Silverball guide · Metallica
Four features, one counter
Sparky, the snake, the coffin and the grave markers look like four separate things to shoot. They are one counter, and filling it is how you reach the only modes that pay properly.
UK Machine Record
Metallica
Stern · 2013 · at 9 UK venues.
9
UK venues
9
machines mapped
#19
most-located of 246
2013
released
Dot matrix4 playersSolid state
DesignJohn Borg
SoftwareLyman F. Sheats Jr., Lonnie D. Ropp, Mike Kyzivat
Editions in the UKMaster of Puppets LEPremiumPro
About
Metallica has become one of the defining modern Stern music games, and its original layout was designed by John Borg with software by Lyman F. Sheats Jr. The game was later revisited as Metallica Remastered, retaining Borg's basic architecture while updating the toys, lighting, geometry and rules presentation.
The original machine is fast, aggressive and remarkably good at making a player feel as though they are permanently one shot away from something enormous. Sparky, the snake and the various song modes give the game plenty of personality without getting in the way of the shots.
The UK has a strong history with Metallica machines, and the title remains one of the more recognisable Sterns in the tournament scene. Metallica rewards controlled aggression; shoot hard, but know where the ball is going afterwards.
Written by Silverball
Collector · casual
Your rating
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Your score · casual
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The playfield
What you’re looking at · 4
- Sparky
The figure strapped into the electric chair at the top. One of the four main features, and the one you can watch take the hit.
- The snake
The open jaws on the right. Another of the four, and a shot you feed straight down the throat.
- The coffin
Dead centre of the playfield, with a captive ball to drive into it. The fourth main feature alongside Sparky, the snake and the grave markers; those four are what the whole game is built on.
- The fuel gauge
The segmented bar under the band's faces. Four hits on the FUEL targets fill it a step, and filling it opens the dead end target behind them for double playfield scoring.
Written by Silverball
The playfield
Strategy tips · 12
Strategy tips written by players on PinTips , not by Silverball. Best-voted first.
Top tipMultiball 16 votes
Hit ball up the center repeatedly to start Sparky multiball. Orbits & center are jackpots. Add-a-ball by completing guitar picks & hit snake
General6 tips
- General
The center Sparky shot is much safer to make from the left flipper.
- General
On Pro (not Premium/LE unless modified), backhand right side of Coffin captive ball, and ball will often rebound into Snake, scoring both!
- General
Backhand grave targets from L flipper. Much safer to start MB
- General
If you light CIU and playing a Pro, start with For Whom the Bell Tolls. Premium or LE, choose Fade to Black(switch hits), then hit spinners.
- General
lit snake insert on a ramp or any other shot will add a snake shot towards CIU without hitting the snake. Same for other lit CUI inserts.
- General
Progress in graveyard, building towards MB, doesn't hold over between balls. Unless on last ball, going for Sparky MB instead is safer.
Secrets & easter eggs2 tips
- Secrets & easter eggs
Once you light all the lights under a certain shot (Chair, Snake,Grave) Hit that shot once more then the captive ball. Stays lit entire game
- Secrets & easter eggs
To max out your Crank It Up score, hit the FUEL 2x doubler before "cashing out" to double the award. Great way to score above 100M.
Multiball1 tip
- Multiball
During any MB, shoot flashing guitar picks to open snake. Shoot snake for 2x playfield and (once per MB) to add a ball & restart ball saver.
Skill shot2 tips
- Skill shot
Hold left flipper for Super Skill Shot, full plunge & get ball to right flipper, shoot FUEL lane & be 1 shot away from 2x FUEL scoring!
- Skill shot
Earn a 3X skillshot by holding the left flipper and plunging to the right pops rollover lane when it's flashing
Tips belong to the players who wrote them. Read them all, vote, or add your own on PinTips, a Match Play project.
A closer look
Close-ups of the Metallica playfield, with our note on what each one is showing you.
The ball-eating snake, jaw open beside the ramp.
The grave marker, and its in-line cross drop targets.
The fuel gauge, E to F, under the band.
Sparky, the writhing figure in the electric chair.
Photographs via the Internet Pinball Database. The captions are ours.
Community tutorials on YouTube, not made by Silverball.
Metallica Pinball TutorialPAPApinball · 2021 · on YouTube
Metallica Pinball Tutorial - Mobile VersionPAPApinball · 2014 · on YouTube
Metallica Pinball TutorialPAPApinball · 2014 · on YouTube
Videos from YouTube, curated from channels we rate. They belong to their creators, who aren’t affiliated with Silverball; links open on YouTube so the view counts for them. A creator who’d rather not be listed can get in touch and we’ll remove it.
The original flyer
How Metallica was sold to operators — Stern, 2013. The back is the feature list the manufacturer led with, which is a fair record of what the machine was meant to be famous for.
Flyer scan via the Internet Pinball Database. The artwork is Stern’s.
Nobody we follow has reviewed this one
Same short list of channels as the tutorials. A machine with no review here has not been passed over — it simply hasn’t been covered by anyone we list.
Where a machine sits is Pinball Map’s work, not ours, find Metallica near you on their map. Ratings, tips and tournament results here are ours.