Hot Line / Big Strike pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
In Hot Line or Big Strike, complete the lit rollover buttons to advance one letter. Light A and B to open the gate, then shoot up a side and through the open gate for another letter. Favor the outside paths instead of the gap between the bumpers. Big Strike replaces replay awards with add-a-ball thresholds.
The goal
Treat every lit-button group as the current objective. A completed group advances the next letter, while A-B opens a repeatable gate route. The bottom outlanes can advance a letter only when lit, but they still end the ball, so use them as a consolation rather than a target.
On the plunge, aim for a lit rollover button and note the other lamps in the current group.
Shoot up either outside path and Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. upper rebounds across the remaining lit buttons.
Complete A and B to open the gate.
Send the ball through the open gate to advance the next letter, then repeat the newly lit button group.
Do not aim for a lit bottom outlane; accept its letter advance only when the ball cannot be saved.
Need to know
- Lit buttons
- Complete every currently lit rollover button to advance the next letter.
- Open the gate
- Light A and B, then shoot through the open gate to advance another letter.
- Lit outlanes
- Either bottom outlane advances a letter while lit, but the ball still drains.