Links
Rules:
Earthshaker Rulesheet on Pinball.org
Gamespot
Pintips
Info:
Pinside
IPDB
TVTropes
Operators Manual from Arcade Museum
v2 Card Notes:
(Info that couldn’t fit and other clarifications.)
Match-Up = Mystery Award.
The Match-up (Mystery) award is awarded at the SHELTER scoop when NOT in Multiball.
Mystery Awards:
o 2 MILES
o 5 MILES
o 100,000 POINTS
o QUICK MULTIBALL LIT
o LIGHT SPECIAL
o ZONE COMPLETED (Spots lowest uncompleted zone)
o COMPLETE BUILDING (Spots all uncompleted zones)
o BILLBOARD 100K (Drop Target value at maximum)
o JET BUMPERS ON (Jet Bumper lighting at maximum)
o EXTRA BALL (instant extra ball)
(Award list from: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pinball/916470-earthshaker/faqs/1381 )
Note on “v2” labeling:
This was my first stab at a classic game Score Card re-write. Looking back I might label these more of a “v1.5” version as I’m attempting to keep the classic look of the cards and a similar feel to the writing: just with a bit more info, corrections, and more focused on the point value and strategies of the game. On the other hand, these are quite a bit of departure from the original cards visually, and maybe the v2 is more fitting for that reason. Ultimately the “v2”, “v1.5” is all just advertising labels–I just wanted to put a note here if anyone was curious why I labeled these as “v2” where other (and possible future) classic cards might be called “v1.5”.
Video: Tutorial
Strategies
I’m far from the most versed in Earthshaker!, but I’ve found there are 2 main strategies that players go for:
1. Multiball (and Multiball Jackpot of course).
2. Spam the Center Ramp.
…1. Multiball: Spot the flashing zone targets, lock balls, and go for the Jackpots. …easier said than done. But I do find you can grab lots of points along the way.
….2: Center Ramp: Just get the ball under control on the left flipper, hit the “Earthquake View” center ramp; this will bring the ball back to the left flipper; if you can hit the center ramp on the fly, just keep spamming the ramp. There’s an increased value the more you hit the ramp up to 200k per ramp! (…although I am getting board of this strategy by just writing about it).
I personally do a combo of the 2 above. Especially how the game is feeling. For instance, if there is a flipper hop on the left flipper (or some other issue that would impede the flow of he ball to make a clean repeated shot to the center ramp), I’d just focus on the multiball. Multiball, especially qualifying, has it’s pitfalls too as the zone shots can be dangerous.
In a tournament setting either of these strategies could beat the other it seems. Just comes down to how the game is playing and your ability to make the shots.
Updates to Cards:
v2.1:
-Added “Center Ramp” info on left card and shifted text info for it to fit.
-replaced cleaner looking Earthshaker! Logo on both cards
-added some background art to the right card.
Please email me via Contact page for any suggestions, corrections or links regarding this page.