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Whirlwind

THE MACHINE

About Whirlwind

Hold onto your hats! Designed by the “Master of Disaster” Pat Lawlor, Whirlwind is a legendary System 11 masterpiece that brought weather-themed chaos to the pinball world. It is one of the most iconic games of the era, famously recognized by the functioning fan on the backbox that blasts players with air during high-intensity modes.

The playfield is a mechanical marvel featuring three spinning disks that wildly divert your ball, mimicking the unpredictable nature of a storm. Players must “Capture the Wind” by navigating the twin ramps and locking balls in the cellar to trigger the massive 3-ball Multiball. The goal? Traverse the map to reach the “Mega-Door” and score the elusive 10-million-point jackpot.

Why Play It?

Ranked as a top-tier classic on Pinside and Tilt Forums, Whirlwind is praised for its “perfect” shot geometry and immersive sound effects. From the iconic “The storm is coming!” callouts to the fast-looping “Million” shots, it’s a high-energy experience that remains a benchmark for creative pinball design.

Come test your skills and see if you’re brave enough to weather the storm and become the ultimate Master of the Skies!

Details

Year

1990

Manufacturer

Williams

Club High Score

TBC

Rules

You can find the pinball machine rulesheet at this link:  https://www.pinball.org/rules/whirlwind.html 

You can find a summary of the rules below.

Main Objectives:

> Stop the Storm: Your goal is to travel across the ‘State Map’ by completing various shots to light the 3-ball multiball.

> Collect the Million Plus: During multiball, the primary scoring goal is the progressive Jackpot at the side ramp.

> The Wizard Goal: Score the Mega-Door Bonus by lighting all the ‘Door’ awards through various playfield modes.

Key Mechanics:

> The Spinning Disks: Three rotating disks in the centre of the playfield spin at high speeds during ‘Storm’ phases. They cause the ball to move unpredictably , making control difficult.

> The State Map: Advance the map by hitting the Direction shots (North, South, East, West). Lighting the Sky (North/South) and Earth (East/West) allows you to lock balls in the left and right holes.

> The Side Ramp: A crucial shot from the upper-right flipper. It is used to collect the Jackpot during the multiball and to collect ‘Quick Millions’ during standard play.

> The Cellar: Shooting the ball into the centre hole when lit awards one of several modes or bonuses, such as Super Cellar, Toll Value or Extra Ball.

> Compass Specialities: Completing the direction shots also builds toward ‘Special’ awards. If you hit the same direction repeatedly, you increase the value of that specific shots ‘Toll’.

> Feel the Wind: The fan on the backbox activates during Multiball and high-value mode. It serves as a physical ‘haptic’ cue that the scoring potential is currently at its peak.

Tips

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