Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye is a game-changer for Stern Pinball

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Year after year, Shacknews makes a stop at CES, and one regular destination is Stern Pinball. Given our team’s older demographic, pinball holds a special place in our affections. This time around, Stern Pinball surprised us with much more than just a fresh table. They unveiled a design that promises to push the boundaries of pinball gaming. With a dash of Dungeons & Dragons enchantment, The Tyrant’s Eye is shaping up to be a captivating experience for D&D enthusiasts, offering numerous reasons to keep revisiting it.

The pinball game “Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye” is the first significant partnership between Stern Pinball and Hasbro-owned Wizards of the Coast, and it commemorates D&D’s 50th anniversary in an impressive way by incorporating numerous iconic elements from the franchise within a unique narrative. From the moment the game starts, players are immersed in the action as they choose their character, each representing a classic Dungeons & Dragons class with individual attributes. As the game progresses across multiple rounds, characters can be upgraded, providing a sense of advancement that is not typically found in standard pinball machines.

The narrative immerses players into the Forgotten Realms, tasking them with thwarting the resurrection of dragon queen Tiamat. Amidst the Dragons’ War involving Xanathar, Balinor, and Sammaster, numerous quests become available through diverse vistas within the game world. These adventures unfold in a traditional Dungeons & Dragons style, with the Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer (known from Critical Role) guiding the narrative.

While navigating The Tyrant’s Eye’s gameplay, players will stumble upon familiar Dungeons & Dragons aspects, some of which are evident right on the table. For instance, there’s a gelatinous cube that can momentarily halt a player’s ball, potentially setting up a chain reaction for extra balls later. Along the left side of the table lies Fizmo’s shop, where players can buy various goods. The game also features a formidable dragon named Rath the Merciless, voiced by Michael Dorn from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The level of detail on Rath depends on the version of the table; the Limited Edition boasts full animatronic movement. Players can engage Rath either by hurling pinballs at him or by using a special shield button located beneath the machine, situated between both flippers to defend themselves from his attacks.

The game “The Tyrant’s Eye” is exciting, and it signifies a significant leap for Stern Pinball’s premium membership program, Stern Insider. Until now, Stern Insider has been predominantly a social platform. It offers a free subscription allowing players to scan a QR code on modern machines to save their top scores to their personal profile. They can then share these scores with companions and fellow pinball enthusiasts. However, “The Tyrant’s Eye” will expand the concept of this program by introducing a new feature that enables players to save their game progress. This includes character levels, quest advancements, and various rewards, all of which can be saved when scanning the machine’s QR code with an active Stern Insider membership. Stern is optimistic that “The Tyrant’s Eye” will offer a lasting gaming experience, even going as far as to boast about the addition of new items and quests on a regular basis.

Beginning this week, Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye pinball game will start showing up at popular arcades and small businesses offering amusements. The standard Pro Edition, priced at $6,999 USD, is available for purchase, while the Premium Edition, boasting more intricate and animated elements, costs $9,699 USD. For a truly unique experience, 760 Limited Edition units will be sold for $12,999 USD. These premium editions include a distinctive Speaker Expression Lighting System with Dungeons & Dragons-themed effects, upgraded components, exclusive artwork, and a Certificate of Authenticity. You can find these locations on the Stern Pinball website. This pinball game isn’t just a tribute to the Dungeons & Dragons franchise; it symbolizes Stern Pinball’s rapid growth and transition into a more digital era, where friends can gather and enjoy pinball in innovative ways.

This sneak peek was derived from a demonstration of the Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye Limited and Premium Editions, held during CES 2025.

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2025-01-13 19:27