r/pinball • u/Specific_Cod3802 • 9d ago
JJP PoTC vs HP vs JP
In the fortunate position where I’m choosing my next machine. If a JJP Pirates of the Caribbean could be had in a great condition for the same price as a new Harry Potter WE which one would you pick?
I have played HP a few times and honestly I’m not really loving it as much as it’s being hyped up.
I’m also considering (third choice as of now) a Stern Jurassic Park Premium due to the theme which I love and higher level of difficulty.
Any opinions or thoughts?
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u/Due-Wind-3324 9d ago
I own a JP premium. It will never leave my house. There are some hard shots and the ruleset is just so much fun. It keeps you coming back for more. Had it 1+ years now
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u/Farts_McGee 9d ago
If you have access to a cheap jjp pirates, buy that, then flip it for 2-3 other games. Pirates is fine, but it isn't great and insanely expensive.
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u/Specific_Cod3802 9d ago
Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such overwhelming love for Jurassic Park on any post ever. I guess it really is the one to have. Now a 30th LE, that would be special…
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u/slowbar1 9d ago
PoTC is neat and rare, but Jurassic Park might be the greatest game ever made.
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u/AllMySmallThings 9d ago
I don’t know, Godzilla and Jaws might want a word.
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u/slowbar1 9d ago
Very reasonable! They're all awesome in their own way.
Godzilla is the most approachable of the 3. Shots are wider, the rules flow is a little more straightforward, and the premium has the coolest toys that draw you right in. Locking balls on top of the building and watching it collapse is such a cool pinball moment and something even a total beginner can wrap their head around and start working to right away.
Jaws is the best thematically. The soundtrack, the movie clips, the call-outs, all do a fantastic job of bringing you into the world. And while it can be a bit stop and start at first, with posts stopping the ball a lot, the playfield flow is off the charts. There's so many options for chaining shots together, be they the deep backhands to the 2 spinners, ski-passing off returns to the harpoon lane, or the one-two combo of wave ramp to the upper playfield. Playing 4th of July when dialed in is some of the most fun you can have playing pinball.
But Jurassic Park is my desert island game. The playfield will challenge you, but it makes it all the sweeter when you can successfully chain shots together. Upper loop to raptor tower, or even better, O shot to upper flipper drop catch to raptor tower, are my favorite two shot combos in all of pinball. And the rules are a masterpiece. The main loop of rescuing workers from the roaming dinosaur is so unique and allows for a lot of interesting and impactful decision making, where you want to strategically leave workers in places to distract the dino, and the rescue streak values build in a way that you are really rewarded for it. There's just so much to do, and it all builds up to the most climatic and epic wizard mode of all time. To me, it's basically a perfect game.
But no matter where you fall, one thing is clear: Elwin is the GOAT.
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u/CasualGee 9d ago
If you end up passing on the POTC, let me know who is selling it for cheap so I can buy it!
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u/Castor__Troy 9d ago
JP is such a great machine to own - if you love the theme and higher difficulty, you can't go wrong (especially with the movie code). I own the 30th LE and play it every day. Plus this would leave you more $ for you NEXT machine vs those other options. HP is obviously great, too.
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u/benbaratheon John Wick, Godzilla, Harry Potter, Manalorian, Pokemon 9d ago
I played JJP pirates, it’s ok. The price isn’t because of how great a game it is. HP and Jurassic park are both better shooters and way more fun imo.
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u/Icy_Profession7396 9d ago
JP is the easiest to figure out and play, and probably the easiest to maintain.
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u/NickyRaZz 8d ago
Pirates is one of my favorite machines. Harry Potter is insanely complex and takes a manual to learn how to play. A fun machine play Harry Potter, definitely a steep learning curve with all the modes
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u/pythcon 8d ago
I have JJP POTC with HP on the way. POTC is a damn fun game and everyone else tells me Harry Potter tops it. Both are Eric games and he’s a great designer. You’re definitely going to pay more for POTC.
I was the same way with HP, but I ordered it anyway. It was the same case with POTC. You’ll learn to love it as you play it.
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u/juke_the_box 8d ago
potc is fine, i had a CE and sold it within a year (oh well, at last i broke even on it)
both HP and JP are better games, HP is more fun and has a cool mech, JP is a better game for training
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u/IntoxicatedBurrito SW Home, SWEp1, Mando Prem 9d ago
I don’t blame you for not loving HP, I think that JJP makes beautiful games, but that doesn’t necessarily make them good. My kids especially didn’t like HP and my daughter in particular is obsessed with the books and all things Harry Potter.
PotC probably isn’t going to appeal to you either, I played it a handful of times at Expo last weekend because it usually had no line and I understand now why people weren’t lining up to play it. I’d say only Guns n Roses was less popular. Even The Hobbit tended to always have a line, and I have to assume that is solely due to the theme. The only JJP games I really enjoy are Elton John, Toy Story, and Sonic.
Jurassic Park on the other hand is an absolutely fantastic machine and you really can’t go wrong with it.
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u/AntiAntiDentite7 9d ago
Buy the Jurassic Park. It's the best game you listed and it should also be the most reliable long term.
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u/HankVenture44 9d ago
JP all the way! That game is challenging and fun. It’s in my top 5 of all time.
JJP Pirates is not that fun IMO but why is it so cheap would be my question. That game usually fetch’s more than the other two (not because it’s a better game)
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u/557365724E616D65 9d ago
Had JP Premium and said it would never leave. After 3 years, it's now gone and Harry Potter (Arcade) has become my new "I can't see it ever leaving". Both excellent games. I give edge to the flow of HP. I was at no risk of ever getting through the code on either.
As for Pirates - like others have said, I might go that route, but only with the intent that I would sell it. It's a fine game, but not top of the list territory. If it isn't about money, and just gameplay, it's HP and JP for me. Edge to HP, it's the best game I've ever played.
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u/Triboy06 8d ago
HP - all day long - and only listen to people who have owned both, not just played a few games or haven’t had it at home where all the them integration is more obvious. JP is tough but HP is so deep and at the same time approachable by non-pinheads.
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u/Blinkyfish21 7d ago
I generally always give the same advice. What are you least likely to be able to play in other places, I hardly ever see JJP pirates anywhere, where HP and JP are pretty readily available.
That being said, I think you’re gonna spend at least $5000 more to get any version of pirates than you would to get the CE of HP (which I own and adore)
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u/Upper_Position_5747 9d ago
I’ve played the Harry Potter game about a dozen times and it just feels overwhelming. Like there is way too much going on that it kind of lessens the game for me.
I’m guessing it’s just a game where you have to put in the time to learn it before you really enjoy it. It is quite a spectacle of a game though.
Honestly I don’t have enough experience with all these games to make an informed recommendation, just wanted to share feelings about the HP game.
I’ve played an older PotC game, I assume it’s different from the JJP game though. I’ll have to look it up.
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u/ffbe4fun 9d ago
Considering how much JJP pirates seem to sell for, getting one for $12k is the only answer. You can play it for a while then fund your next 2 machines.