Navigating the intricacies of pinball machines can sometimes feel like deciphering ancient riddles, and the John Wick pinball machine, particularly its Adversary mode, is no exception. Many players, even seasoned ones, find themselves scratching their heads trying to fully grasp the mechanics at play. Let’s break down some common points of confusion surrounding the Adversary mode, aiming for clarity and a deeper understanding, much like you’d expect from a comprehensive wiki.
One of the primary sources of confusion stems from the concept of “location assignment.” When the rulesheet mentions a location being assigned, it’s natural to wonder what this truly entails. Does it mean only enemies hit during specific shots at that location count? Or is “assigned location” simply a way to designate a set number of enemies to defeat, regardless of where they are hit? It appears the latter is closer to the truth. The location likely dictates the number of enemies and potentially the types of enemies you’ll face, rather than restricting where on the playfield your shots must land to be effective. Think of it less as a physical location on the playfield and more as a scenario or level with specific enemy quotas.
Another point of ambiguity arises with the phrase “while at this location.” This sparks the question: does your location change during a single game of Adversary mode? Based on gameplay experience, it seems unlikely that your location shifts dynamically within a single Adversary mode session. “While at this location” likely refers to the duration of the current Adversary mode round, which is tied to defeating the assigned number of enemies for that specific location. Once you clear the enemy quota for the initial location, you might progress to a new location in subsequent rounds or games, but not within the same active round.
The rulesheet’s mention of the “daily seed” also throws a curveball. Why is the daily seed relevant to location assignment? Does this imply that the Assigned Location remains consistent for all players throughout an entire day? Referencing the seed, which is a mechanism for random number generation, suggests that while the location assignment might appear random, it’s actually deterministic based on the daily seed. This means that if multiple players play on the same day, they will likely encounter the same sequence of “Assigned Locations” within the Adversary mode. Understanding the seed clarifies that the randomness is controlled and predictable on a daily basis, rather than truly arbitrary.
Furthermore, players often question if these “locations” – Wick’s House, Abandoned Building, Catacombs – correspond to specific shots on the playfield. A close examination of the playfield reveals no explicit labels for these locations. This reinforces the idea that these locations are not physical areas on the playfield but rather thematic scenarios. Any enemy defeated at any shot during Adversary mode contributes to the location total. The locations are more abstract concepts that dictate the challenge level and potentially the visual presentation on the display, rather than dictating specific shot requirements.
Finally, a crucial question for strategic gameplay is whether enemies defeated during “Jobs” contribute towards the Location total in Adversary mode. While not explicitly stated, it is strongly implied that they do. Adversary mode seems to encompass all enemy encounters, regardless of whether they originate from standard gameplay or triggered “Jobs.” Therefore, effectively progressing in Adversary mode likely involves engaging with both standard enemy waves and taking on Jobs to maximize enemy takedowns and advance through the location objectives.
Beyond the mechanics, a common player complaint revolves around the Factions and Jobs system. The game allows you to change the active Faction by hitting certain shots, and Jobs are randomly assigned to Factions. However, Factions appear to lack inherent rewards or properties, making the choice between them seem inconsequential. While there might be a niche scenario where a player observes another player getting a favorable Faction-Job pairing and tries to emulate that, this feels like a very narrow and unlikely strategic element. The randomized Jobs linked to seemingly arbitrary Factions can feel like a missed opportunity for meaningful player choice and strategic depth.
Competition Mode addresses this by offering more direct control, but the question remains: what is the intended benefit of presenting players with choices that ultimately feel pointless in the standard Adversary mode? Many players feel the game would be more engaging with a more tangible mechanism to influence and choose the types of Jobs they want to pursue, adding a layer of strategic decision-making that is currently absent. This is a valid point of feedback that highlights a potential area for improvement in the game’s design, focusing on enhancing player agency and creating more impactful choices within the gameplay loop.
