A wizard mode is usually a final mission that can be started or completed for a chance to earn a huge score. It can only be unlocked by completing all mandatory missions or objectives; this can range from being a simple score award, to being a high-scoring multiball, to being a final mission that provides closure to the story of narrative-based pinball tables. Tables as early as FunHouse featured a frenzy mode that was accessible only by completing certain other features.
In Cirqus Voltaire, players attempt to Join the Cirqus in a multiple-part wizard mode that requires collecting the white "marvel" inserts to unlock.
The wizard mode is named such in relation to The Who's song Pinball Wizard, which uses the term "wizard" to describe a particularly skilled pinball player.
Types of wizard modes[]
There are several kinds of wizard modes that the player can play for huge points:
- Final mission and victory multiball: The wizard mode is a final mission in of itself, just like the other missions, where a particular task needs to be completed by shooting certain lanes or targets. The reward for completing a final mission is usually a victory multiball that provides an opportunity to earn a lot of points. The multiball may end after a hard time limit, like in Sorcerer's Lair and Aliens, or can continue as long as multiple balls are in play, such as on Alien vs. Predator and DOOM.
- Final multiball mission: The wizard mode is a final mission that begins with a multiball, and the player must juggle several balls while completing a series of tasks to beat the wizard mode. Depending on rules, at least one or two balls must remain in play or else the mode will end prematurely in failure. After the tasks are complete, the player must finish the wizard mode and achieve victory by locking all remaining balls, or at least the last ball in play, depending on the rules. Typically seen in designer Mad_Boy's tables, like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and World War Hulk.
- Capped multiball mission: Select Williams / Bally tables have a multiball wizard mode that ends as soon as enough shots are made, rather than requiring balls to be locked to end the wizard mode. Examples include Rule the Universe from Attack from Mars, and Battle for the Kingdom from Medieval Madness.
- Victory multiball: Some wizard modes may entirely consist of just a victory multiball that provides an opportunity to earn huge points and lasts as long as at least 2 balls are in play. This style of wizard mode is particularly prominent in designer Zoltan Vari's tables; Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Jurassic Park are examples of tables with this type of multiball, both of which determine wizard mode scoring on the number of modes that were finished beforehand and have a "wizard jackpot" worth the most points at a difficult shot.
- Score reward: Some tables simply require high-scoring objectives to be completed, with a large score reward (and, typically, an extra ball) being awarded after all the objectives have been completed. Tables that behave this way include X-Men, where completing X-MEN rewards at least 50 million; and White Water, where completing the Vacation Planner awards the 200 million point Vacation Jackpot.
Multiple wizard modes[]
Some tables may have multiple wizard modes, such as Star Wars: Masters of the Force and Jaws. The hardest-to-reach wizard mode in these tables is the "true wizard mode", while all other wizard modes are called mini-wizard modes that are easier to reach but score less.