Multi-ball Hack: After you score your first goal, press the coin toss button under the shooter rod and it re-lights Goal to start the next match without having to hit a ramp. I have been playing WCS '94 since it was brand new in my colleges student lounge. One of my all time favourite games. It is my grail game - that I sadly still do not own.
As a Tournament player, I only really use the magma save for one purpose, and that is after you lock a ball and you plunge the new ball in play, I do a pass over and then use the magna save, this will stop the ball on the left flipper and give you a clean shot to final draw scoop
Call outs. Can't believe you didn't mention "They can't seem to get control of the ball" when you are flailing and missing your shots. One of the best call out implementation in pinball in my opinion.
Just picked this pin not because I'm a Soccer fan however I live and die by Pinside ratings. I was impressed with the ratings and RU-vid comments. With merely an led upgrade done by me I fell in love with the game play, call outs, music, and of course the led's which it really needed to wake up the playing field. You're right about the useless flipper magnet, "never use it"
I'm big fan of the Beautiful Game and been trying to get my hands on this pin for a while. It was one of those undervalued sleepers but it sure has been climbing. Great review!
100% agree on every point in your review. I recently did a shop job and add a bunch of extra lighting to the game at Pinball Garage in Hamilton, OH and hated to see it leave my shop. It’s really a beautiful game and fun for a wide range of pinball players. Again, spot on review!
I have seen and played this game in question. Looks really nice! The black powder coated rails and legs are super sexy on it. Seriously thinking of doing mine that way after seeing his.
My two cents..... The ColorDMD in this one is a MUST! Looks great. Love the callouts. When I have visitors of the 12 to 13 machines I usually keep around, it's always WCS94 and Stern JP Premium that everyone camps out at. I really think an auto-launch feature would've improved this game. But then again, plunging the balls while you're battling Germany can bring in some strategy.
Are you sure pinball was at it's peak in the mid 90's? I played pinball in the late 60's to late 70's and pinball was in every bowling alley, bar, pizza place, even in the hotel I briefly worked at. Then they were nudged out by video games.
Great review as always, buddy; wondering about the three LEDs you are using at the back (orange colour). What specs are they? I have tried many, but most look too dark, more amber. Yours are a lovely light orange.
I have this game and it's pretty much my childhood, I'm not into the soccer theme but this game basically makes me forget about the theme because of the great gameplay :)
Welcome back, good to see you. Thanks for this review. I'm really curious about this game. 🙂 I really like the art on this game too. How's it like to take apart and maintain? Are those purple flipper rubbers standard? I would love to see the playfield up close on a slow pan and get some of your comments on the Pin Stadium lighting and any LED mods you've done. P.S.: Do you think Chicago Gaming Company will release a Theatre of Magic remake?
Been a couple of years since I took this one apart. It's medium difficulty. These are Titan rubbers, not standard. Not too many mods on this game. I use to have spotlights everywhere until I got the Pin Stadiums and then removed the spotlights. IF CGC does the TOM remake - which I wouldn't put it past them. It won't be out for years from now.
@@CaryHardy Oh really? I thought maybe you'd do each machine once a year to deep clean and wax.. It's a tall order for a busy man with all those pins, though, I reckon. No scoop LEDs? I thought I saw some purple ones in the ball holes. I recently ordered spotlights for my MS Frank machine... Looking forward to seeing the difference, but those pin stadiums look amazing. Is that what I'm seeing under the glass below the DMD? As far as CGC, I guess I won't hold my breath, but at least I'll have time to save up for the top tier model. Tried to call those guys, email too - no response. Thanks for the message. Great review. 👍👍
@@808zhu The purple under the eject holes is standard with the game. I haven't done any other mods to this game yet. I only do a complete tear down of my games when I see it's needed. lol.
@@CaryHardy I'm with ya, can't stand for my games to be dirty. All I see when I play a dirty game ls the dirt. I figured you had put a new ball on it considering how nice all of your games look
I am right there with you Cary. I really didn't want to like this pin but after playing it I really like it. I should have bought one when the prices were lower...they have gone up so much lately it's nuts. It is a very entertaining pin and I cam play it for a long time without getting bored....Yours is in outstanding condition. Let me know if you do want to make room for another pin and want to sell that one...hell I would even give you what you paid for it! LOL! You're Welcome!
Great review. Has always been in my all time top 5 games. Mine isnt bolted to my floor.... its welded. Its never leaving. I agreed with most of your ratings except I would change a couple. Art - I would have given a little higher.... maybe an 9.0. I love the colors they used. Like you said it really pops. Im one of the few that actually love having Striker as the main character in the game. People always ask.... why is there a dog!?!? HELLO!! he was the Word cup mascot the year. IF.... they would have used Striker as the referee on the lower playfield in place of that woman.....I would probably bump the art to 9.5. Code - As much as i love the game. It gets the most play in my lineup. But I think the code needed just a little bit more. Maybe incorporate playing each country like you do in the wizard mode? Having to actually score more than them each game. Not just 1 goal....Ramp....1 goal....ramp....1 goal... ramp...... Im not sure about yours.... or others out there.... but I find the "Final Draw" scoop one of the hardest to hit in pinball. Maybe its me, Maybe its the angle, or i just have mine dialed in more difficult. But 90% of the time that shot needs to be dead on. Looing forward to the next review.
Carey, wondering if you can help? I just got a WCS and the VUK doesn't always shoot the ball up the wire form. It died about half the time going about 3/4 the way up. Leveling to 7.5 degrees was the only thing that has it working... "most" of the time. Any ideas on how to fix this permanently?
This game really stood out at TPF (i think '19? As well). It was next to a Walking Dead under a tent, maybe a PinStadium tent? I saw a guy play it and it looked alright, but once I stepped up something just clicked. Very first game I beat Germany without knowing the rules prior, but picking them up as I went along. I think my game was some well over 1B points, just mashing out goals against Germany. It has a great flow, and honestly just things feel good when you hit them. Ramps are smooth, the Final Draw scoop makes a nice clunk sound (in the words of Ritchie "makes a sound, stays solid, doesn't bounce out....now that's art"), and the free kick is a nice touch just to dunk one past the goalie. This is one of those games I have been chasing for a while, and it's gonna get the full works. PinStadium, CDMD, everything. Great review :)
@@CaryHardy oh how cool! Come to think of it I vaguely remember it having a ColorDMD as well so that would make sense. It played awesome that day for sure :)
Hey Cary...I'm going to check out a nice example of this game. Would you say in today's market $4500 is a fair price? Could I get my money back? Easy seller or difficult due to theme? Also, is it still in your collection? Everyone in my family are novice/casual players, but I myself am not bad at pinball. Would you recommend this game for medium to skilled players?
It's not about "no other game beats it". It's on a scale of integrity for the game itself. Not comparing it to another game. Are other games better? Yes.
From what I hear. FIFA would be difficult to work with on licensing these days. Not to mention the theme would turn people away. Hell, this game is just now getting the love from people giving it a chance.
@@CaryHardyoh yeah, FIFA is the absolute worst. I work with advertising, and I’m originally from Brazil, so I know (NFL people are permissive dolls in comparison). But still, the World Cup is coming back to the US, the interest is here for sure. I just hope someone picks it up - or even remake this one (not sure if the would have to pay FIFA again though). But most of all: HOLY CRAP, thanks for answering man. Big fan.