We had the opportunity to test out Stern Pinball’s set of pinball machines at the Summer Game Fest. Each one carried its own unique theme and delivered a fun experience where players should be on the lookout for one at local venues that carry pinball machines.

Keeping Track

Stern Pinball has been in the business for 40 years and is still growing strong. The company brought over three licensed themed machines: Pokémon, Transformers, and King Kong. There were two Pokémon machines: the Pro and Premium versions. The Premium carried more parts, but both had the same audio and screen specs. Playing the Pokémon version of pinball lets players score enough to try and capture up to 182 Pokémon. That’s a lot, but players can track your collection across multiple sessions and locations by using the Stern Insider Connected.

This feature lets players track your scores, achievements, and more through this digital service. Use your smartphone to scan the QR code on the machine to log in before playing. Additionally, you can track locations of other Stern Pinball machines to make your journey to play easier. Signing up is free, but there’s also an option to purchase an annual subscription for extra benefits. Those can be found on the official website. This feature applies to all Stern Pinball machines, not just specific machines like Pokémon.

License to Play

While playing on the Pokémon machine, the experience felt fantastic and as if I were playing the physical version of the classic 1999 Game Boy game, Pokémon Pinball. You also have interactions where you try to stop Team Rocket, hence the Meowth hot air balloon centered at the top of the layout. Overall, this is a delightful experience for Pokémon fans. It’s also a wonderful experience for those who aren’t familiar with the franchise. Maybe after playing you’ll get hooked on capturing Pokémon.

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye pinball’s premium edition was showcased. The audio and visuals straight from the classic ‘80s cartoon were showcased on the screen, along with the sound effects during playthrough. I noticed I’ve dropped more balls in this cabinet than the other machines displayed, but that didn’t stop me wanting to play more of it. Fans of the classic franchise will love this machine, which features the classic animation key art displayed on the board, along with figures of Optimus Prime and Megatron that look fantastic as you play.

King Kong: Myth of Terror Island’s premium cabinet was a surprise; how fun that one was. The comic book-style illustrations of the King Kong franchise displayed on the board gave it that retro feel. The setup inside featured a well-arranged display that included figures of King Kong, an airplane, and other items. The display was well-organized, which allowed for smooth movement around it. Scoring and moving the ball felt smoother and more fun than in other cabinets. Also there’s a little secret code you can enter that’ll display pictures of real cats on the screen. A pawesome touch!

Overall, Stern Pinball has built some great cabinets, and it was a joy; I came back multiple times during Summer Game Fest to enjoy. I’m excited for what new licensed products they will build. If I ever encounter a Stern Pinball machine at a local venue, I will eagerly play it and track it. I will eagerly play a Stern Pinball machine at a local venue and track my achievements on their online service.

Fans can visit the company’s official website for more information and purchasing options. We appreciate Stern Pinball for giving us the opportunity to play a variety of their pinball machines at the Summer Game Fest.