I've run across and played a copy of 'Banzai Run' in an arcade just outside of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district this past winter (2017-18), and recently replayed it a week ago. I'm hardly a top-tier pinball player, but I've actually been able to score the skill shot on all three balls of one game; they were all lucky bounces off the rubbers atop the Green Machine lanes.
At 12:30 - the miracle in the speech programming was even more difficult than I thought it was. At 22m0s in this video [/A9YDi3G0Flc] Brian Schmidt talks about how they used the “AN” in the plunge speech “Welcome Race fANs to the Banzai Run” and programmed the game to insert the “AN” in case you spotted two racers at nearly the same time. Wicked attention to detail.
The same miracle happens if you happen to beat multiple contestants shortly after one another. This can be done on lower part of top playfield, or during Freestyle mode. That's a good attention to detail.
Absolutely love this game. My hands down favorite pin. Music and sound effects bring back memories of blowin off school to go play this at the arcade. Great stuff!
oh, this was the best pin ever, for me. This video sure brings back very happy memories. I wonder if there are any still up and running in the UK anywhere??? Thanks for posting.
You're back! Thank you so much. Really happy that you are doing so much recently with your Kickstarter and all. So many people are really appreciative of all the work you guys do. Keep it up please!
i've only seen the machine once when I was a kid in Puerto Rico, but I have been wanting to play this game so badly, but until that time comes, this tutorial will do (I just wish there was one within the state of Florida).
I remember seeing this machine in Melbourne, Australia in the early 90s. Pinball arcades were very seedy in those days except the major brand ones. Not sure if there are any working ones of this left in Australia now.
This is great. I absolutely love this game and enjoyed the tutorial. Keeping the hill open is key to racking up the points. Also congrats to Bowen for the PAPA win. Cheers!
The student center at the local community college in my tiny hometown in Mississippi had this when I was in 3rd grade (must have been 1989). I can remember being amazed by the vertical play field and only tonight was I able to find what game it was I saw all those years ago. Are there any other pinball machines with a similar design?
The only pinball machine with a vertical playfield, and that is Banzai Run. Paranormal is made by Zen Studios, but it's pretty much inspired by this machine and others.
We just got this at my arcade bar yesterday. I'm loving it already. Put up a respectable 2.79 million today and I'm hoping it's in tomorrow's tournament cuz it's fun af
Yep. It's all connected as Midway and Williams were located in the same building. Steve Ritchie voiced Shao Kahn, Ed Boon voiced Rudy, the talking head in Lawlor's Funhouse pinball and some characters in Whodunnit.
When the Music of a pinball-game is way better then the stuff they play on the radio today. I knew a red-haired-girl in 1988, had a crush on her, and....i put a move on Red-Hot.
I've run across and played a copy of 'Banzai Run' in an arcade just outside of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district this past winter (2017-18), and recently replayed it a week ago. I'm hardly a top-tier pinball player, but I've actually been able to score the skill shot on all three balls of one game; they were all lucky bounces off the rubbers atop the Green Machine lanes.
At 12:30 - the miracle in the speech programming was even more difficult than I thought it was.
At 22m0s in this video [/A9YDi3G0Flc] Brian Schmidt talks about how they used the “AN” in the plunge speech “Welcome Race fANs to the Banzai Run” and programmed the game to insert the “AN” in case you spotted two racers at nearly the same time. Wicked attention to detail.
The same miracle happens if you happen to beat multiple contestants shortly after one another. This can be done on lower part of top playfield, or during Freestyle mode. That's a good attention to detail.
"Welcome, race fans, to Banzai Run!"
That. line. always. makes. me. AMPED!
Absolutely love this game. My hands down favorite pin. Music and sound effects bring back memories of blowin off school to go play this at the arcade. Great stuff!
oh, this was the best pin ever, for me. This video sure brings back very happy memories. I wonder if there are any still up and running in the UK anywhere??? Thanks for posting.
