Summary
Before theMCUmade the Avengers all the rage, theX-MenwereMarvel’s premier superhero team on the big screen. The mutants' run of movies eventually petered out, but now they’re returning in a major way. Not only via a very likely introduction to the MCU soon, but also via the highly-acclaimed Disney Plus show, X-Men ‘97. A renewed focus on the X-Men has resulted in the comic books that made them famous being celebrated in new and unexpected ways, the latest of which is a very high-end pinball machine created by Stern.
Stern’s The Uncanny X-Men pinball machine hasn’t only been created alongside Marvel, but the artwork featured throughout is inspired by X-Men’s Days Of Future Past and Mind Out Of Time legendary comic book runs. Jeremy Packer has curated the art, better known to some as Zombie Yeti, who joined Stern last year. Even the music that plays while you play will sound familiar as its various tracks aim to cover multiple eras of the comics. The cherry on the cake - it’s been composed by Pantera’s Charlie Benante.
If you’re concerned your favorite characters aren’t included, don’t worry, they almost certainly are. Well, not every member of the X-Men ever, but if you have a favorite that isn’t way out of left field, odds are they’re included somewhere on this pinball machine. Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Beast, Rogue, Gambit, the list goes on. The same goes for iconic X-Men locations. Explore the X-Mansion, travel through Genosha, even Cerebro and the X-Jet make appearances.
To Me, My Uncanny X-Men
As is often the case for the X-Men, your task when playing pinball with your favorite mutants is to take out Sentinels. A robotic Sentinel will follow you around, popping up based on your movements to destroy ramps and anything else you’ve unlocked to aid you in your battle against them. The machineis available now through Stern Pinballin three editions - Pro ($6,999), Premium ($9,699), and the very special Limited Edition version ($12,999).
One of the things that makes the Limited Edition version so special is only 811 have been made, a nod to the timeline, Earth-811, from which inspiration for it has been pulled. Whether you’re now convinced to make one of these very special pinball machines your own and you want to continue building your own X-Men arcade, or you’re looking for something X-Men-themed that’s a little cheaper, Arcade1Up’s X-Men ‘97 arcade cabinetis still $100 off on Amazon.
