Episode 52: After Playing Pokémon Pinball at Stern HQ… Here Are My Thoughts

Pokémon Pinball is officially here, and this is my full breakdown after attending Stern Pinball’s Media Day at the factory. This new Stern Pinball release is co-designed by Jack Danger and George Gomez and brings the largest entertainment IP in the world to modern pinball. That’s a big swing. In this video, I’m sharing my firsthand experience playing Pokémon Pinball at Stern HQ, my initial impressions of the layout, shots, and overall gameplay, and my honest thoughts after having time to reflect on the flight home. Sometimes your opinion changes once the hype settles. Did that happen here? Let’s talk about it. We’ll cover: • Gameplay and shot layout • Accessibility for new players vs depth for enthusiasts • Theme integration and use of the Pokémon license • Early code impressions • How this compares to other recent Stern releases Designing a game around Pokémon is no small task. It’s the biggest IP in the world, which means expectations are sky high. The question is: did Stern Pinball deliver a machine that satisfies longtime pinball fans while also bringing in a whole new audience? If you’re into pinball machine reviews, Stern Pinball news, new pinball releases, or you’re just curious how Pokémon translates to a modern pinball machine, this one’s for you. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Is Pokémon Pinball going to be a massive hit? Did Stern get it right? 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 👀 Check out Grownup Adjacent Pinball Here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DCr4G... 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 / @theflipsideretroralph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZ... • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #PokemonPinball #SternPinball #Pinball #JackDanger #GeorgeGomez #NewPinballMachine #PinballMediaDay