Stern Drops Metallica Remastered

Stern has unveiled their first remaster of an earlier DMD-era pinball machine, Metallica Remastered. Though Stern has experimented with reissuing older titles through their vault editions (like AC/DC and Iron Man), the recent Metallica re-release is being built from the ground up with new playfield art combined with the excellent layout and code from John Borg’s original vision, and the SPIKE2 LCD display rather than the original DMD.

Rock band themed pinball machines are consistent sellers for Stern and Metallica was selling new-in-box copies even as the SPIKE2 era began! Being sold in Premium / LE models exclusively, this release is largely intended for home collectors rather than location use.

Notable Storylines for the Release of Metallica Remastered

• Stern’s first remastered game. 
• New art packages. 
• Raymond Davidson leading code development for the remastered edition which includes Lyman’s original code plus complementary additions and enhancements. 
• Released comes on the heels of Stern’s last cornerstone effort, The Uncanny X-Men. 
• Metallica band members heavily involved in the production efforts of the game. 

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Metallica in the Hype Index

Metallica has long been part of the pinball rumor cycle, often requested as a vault edition, or simply a brand new Metallica game. Is such, it charted highly in our index of most hyped pinball themes, peaking at a top ranking of #14. 

Metallica Remastered Production Team 

• Design: John Borg
• Code: Raymond Davidson (base code by Lonnie Ropp, Mike Kyzivat, and Lyman Sheats)
• Art: Rhys Cooper
• Displays: Chuck Ernst
• Sound: Jerry Thompson

Metallica Remastered Photos

Metallica Remastered Launch Videos

Pricing and Availability for Metallica Remastered

Metallica Remastered is being sold exclusively in Premium & Limited Edition trim levels at the same prices as other recent SPIKE2 releases, owing to the features from the original machine’s models that are included by default on this remaster. Only 500 LEs will be produced.

Notable Metallica Remastered Features

Expression Lighting

The Limited Edition features Stern’s standard speaker lighting and expression lighting to accompany the 28 songs featured in the machine. Expression lighting can also be ordered as a kit for Premium models that don’t include it.

New Modes 

Two new modes have been added based on the two most recent Metallica albums, “72 Seasons” and “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct”. Blackened mode has been upgraded from its original version to a proper wizard mode.

New Songs

Metallica Remastered includes all 20 songs from the original machine alongside 8 new songs from recent Metallica albums like 72 Seasons and Hardwired…to Self-Destruct:

• 72 Seasons
• Hardwired
• Frantic
• Hit the Lights
• If Darkness Had a Son
• King Nothing
• Moth Into Flame
• Spit Out the Bone

Insider Connected

Insider Connected achievements are on the new release of Metallica alongside challenge mode versions of the four Crank it Up modes and the final mode, End of the Line.

Metallica Remastered Rules

• There are four multiballs: electric chair, grave marker, snake, and coffin, all started by hitting their respective shots enough times. Grave markers count down towards lighting resurrection save at either outlane. Collect enough super jackpots during all four multiballs to light Blackened wizard mode.
• Hitting the shots mentioned above also lights the ramps or orbits with flashing arrows for items (coffin hits don’t apply). Collect 15 (+1 per mode) items with either the shots above, or the lit item shots, to light the scoop for Crank it Up. Shoot as many lit shots as possible and light the cash out at the scoop by hitting the same four shots again.
• Light all items (3 per shot) to start seek & destroy. Alternate between the flashing lanes and the captive ball to keep the destruction going for as long as possible.
• Hit all five hardwired shots to light the scoop for hardwired hurry-up.
• Complete FUEL at the left standup target to light the piston target for 2x scoring. Once FUEL is completed enough times to fill up the meter, the next shot to the target starts fast scoring. Collect switch hits to increase a jackpot that can be lit by hitting the left standup target and cashed out at the piston target.
• Complete METALLICA with ramp shots to start lady justice and light alternating ramps & orbits for big scores.
• Collect sets of guitar pick targets to light the snake for add-a-ball during multiballs and start the switch countdown for 72 Seasons. Hit 72 switches to light the targets for increased scoring.
• Complete the top and bottom lanes to light mystery or increase the mystery level if mystery is already lit.