Police Force pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Police Force uses the right ramp for two locks and its center and right ramps for Multiball scoring. Follow the flashing green lock lamps, lock two balls at the right ramp, then alternate the center and right ramps during Police Multiball.
The goal
Shoot the right ramp while Lock 1 or Lock 2 is flashing and lock two balls, then repeat the center ramp during Police Multiball for 2x scoring and a growing center-ramp award.
Start Police Multiball
Shoot the right ramp while Lock 1 or Lock 2 is flashing. If neither lamp is flashing, hit a lit criminal target first. Lock two balls to start Police Multiball.
Repeat the center ramp
During Police Multiball, repeat the center ramp. All playfield scoring is doubled, and other switch hits do not reset the growing center-ramp award.
Collect the Police Jackpot
Use the second ball to hit the remaining lit criminal targets. After all five criminals are arrested, shoot the right ramp for Jackpot.
Need to know
- Police Multiball
- Lock two balls at the right ramp. The first locks are commonly lit; later locks can require one criminal arrest each.
- Center ramp
- Consecutive center ramps climb toward Unlimited Millions. Switch hits break the ladder in single-ball play but not during multiball.
- Criminal Jackpot
- Arrest Croc, Shark, Rat, and Weasel, then collect the timed right-ramp Jackpot.
Police Force uses two right-ramp locks to start Police Multiball, where one ramp briefly lights the other for rising Doublecross awards. Follow the flashing green lock lamps, start Multiball, then alternate the center and right ramps. If Playfield X is available, complete G-U-N up top and save the lit inlane until Multiball begins.
The goal
On stock LA-4, lock two balls at the right ramp.During two-ball Police Multiball, repeat the center ramp:all scoring is doubled and its ladder can reach Unlimited Millions.Arrest all four criminals only when their banks return safely.
- Use the first plunge to test the Firing Range spinner and the top-lane return.
- Read the green lock arrows. If one flashes, shoot the right ramp; if neither flashes, arrest one criminal first.
- Lock two balls at the right ramp. Prepare the left flipper for the police-car release.
- During Police Multiball, repeat the center ramp. All playfield scoring is doubled, and switch hits do not break the center-ramp ladder.
- If the center ramp is unreliable, use the second ball to finish safe criminal banks and collect a lit right-ramp Jackpot.
- After multiball, rebuild one lock or return to G-U-N and the safest criminal bank.
Top-player proof
- At the District 82 Super Series 2022, Colin MacAlpine repeatedly shot the right ramp because a tournament rubber blocked the easier center-ramp repeat. He also completed P-O-L-I-C-E and collected the 3,000,000 Top Cop award.
Builds toward: Unlimited Millions during doubled multiball
- Lock two balls at the right ramp.
- Start Police Multiball and control the police-car release.
- Repeat the center ramp through Unlimited Millions while scoring is doubled.
Sources and references9 references9 source links and outbound references.
- PinballCards
- Original playfield image
- Pinball Rulesheets — Rulesheet master list
- Police Force LX-5 author archive and README
- Police Force LX-5 release and strategy discussion
- PinMAME Police Force post-INDISC ROM identity
- Public-domain Police Force rulesheet
- Kineticist Police Force machine record
- Stock Police Force at District 82 Super Series 2022