Starship Troopers Abbreviation: SST DMD Sci‑Fi Aliens Movie license
Kill bugs on lit standups, capture the Brain Bug, and decide when to advance vs. when to nuke. Also: the mini-flipper has its own button… and yes, it will mess with you at first.
- Mini-flipper = skill tax: separate button, and it rewards deliberate play (not panic-mashing).
- Ramps = recon: building STARSHIP/TROOPERS feeds Recon Awards at the scoop.
- Slow-ramp danger: dribble shots can punish you — shoot from control when you can.
- Right outlane weirdness: it’s also the shooter lane, so “Sega drains” will occasionally happen.
Overview
Starship Troopers is basically “pinball: the campaign mode.” You drop onto a planet, the machine shows you a literal bug count, and it’s your job to erase it. When you finally clear the infestation, the game pops up the Brain Bug like a boss fight — and then immediately hits you with the best question in the whole ruleset: “Do you want to advance the story… or do you want to arm nukes and turn this into a jackpot party?”
Why it rips: it’s a simple loop with spicy timing. The inserts are honest, the objectives are clear, and the big scoring comes from making the right call at the right moment (especially when Planet Multiball is sitting there like a big red “PRESS ME” button). Add the mini-flipper-on-its-own-button weirdness, and you get a game that feels like it’s daring you to get good.
How to Play (Quick Start)
- Kill bugs (main objective): shoot any flashing bug standup to reduce the planet’s counters (yellow/green/blue/red).
- Use the mini-flipper on purpose: bug standups hit with the mini-flipper count as two hits — huge for clearing planets faster.
- After you clear a planet: shoot the Brain Bug while it’s up for big points, then choose your next move.
- Big decision: shoot the Recon scoop to Advance Planet… or the Arm Nukes hole to start Planet Multiball and cash Nuke jackpots.
- Want regular multiball? hit The Warrior to push it back and light multiball, then shoot the revealed sinkhole to start it (ramps = jackpots).
Rules & Scoring Highlights
Open RulesheetCore loop
- Planet ladder: start on Antilles, clear bugs, move forward through planets in order.
- Bugs = single-ball progress: bug standups advance the planet objective during regular play.
- Brain Bug phase: after clearing bugs, the Brain Bug pops up for a timed scoring chance.
- Advance vs. Planet MB: after the Brain Bug, choose Recon (advance) or Arm Nukes (Planet Multiball).
Multiball personality
- Planet Multiball: nuke shots all over the playfield; more nuked planets = more balls + bigger values.
- Regular Multiball: started at The Warrior sinkhole; ramps score jackpots, then build to a Super.
- Orbit Multiball: built via loop/orbit letters and locks (nice when you want points without risking planet progress).
Tournament Tips
- Progress wins: don’t get trapped in “multiball-only” points — planet advancement is your steady plan.
- Mini-flipper practice pays: using it for bug hits speeds up the ladder (and keeps you out of chaos).
- Avoid slow ramps: dribbles can get spicy; shoot ramps from a controlled cradle when possible.
- Pick your Planet MB timing: when you’re feeling hot (and in control), nuke for points; when you’re shaky, advance and keep it simple.
Media Gallery
