Welcome to my third guide of the Pinball Arcade! Chalk up in Cue Ball Wizard, one of the most recent additions into the Arcade. You may be familiar with Microsoft's version, as it also contains Cue Ball Wizard. This is a part of Table Pack 20, the final pack in Season 2. Built in 1992, this is considered to be one of the best Gottlieb games.

"Nice shot..."

The skill shot in this game is unaccessible on the playfield, but rather on the upper playfield with an 8 ball. The object is to plunge the ball for a ramp shot and shoot the 8 ball onto the blue targets, as seen in the video (and the screenshot above). This will award 5,000,000 points, and lights the left Horseshoe for 10,000,000 for a few seconds. Hitting any of the other targets does nothing.

Either the Corner Pocket (lower left kicker) or the Ramp will light the Ramp for starting a Wagon Wheel Round. There are a total of 6 rounds plus a 7th in the center of the wheel. More details will be explained below.

You can also light (and apparently start) the Wagon Wheel Round via the Bank Shot random awards. More details on the Bank Shot later on.

The rounds can also be changed at the target below the Ramp or at the Jets, rotating clockwise.

The ramp will be lit for about 20 seconds in this mode. You have hits much time to make as many ramp shots as you can. The awards are as follows:

2,000,000 for the first.

5,000,000 for the 2nd.

10,000,000 for the 3rd.

20,000,000 for the 4th.

40,000,000 for the 5th.

The mode will end when time runs out. (NOTE: THERE IS A BUG IN THE GAME'S ROMSET. In the video, the timer displays 0, and Rowdy Ramp is still active. This is because I was in 9-ball mode, where there is no timer until I light the 9-ball for 20 seconds.)

This one is a must. You have about 18 seconds to shoot the horseshoe for an Extra Ball.

The mode ends when time runs out or the Extra Ball is claimed. (But really, there's an "Extra Ball starin' at you in the face!")

"Yee-ha, what a shot."

You have about 20 seconds to shoot the white targets BEHIND THE CUE BALL. Each shot to the targets are worth 30,000,000 each. The other white targets in the game DO NOT COUNT.

You will have 20 seconds to claim as many letters in D-O-U-B-L-E as you can. The first letter you claim will be located at the Corner Pocket. The second shot and forward will be located at the Ramp.

This round is a series of Quickshots. The first shot will be located at the Ramp, with a starting value of 10,000,000 and counting down right away (and rapidly as well).

The second shot is located at either Bank Shot holes in the top playfield, starting at 20,000,000 (and counting down).

The final shot is located at the Corner Pocket with a value of 50,000,000. Same rules apply.

The round ends when either all awards are collected or one of the shots counts completely down to 00.

You have about 18 seconds to make as many Side Pocket shots with the Cue Ball as you can. The Side Pocket is located at the Green Targets above the No Way targets mentioned earlier. Each hit scores 10,000,000 and adds 1 to the total Racks. The Racks bonus will be explained later on in the guide.

"Yeeeeee-haaa! Multiball! Away!!!"

The first step in lighting the Multiball round is shooting down either all of the Solids or Stripes (whichever kind is flashing), located near the Bank Shot and the bumpers. Once this step is finished (or claim a "Sink all remaining pool balls" award from the Bank Shot), shoot the Side Pocket with the Cue Ball to light Multiball (and advance 1 Rack). It can also be lit if you either have a bad game or you haven't activated a Multiball yet. Shoot the Ramp to start Multiball.

Another ball will be put in the plunger for 2-ball play. The Jackpots are located in the Upper Playfield, starting at 5,000,000 per Jackpot. Each pool ball at the drop targets adds 1,000,000 to the value. The object is to hit the Side Pocket with the Cue Ball, which will then launch the 8 ball for either the Yellow, Blue, or Red targets. You must hit these three targets to light the Super Jackpot for a whopping 100,000,000 points. The Jackpots will then relight and reset the value at 5,000,000.

Multiball ends when 1 of the 2 balls drain. You will have 10 seconds to score a few more Jackpots (or a Super), and the drop targets will no longer add to the values.

"Nice Bank Shot."

These are accessible at any time during any non Wagon Wheel Round, except for 9-ball play. The various awards are as follows:

• Rack up 1,000,000; 5,000,000; or 10,000,000
  
  
• Sink all remaining pool balls, lighting the 8-ball.
  
  
• Advance Multiplier/Racks by 1
  
  
• Light/Start Wagon Wheel Round
  
  
• Hurry-Up Extra Ball at lower right target
  
  
• Hurry-Up 10,000,000/Special at the leftmost yellow target, below the solids
  
  
• Add letter to/Complete W-I-Z-A-R-D or D-O-U-B-L-E
  
  
• Hurry-Up 9-Ball play
  
  
• Video Mode
  
  
• Extra Ball
  
  
• Super Hurry-Up (EB, 10M, 9-Ball, Special)

You can also get Clean Bank Shot awards during normal play AND 9-ball play. Clean awards are always accessible during 9-ball play (as well as after Pool Ball Mania), but they're turned off for a few seconds normally by hitting any bumper. The awards are as follows:

• 1,000,000
  
  
• 2,000,000
  
  
• 5,000,000
  
  
• Extra Ball
  
  
• 7,000,000
  
  
• 10,000,000
  
  
• 15,000,000
  
  
• 20,000,000 from this point onwards.

