Using the Force: Tips and Tricks For the Star Wars Pinball Tables (Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network)

If you’re a Star Wars fanatic – or just someone who really enjoys a good pinball game – then chances are you picked up on Zen Studios’ Star Wars Pinball three-pack when it came out last week.  The first batch of a forthcoming 10-pack, these initial releases have a lot of variety, between Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and a table devoted to intergalactic bounty hunter Boba Fett.

One key aspect of Star Wars Pinball is competition, as you not only have the ability to take on friends locally, but can also register your best scores through online leaderboards.  There are a few of those who have managed to roll their skills into the triple million digits, but, honestly, once you figure out key strategies for each table, it really isn’t that hard to accomplish.

So we got some advice from the pros themselves, Zen Studios, to give you some tips on how to score big on each table.  Of course, you still have to master the timing for each shot to get the points – they can’t do the work for you.  But just use the Force (c’mon, we had to use a Star Wars pun) and you’ll be scoring in no time.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

There are a number of bonus rounds associated with this game, based on the second movie in the original trilogy.  You’ll run into Darth Vader, a Stormtrooper that goes crazy for blasting your pinballs in the upward lanes, and even an AT-AT who needs to be brought down with a well-timed shot (oh, and a snowspeeder, of course).

To activate missions within this table, it’s simply a matter of shooting up the light-up STAR WARS panel that sits in the center.  Just hit it a few times and you’ll see a mission selection screen come up on the LCD display.  You can choose by tapping your flippers until getting to the one you want.  Some even let you jump in old-school hyperspace to reach the planet surface – an effect that Star Wars fans never get tired of.

Don’t forget the skill shot either.  Set up your launcher at just above the midway point, and you should be able to score a few hundred thousand as you head out onto the table.  Come up short, and your ball will simply roll into play.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Like the previous table, you’ll have plenty to shoot at with this model, based on the Cartoon Network animated series of the same name.  You’ll deal with familiar foes aplenty here, including Savage Opress, Asajj Ventress and those pesky Battle Droids.

As with the Empire Strikes Back table, you’ll be able to activate certain missions by lighting up the CLONE WARS letters.  To do so, however, you won’t hit them directly, instead launching up left and right ramps.  Once all the letters are acquired, a special ramp will open up, and you’ll have your selection of mission, through the LCD screen and using your flippers.

This table is rather combo-centric, so if you continue shooting up ramps, you’ll score via a multiplier.  Starting at 100,000, it’ll build, next to 200,000 and moving on up.  (Granted, Yoda comments on each combo you put together, so be prepared for his repeated wisdom.)

Work your combo magic and hit the right lit points on the table with missions, and you’ll stack into the millions in no time.

Boba Fett

With Boba Fett, the player is able to pick from two different clients for missions – the Hutts and the Galactic Empire.  But you’ll need to open them up first, because if you shoot for those specific ramps earlier, you’ll get a meager amount of points – and told to come back.

To turn these missions on, you simply need to line up letters for the ones you want.  If you choose the Galactic Empire, hit all the EMPIRE shots, then proceed to activate the mission.  Same goes for the HUTTS, as those letters are easily displayed on the table by shooting the sinkhole in the middle.

These missions bring some big points if you can shoot with enough accuracy, but you should also consider the skill shot at the opening.  There’s a hole that you can shoot your ball into, but coming up just short of it will send Boba flying to the scoreboard up top, where you can use the flippers to take a shot at a moving target range.  Anything from point bonuses to round activations are available, so shoot wisely.

We hope these tips help you out, but if you need further help, don’t hesitate to reach out to Zen Studios at their Twitter (@Zen_Studios) or visiting the official Star Wars Pinball forum page.  It’s free to register.

Star Wars Pinball is available now for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and mobile platforms.