Stern Pinball is riding high after its Pokemon machine, and the company is wasting no time. Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye just rolled off the factory line, and early hands-on time reveals a machine that captures the retro charm of Generation 1 Transformers while remaining surprisingly accessible to players of all skill levels.
The machine taps directly into the classic cartoon and toy line aesthetic. It features original voice talent from the series delivering newly recorded callouts, authentic '80s artwork throughout, clips from the original show on its HD monitor, and detailed sculpted toys. Both the Premium and Pro versions share these core elements, though the Premium adds extra plastic-molded toys and some interactive shots not found in the base model.
What makes this machine stand out is its approachable design. The ruleset feels intuitive rather than intimidating. One multiball path is immediately obvious: shooting up the center of the table loads pinballs into a Soundwave cassette deck in the Premium mode, which then dumps them when you lock three balls and trigger the multiball. No obscure steps, just clear cause and effect.
The same philosophy extends to the game's modes, which function as mini-stories pulled from the cartoon. Instead of requiring precision ramp shots or hitting tiny scoops to activate them, you simply hit three drop targets at the back of the machine and sink a hole to start playing. It's a refreshing contrast to machines that demand pinpoint accuracy just to unlock their content.
Some of the mode designs are genuinely clever. One memorable sequence tasks you with hitting either red or purple flashing shots while avoiding the opposite color, determining whether the Autobots or Decepticons claim victory. The results appear to have lasting effects on the game state, adding a layer of strategy that feels rewarding without being punishing.
The machine also features an upper right flipper, accessed through several shot paths including the center spinner and a far left ramp. While there isn't much to do with that flipper at the moment, getting multiple opportunities to use it adds nice variety to the flow.
This is technically pre-release code, and Stern regularly updates machines with new software over months and years after launch, so the experience will evolve. But the foundation is solid. At recent events, this and the Pokemon machine were the clear crowd favorites, and Transformers already feels like another winner for the publisher, even if it lacks something quite as compelling as Pokemon's collection mechanic.
Preorders are now available, which typically means public arcade appearances are weeks away.
Author Emily Chen: "Stern understands what makes pinball fun again, and this one nails the balance between honoring what fans love and actually letting them play it."
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