Stern Pinball Arcade Trophies: A Comprehensive Guide

Stern Pinball Arcade is a popular pinball simulation game that has captured the imagination of pinball enthusiasts worldwide. The game features a collection of real-life pinball tables from Stern Pinball, one of the most famous pinball machine manufacturers. Players can immerse themselves in the authentic pinball experience, complete with flippers, bumpers, and ramps, all while aiming to achieve high scores and collect trophies.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll take an in-depth look at the trophies available in Stern Pinball Arcade, offering tips and strategies on how to unlock them. Whether you're a casual player looking to boost your trophy collection or a hardcore pinball fanatic aiming for 100% completion, this guide will provide everything you need to succeed.

Understanding the Trophy System

Before diving into the specifics of each trophy, it's essential to understand the trophy system in Stern Pinball Arcade. Like many modern games, Stern Pinball Arcade uses a tiered trophy system, typically classified as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum trophies. Each tier reflects the difficulty and significance of the achievement:

• Bronze Trophies: These are relatively simple tasks and can usually be earned by playing a single game on a particular table.
• Silver Trophies: Silver trophies require a bit more skill and commitment. They often involve completing more challenging objectives within a game.
• Gold Trophies: These trophies are for the truly dedicated. Unlocking them usually involves mastering a specific pinball table and achieving a high score or complex in-game goals.
• Platinum Trophies: The ultimate prize for completionists, these are awarded for collecting all other trophies in the game.

The following sections will break down the trophies available on various pinball tables within Stern Pinball Arcade.

Table-Specific Trophies

Stern Pinball Arcade offers a variety of tables, each with its unique set of trophies. Here are some of the most popular tables and the trophies you can unlock on them:

1. AC/DC Table

The AC/DC table is one of the most iconic tables in Stern Pinball Arcade, featuring music and visuals inspired by the legendary rock band AC/DC. Here's a look at the trophies available on this table:

• Let There Be Rock (Bronze): Activate "Let There Be Rock" multiball mode. To achieve this, you need to shoot the ball into the correct lane to activate the mode.
• High Voltage (Silver): Achieve a score of 50,000,000 on the AC/DC table. This requires careful shot planning and multiball activation to rack up points.
• For Those About to Rock (Gold): Complete all of the song modes on the table. Each mode is tied to a different AC/DC song, and completing them all will unlock this coveted trophy.

2. Star Trek Table

The Star Trek table features fast-paced gameplay inspired by the 2009 Star Trek movie reboot. It’s a favorite among players who enjoy space-themed action.

• Boldly Go (Bronze): Start a mission on the Star Trek table. You can do this by shooting the ball into the mission start area.
• Enterprise Victory (Silver): Defeat the Vengeance ship in battle mode. This requires precise shooting and strategic use of your flippers to destroy the enemy ship.
• Federation Champion (Gold): Achieve a score of 100,000,000 points. This is no easy task, and you'll need to complete several missions and multiball modes to get there.

3. Ghostbusters Table

The Ghostbusters table is based on the classic film franchise, and it’s full of fun references to the movies, making it a fan favorite.

• Who Ya Gonna Call? (Bronze): Start the "Who Ya Gonna Call?" mission. Hit the corresponding targets on the table to begin.
• Stay Puft's Revenge (Silver): Defeat the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. This requires you to complete specific objectives during the game to weaken and ultimately defeat Stay Puft.
• Ghostbusters Champion (Gold): Achieve a score of 80,000,000 points. Like the other tables, this will require skilled gameplay and mastery of the table’s mechanics.

Tips for Earning Trophies

Earning trophies in Stern Pinball Arcade can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

1. Learn the Table Layouts: Every pinball table in Stern Pinball Arcade is unique, with its own set of ramps, targets, and features. Spend some time getting familiar with the layout of each table so you can hit the right shots when needed.

2. Focus on Multiball Modes: Multiball modes are essential for achieving high scores and completing objectives on many tables. Prioritize unlocking multiball modes early in your games to maximize your chances of success.

3. Master Flipper Control: Flipper control is key to achieving high scores and completing objectives. Practice catching the ball on a flipper to line up precise shots, and learn how to use "nudging" to influence the ball's movement.

4. Set Goals for Each Game: Don’t try to do everything in one game. Instead, set specific goals for each playthrough, whether it's achieving a high score, completing a mission, or unlocking a multiball mode.

5. Use the Practice Mode: Stern Pinball Arcade features a practice mode that allows you to work on specific aspects of each table without the pressure of a full game. Take advantage of this feature to hone your skills.

6. Watch Tutorials and Playthroughs: If you're struggling with a particular table or trophy, there are plenty of online resources available. Watching tutorial videos and high-score playthroughs can give you insights into strategies and techniques used by top players.

Advanced Strategies

For those aiming to collect the more challenging Silver and Gold trophies, consider the following advanced strategies:

• Ball Control: One of the most critical skills in pinball is controlling the ball. Practice techniques like "cradle separation," where you hold one ball on a flipper while another remains in play during multiball. This will allow you to aim more precisely.

• Combo Shots: Many tables reward players for making consecutive successful shots (combos). Aim for combo shots to increase your score multiplier, which is crucial for reaching the high score thresholds needed for Silver and Gold trophies.

• Stacking Modes: On some tables, it's possible to stack multiple modes simultaneously. For example, you might be able to activate a multiball mode while also working towards a mission objective. This can significantly increase your score and efficiency in completing tasks.

The Road to Platinum

For the most dedicated players, the ultimate goal is to unlock the Platinum trophy by collecting all other trophies in the game. This is no small feat and requires mastery of each table in Stern Pinball Arcade.

Here’s a rough breakdown of what it takes to earn the Platinum trophy:

• Complete All Song Modes: On tables like AC/DC, completing song modes is key. This often involves hitting specific targets related to the theme of the song, and it can take multiple playthroughs to get them all.

• Maximize Score Multipliers: High scores are essential for many of the Gold trophies, and mastering how to activate and maintain score multipliers will be crucial. Learn where to hit to keep those multipliers active.

• Consistency: The most challenging part of earning Platinum will likely be maintaining consistent performance across multiple tables. Focus on improving your overall pinball skills and applying them across the game’s diverse table selection.

Conclusion

Stern Pinball Arcade is a game that rewards patience, practice, and precision. Collecting all of the trophies will take time and dedication, but the satisfaction of mastering the various tables and completing the challenges is well worth the effort.

By following the strategies and tips outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to building an impressive trophy collection in Stern Pinball Arcade. Good luck, and happy flipping!