewing all of the screens, shoot the remaining shot(s), watch the shows, then destroy the console to get Flawless. You must view all six TV stations to obtain a Flawless rating.
Multiball modes
There are six multiball modes in Revenge from Mars:- Martian Multiball (2-ball)
- Regular Multiball (3-ball)
- Bonus Wave Multiballs (Fuel, Saucer & Weapons) (4-ball)
- Mothership Multiball (4-ball)
- Hypno Multiball (extendable 2-ball)
- Attack Mars (Wizard Mode, 4-ball)
External links
- IPDB listing for Revenge from Mars
- Revenge from Mars rule sheet
- Recent Auction Results for "Revenge from Mars"
- The making of Revenge from Mars is profiled in Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball (DVD movie/documentary) (official web site)