You're back! Thank you so much. Really happy that you are doing so much recently with your Kickstarter and all. So many people are really appreciative of all the work you guys do. Keep it up please!
bought it from the uk ...long time ago .....need work...playfield has small wear...rare machine in the wild...its a technical monster
Was so lucky to have one of these growing up. Great video!
HOORAY. The tutorials are back. I love youse guys.
I think it's nearly impossible to not say out loud "BANZAI" when you get to the backglass playing field.
this game looks *incredible*! love the music, and the upper playfield is a really cool feature.
i've only seen the machine once when I was a kid in Puerto Rico, but I have been wanting to play this game so badly, but until that time comes, this tutorial will do (I just wish there was one within the state of Florida).
figment1988 i know this is 4 years ago, but the pinball lounge in Oviedo just got one! About 45 mins north of orlando
Such an awesome game and of course its a pat lawlor with one shot that does anything. Also the playfield art holds it back for me
I remember seeing this machine in Melbourne, Australia in the early 90s. Pinball arcades were very seedy in those days except the major brand ones. Not sure if there are any working ones of this left in Australia now.
i know this is an old comment but i found a working one yesterday in aus
Seen it many times. Can't get enough of it. This would be my first pinball if I had the choice.
Pirate Pete's Ft. Myers Beach around 91-92. Awesome Game!!
This is great. I absolutely love this game and enjoyed the tutorial. Keeping the hill open is key to racking up the points. Also congrats to Bowen for the PAPA win. Cheers!
The student center at the local community college in my tiny hometown in Mississippi had this when I was in 3rd grade (must have been 1989). I can remember being amazed by the vertical play field and only tonight was I able to find what game it was I saw all those years ago. Are there any other pinball machines with a similar design?
The only pinball machine with a vertical playfield, and that is Banzai Run.
Paranormal is made by Zen Studios, but it's pretty much inspired by this machine and others.
Finally a new tutorial. Great work!
Great tutorial, thanks Bowen! A WCS94 tutorial would be sweet :)
We just got this at my arcade bar yesterday. I'm loving it already. Put up a respectable 2.79 million today and I'm hoping it's in tomorrow's tournament cuz it's fun af
Ed Boon the software guy on this game would later go on to be famous for co-creating the Mortal Kombat series of Video Games
Yep. It's all connected as Midway and Williams were located in the same building. Steve Ritchie voiced Shao Kahn, Ed Boon voiced Rudy, the talking head in Lawlor's Funhouse pinball and some characters in Whodunnit.
Really nice sharp-focus video of an interesting machine - we loved it!
recently got acces to a banzai run, i can play it evey weekend now, and also a heavy meltdown wich is pretty rare aswell
Do go on.
13:29 a little confused on lighting freestyle. How do you trigger it? It always seems random
You have to challenge every racer first, then complete any roaming target banks / lanes up top to ready up the Freestyle targets.
I love when he says he's fucked up at 8:00
Owned one for 8 years now doesn't get played much but won't be leaving either to rare and hard to find now
great demo! - wish I could find one in St Louis, MO USA
Best Tutor Ever!
Great cam work, and off course nice game.
This was fun as hell to play.
When the Music of a pinball-game is way better then the stuff they play on the radio today.
I knew a red-haired-girl in 1988, had a crush on her, and....i put a move on Red-Hot.
I miss groundbreaking games like this and Granny and the Gators
One of my favorite games
Swords of fury tutorial please
Awesome guide thanks
I want one. How many where made? I never see these anymore.
Great tutorial, thank you!
in 1993 i get a new banzai Run 2 jears later i sold it. i can kick my ass.
vertical video is back!
Incidentally, what do the initials BAO stand for?
That's the reference to InterFlips Dragon - when you hit the dragon, the machine makes such noise, which can be described using these initials.
wow...skills
Definitely not the first time he's sworn in his tutorials. : D
HORRAY FOR BOWEN! HORRAY FOR PINBALL! :D
I've never heard you cuss before... 8:03.
He says s**t in his Twilight Zone tutorial.