Line #2 Pinball/IronMaiden

Context Pinball / IronMaiden

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1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iron-maiden-pinball-stern_8261.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Sexier than [[Music/IronMaiden Eddie the Head,]] at any rate.]]
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4	''Iron Maiden'' is a PhysicalPinballTable designed by Brian Poklacki with artwork by [[http://www.keithparkinson.com/ Keith Parkinson.]] It was released by Creator/{{Stern}} in 1981.
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6	Surprisingly enough, this pinball machine is ''not'' a [[LicensedPinballTables licensed tie-in]] to the [[Music/IronMaiden British heavy metal band]]. The title instead refers to its setting, an unspecified future where scantily-clad women use metal cables to interface with an ominous mechanical structure. [[NoPlotNoProblem There's no explanation for who they are or why they're doing this;]] the player is simply tasked to help them by spelling IRON MAIDEN on the two-level playfield, then load pinballs into the ball walker for three-ball multiball. Along the way, skillfully shoot the dropdown targets to earn bonus points, extra balls, and specials, and build up the Bonus Time bank for a final scoring opportunity.
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8	As with ''Pinball/{{Viper}},'' the only other game illustrated by Keith Parkinson, people remember ''Iron Maiden'' for its striking backglass more than anything else. The gameplay itself is fairly polarizing; the table is notably harsh and unforgiving, with a complex ruleset (relative to other games of the time) that requires skillful navigation of both playfields for long game sessions. Only around a thousand tables were made, most of which were shipped to Europe, making this a rare title for the die-hard aficionado.
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10	Not to be confused with the much later ''Pinball/IronMaidenLegacyOfTheBeast'', which ''was'' based on the British heavy metal band.
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13	!! The ''Iron Maiden'' pinball demonstrates the following tropes:
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15	* BoyishShortHair: Seen on the woman in the backglass.
16	* {{Cyborg}}: The maidens are implied to be cyborgs, connecting to the metal structure using interfaces in their hips.
17	* DownToTheLastPlay: After a player's balls are depleted, the game has one last scoring frenzy, with players having unlimited play until their accumulated Bonus Time runs out.
18	* NippleAndDimed
19	* NoPlotNoProblem
20	* SexSells
21	* SpellingBonus:
22	** The core of the game, which requires spelling I-R-O-N-M-A-I-D-E-N to enable the three-ball multiball.
23	** Getting the 1-2-3-4-5 targets in sequential order enables an Extra Ball; getting them in reverse order enables a Special.
24	* SigilSpam: The playfield is decorated with an unidentified swooping ''katana''-like symbol in various sizes; its meaning is never revealed.
25	* SkillShot: A soft plunge will launch the ball into the ball walker, either to lock for multiball or to immediately go to the upper playfield.
26	* ThongOfShielding: Seen on some of the woman on the playfield.

Context Pinball / IronMaiden