This mode is awarded when the first 6 rounds are completed and lit. Shoot the Ramp to activate Pool Ball Mania.

Pool Ball Mania is a 3-ball Multiball mode, with 2 balls loading the plunger one by one. All targets (and any target besides the ramp, horseshoe, kickers, slingshots, bumpers, or rollovers) add 5,000,000 to the total Pool Ball Mania score.

Pool Ball Mania ends when 2 of the 3 balls drain, and thus lights 9-Ball play at the Ramp. However, the total Pool ball Mania score is not added to your score until you drain the ball, so DON'T TILT!!! (Bit of Twilight Zone scoring even before TZ came out.)

"It's 9-ball time!"

This becomes lit either after Pool Ball Mania or as a Hurry-Up via the Bank Shot award. Shoot the Ramp to activate the 9-ball mode.

There is no time limit in this part of the mode, so take your time. You must clear all solids at the left drop targets IN ORDER, 1-7. At any time, if the drop target is lowered (say a 4) before the correct one is lowered (a 3), the bank will raise to continue knocking the balls in order.

Once you knock down all solids, shoot the 8-ball via Side Pocket with the Cue Ball. Then, the 9-ball will light for a whopping 500,000,000 points. This is located at the lowest drop target on the right side. You have 20 seconds to claim this award.

All Wagon Wheel Rounds will reset after 9-ball play.

"You sure need that Ramp shot." Welcome to Corneria.

The video modes can be accessible either at the Ramp by spelling out P-O-O-L at the rollovers or as a random award via the Bank Shot. There are two types:

Where's the King?

Three curtains reside on the display. You have 3 seconds to choose a curtain and try and find the King. The rewards are as follows:

Cow pie = 00
Cactus Jack = 5,000,000 (Surprise, Tenderfoot!)
Moose = 10,000,000
The King = 20,000,000 (You found the King, baby!)

Catching the Pool Balls:

4 pool balls will fall down onto the pool table; the object is to catch as many as you can, scoring an increasing number of points.

#1: 2,000,000

#2: 5,000,000

#3: 10,000,000

#4: 20,000,000

The P-O-O-L rollovers will relight when the Video Mode is claimed at the Ramp.

The Horseshoe:

The Horseshoe is always lit for 2,000,000 at either side, and the opposite side is lit for the next award for a few seconds until it resets back to 2,000,000. Corresponding awards that follow:

• 5,000,000 (Make my day!)
  
  
• 10,000,000 (Just watch the Wiz, baby!)
  
  
• 20,000,000 and repeating (Gosh, am I good!)

Scratch Shot:

This is actually a shot to the Side Pocket via the Cue Ball during normal gameplay, including 9-ball mode. Do this for a few times and you'll get big points.

• 3 shots: 10,000,000
  
  
• 8 shots: 30,000,000
  
  
• 15 shots: 60,000,000
  
  
• 30 shots: 90,000,000

Sweet Spot:

This will light in conjunction with the Video Mode at the Ramp. The Sweet Spot will be located at the two targets between the bumpers and the Bank Shot kickers. Upon hitting those two targets when Sweet Spot is lit, you'll get a neat animation and an award of 50,000,000 points. (NOTE: This is NOT a direct shot!) The P-O-O-L rollovers will relight in the process.

W-I-Z-A-R-D:

You can spot Wizard letters at the No Way targets or as a Bank Shot award. For completing Wizard, the following are activated:

• Both red targets near the Bank Shot are worth 5,000,000 for each hit.
  
  
• The yellow target is worth 5,000,000 points each hit.
  
  
• The No Way targets are now worth 10,000,000 each hit.

Wizard resets, when completely spelled out, when the ball ends.

D-O-U-B-L-E:

You can spot Double letters during the Spell DOUBLE round or as a random Bank Shot award. For completing DOUBLE, for the rest of the ball...

All scoring is DOUBLED

All extra balls claimed are DOUBLED

All Specials claimed are DOUBLED

All Jackpots are DOUBLED

EVERYTHING IS DOUBLED!!! (Even the Bonus is doubled!)

Racks:

You can advance Racks by completing the lit bank of targets and shooting the Side Pocket afterward, during the Side Pocket round, or as a random Bank Shot award. These act as your permanent Bonus Multiplier, with up to 7 Racks.

Bonus X:

This can be advanced during any non Wagon Wheel round, including Multiball, or as a random Bank Shot award. These act as your temporary Bonus multiplier, up to 7X, and resets after each ball. Also, by advancing to 7X, you'll light the Special at either of the Red targets, and swaps by the bumpers and slingshots.

End of Ball Bonus:

This value is worth 500,000 and is multiplied by both Bonus X AND Racks. So if you have 7X Multiplier and 7 Racks, your bonus will result in 24,500,000.

I feel that this is one of my favorite Gottlieb tables. I used to play it all the time when Microsoft Pinball Arcade was still fresh, but Farsight Studios blew that version out of the way. To those who don't like Gottlieb games: You guys should really give this game a go. If you are still comparing to Microsoft's version; don't worry, the Ramp shot is much easier to hit now. ;)

My high score: Watch my video.

Favorite quote: "What kind of cow pie shot was that?" (Fail a Ramp shot.)

As they say, "Quit Talkin' And Start Chalkin'!" Play more pinball!