Line #11 Pinball/TalesFromTheCrypt


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3	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/talesfromthecrypt-pinball_6822.jpg]]
4	[[caption-width-right:350:''Frightfully Fun!'']]
5	->'''The Crypt Keeper:''' "Tonight's tale concerns a man with three balls!"
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7	''Tales from the Crypt'' is a [[LicensedPinballTables licensed]] [[PhysicalPinballTables pinball machine]] based on [[TheFifties the 1950s]] [[Creator/ECComics horror comic books]] and the [[Series/TalesFromTheCrypt horror anthology television series]] on {{Creator/HBO}}. The game was designed by Creator/JohnBorg, with art by Kurt Andersen and Markus Rothkranz, and released by Creator/DataEast in 1993.
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9	Similar to its namesakes, the ''Crypt'' game is centered on twelve frightful "Creature Features". As the cabinet shakes with the souls of previous players, Crack some Skulls, rob the Crypt, dodge the Guillotines, then try to select a Door Prize (but avoid the hangman!). Hit the Keeper's eyeballs, pound on the Tombstone, then confront the Werewolf and Play the Organ. Complete all twelve Features, then sit in the Electric Chair and fire it up for the Crypt Jam -- all while the Crypt Keeper cackles away with his nonstop barrage of horror(-ble) puns...
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11	Although some found the theme a bit lowbrow (true to its inspiration), ''Tales of the Crypt'' is widely regarded as one of Creator/DataEastPinball's best pins ever, a fast and balanced game with a lot of variety and challenge for expert players. Complaints against this pinball tend to focus on either the art, the theme, or the Crypt Keeper's annoying cackle, though admittedly they're all part of the license. The table itself even made a cameo in the episode "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS5E11OilsWellThatEndsWell Oil's Well That Ends Well]]" where the Crypt Keeper played it in the opening.
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13	The very first table manufactured was gifted to the musician Music/{{Slash\|Musician}}, who was working with Data East at the time to develop their ''[[Pinball/GunsNRosesDataEast Guns N' Roses]]'' pinball game. It included a personalized message in the display [=ROMs=] and a small plaque reading "Made Especially for Slash and Renee."
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16	!!The ''Tales from the Crypt'' pinball features the following tropes:
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18	* AdaptationDistillation: The ''Crypt'' pinball takes equal inspiration from both the original Creator/ECComics title (primarily for the artwork) and the HBO series (the Crypt Keeper's voice and humor).
19	* BadSanta: The backglass shows a lecherous man in a Santa suit creepily licking a woman's cheek.
20	%%* BlackComedy
21	* CallAHitPointASmeerp: The game calls a game mode a "creature feature".
22	* TheCameo: The Crypt Keeper's comic book co-hosts, the Vault Keeper and the Old Witch, appear on the backglass.
23	%%* ChainsawGood
24	* ContinuityNod: The Crypt Keeper is shown on the backglass reading an issue of Creator/ECComics' ''Tales from the Crypt''.
25	* FacelessEye: Eyeballs are used for the KEEPER targets.
26	* FanserviceExtra:
27	** Subverted with the sexy bikini-clad blonde perched on top of the "Creature Feature" well, whose face is that of an eyeless skull.
28	** Played straight with the woman wielding the chainsaw on the backglass.
29	* GagLips: One of the creatures on the playfield has an exaggerated pair of puffy bright red lips.
30	* GameMod: The [[http://www.pinballcode.com/tftc4 unofficial 4.00 revision]] by a fan which restores a number of the Crypt Keeper's DummiedOut voice clips, fixes a number of bugs, balances some gameplay elements, and allows for more operator adjustments in gameplay.
31	* {{Gonk}}: Nearly everyone in the game is depicted as artistically ugly to some degree.
32	* GraveRobbing: The "Robbing the Crypt" feature.
33	* HauntedHouse: One appears in the background of the backglass and the playfield.
34	* HeroicBuild: Exaggerated and subverted with the weightlifter on the playfield, who has an exaggerated bodybuilder's physique and the wrinkling, balding head of a very old man.
35	* HorrorHost: The Crypt Keeper, naturally.
36	-->'''The Crypt Keeper:''' "Wanna join my ''fang'' club?"
37	* HurricaneOfPuns: The game is jammed full of ''very'' bad puns, all with a horror theme.
38	-->'''The Crypt Keeper:''' "''Chop'' of the morning to ya!"
39	* LighterAndSofter: Compared to the television series, which in turn was DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier than the original comics.
40	* MatchSequence: The Crypt Keeper swats a bat with a fly swatter, whose corpse leaves behind a number.
41	* TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf: One of the scenes on the backglass shows an attractive young woman standing in front of a mirror, with her reflection being that of a zombie.
42	* PungeonMaster: The Crypt Keeper.
43	-->'''The Crypt Keeper:''' "Two ''deads'' are better than one!"
44	%%* RuleOfScary
45	* SecondaryAdaptation: The game is primarily based on the HBO series ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'', which was based on the Creator/ECComics series of the same name. (That said, it ''does'' fold in some elements from the latter.)
46	* ShoutOut: The sides of the backbox depict The Crypt Keeper dressed as a barber with a sharp razor, as a homage to ''Theatre/SweeneyTodd''.
47	-->"Shave and a Haircut, Two Pints!"
48	* SkillShot: Time the launch so the ball hits the lit guillotine target as the light moves along the bank of three.
49	* SpellingBonus: Hit the Tombstone to spell C-R-Y-P-T for Crypt Multiball and to collect the Monster Jackpot. Spelling K-E-E-P-E-R lights the left outlane kickback.
50	* StrappedToAnOperatingTable: The right spinner shows a man strapped to it.
51	-->'''The Crypt Keeper:''' "Time to assume the position!"
52	* VideoMode: In "Door Prize", three closed doors are shown. Choose one with the flippers and open it for points. The mode ends when you open a door that reveals a hanged man instead.
53	* WizardMode: The "Crypt Jam", a six-ball multiball mode with a 25-second ball saver. All shots are worth 1 million points, and the mode ends when only one ball remains.
54	* WolfMan: Seen on the playfield, and is featured in the "Werewolf Countdown".
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Context Pinball / TalesFromTheCrypt