Rules & Strategies
NOTE: The following is based on my particular game set to replay mode with mostly liberal game adjustments. Results may vary.
Skillshot: There are two features at the top of the playfield that can be made with a good skillshot. First, at the top-center of the arch is a star-rollover that raises the Play-More post, scores 300 points and adds 1,000 points to the end-of-ball bonus. Below the rollover is a kickout saucer. A perfect skillshot will hit the rollover, ricochet off a rebound rubber and land in the saucer. The rebound rubber by the shooter lane ball gate scores 50 points.
Kickout Saucer and Orbit Star-Rollovers: The kickout saucer is located near the top center of the playfield. Each time the ball lands in the saucer the lit saucer value is collected and advanced, the end-of-ball bonus increases by 3,000 points and the ball is ejected. At the beginning of each ball the lit saucer value starts at 3,000 points and progresses to 15,000 points in 3,000 point increments. The left and right orbits each have a row of three star-rollovers. The left rollovers become lit if the ball lands in the kickout saucer when the 6,000 point saucer value is lit. The right rollovers become lit if the ball lands in the kickout saucer when the 12,000 point saucer value is lit. Each of the six orbit rollovers scores 1,000 points when lit or unlit and adds 1,000 end-of-ball bonus points when lit. Lighting the right rollovers is somewhat pointless because the end-of-ball bonus tends to already be maxed out by then. The left and right outlans become lit for a special if the ball lands in the kickout saucer when the 12,000 point saucer value is lit.
Thumper Bumpers: There are three bumpers in the upper-center of the playfield that score 100 points when unlit and 1,000 points when lit. All three bumpers are always lit as per my liberal game adjustments.
Click for a larger image of the upper playfield area.
Drop Targets: The two drop target banks are the prominent feature of the game. Each drop target scores 300 points. When a complete bank of four targets is knocked down, 3,000 points are scored, 3,000 points are added to the end-of-ball bonus, the lit drop target award is collected and advanced and the drop target bank resets. Drop target awards include 2X, 3X and 5X end-of-ball bonus multipliers followed by extra ball and special. The drop targets and drop target award reset at the beginning of each ball. The rebound rubbers behind the drop targets score 10 points.
Stationary Target and Center Star-Rollovers: The center of the playfield features a stationary target and a triangle of three star-rollovers. The stationary target raises the Play-More post, scores 300 points and adds 1,000 points to the end-of-ball bonus. The top center star-rollover scores 1,000 points and adds 1,000 points to the end-of-ball bonus. The lower left and right star-rollovers each score 100 points and lower the Play-More post.
Click for a larger image of the center playfield area.
Slingshots: The slingshots are of the usual shape and location and score 10 points per hit.
Inlanes: The inlanes score 300 points, add 1,000 points to the end-of-ball bonus and lower the Play-More post.
Outlanes: The outlanes score 1,000 points and a special when lit.
Flippers and "Play-More" Post: Power Play's arrangement of four flippers and the Play-More post is one of the more prominent features of the game. There are two standard flippers in the usual location. Then there's an additional small flipper near the entrance of each side orbit. In keeping with the theme of the game, these two small flippers are called "Slap-shot" flippers. The Slap-shot flippers are handy for knocking down the drop targets although the drop targets can be easily hit from any of the four flippers. The Play-More post pops up between the lower flippers and helps prevent drains down the middle. The post is down at the beginning of each ball and is raised by hitting the top star rollover or by hitting the stationary target. The post remains up until the ball hits the left or right lower star rollovers or the inlane switches or the ball is lost. There is no limit to the number of times that the post may be raised and lowered during a ball.
Click for a larger image of the lower playfield area.
Multiball: None.
Extra Balls: Only one extra ball may be earned per ball in play. Extra balls are earned by way of the trop target bank as described above.
End-of-Ball Bonus: An end-of-ball bonus can range from 1,000 to 29,000 points and can be multiplied by 2X, 3X or 5X for a maximum of 145,000 points. The end-of-ball bonus starts at 1,000 points at the begining of each ball and is increased by 1,000 points for hitting the top star-rollover, lit orbit star-rollovers, stationary target, center star-rollover, or inlanes. The end-of-ball bonus is increased by 3,000 points for landing in the kickout saucer or completing a drop target bank. The end-of-ball bonus multiplier is advanced by completing a drop target bank. End-of-ball bonus information is displayed in the lower center area of the playfield.
Specials: Specials are awarded by way of the kickout saucer and outlanes as described above. Specials are awarded by way of the drop target banks as described above.