Rocket III is an upper-playfield spelling game. Keep the ball up top, hit lit blue mushroom bumpers to spell R-O-C-K-E-T, and use red mushrooms below to add letters and close the zipper flippers when the ball falls to the lower playfield.
The goal
Keep the ball up top and hit lit blue mushrooms for R-O-C-K-E-T letters; use red mushrooms below to add letters and close the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again..
Score up top
Plunge into the upper playfield. Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall.NudgingMove the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall.Read the full Nudging technique away from the lower exit and toward the lit Shows Upper blue mushroom bumpers on the Rocket III playfield. Upper-playfield bumpers used to spell ROCKET. to add R-O-C-K-E-T letters.
Close the zipper flippers
When the ball reaches the lower playfield, hit It adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers.Red mushroomIt adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers. bumpers to add letters and close the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.. Avoid the yellow mushrooms while the center gap is dangerous.
Complete R-O-C-K-E-T
Keep using lit blue mushrooms up top and red mushrooms below. Completing R-O-C-K-E-T advances the lit Progress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.Planet BonusProgress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award. one step.
Need to know
ROCKET
Lit blue mushrooms and lower red mushrooms add letters; a completion clears the word and advances one planet.
Zipper flippers
Red mushrooms close the center gap, while yellow mushrooms open it again.
Planet Bonus
Planet progress carries between balls, but the operator selects its threshold and award.
Rocket III is an upper-playfield spelling game. Nudge toward lit blue mushrooms while the ball is up top, use red mushrooms below to add letters and protect the center gap, then repeat the spelling loop without depending on the operator-selected Planet award.
The goal
Keep the ball in the upper playfield and hit lit Shows Upper blue mushroom bumpers on the Rocket III playfield. Upper-playfield bumpers used to spell ROCKET. to spell ROCKET.In the lower playfield, use red mushrooms to add letters and close the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again..Complete ROCKET to advance the Progress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.Planet BonusProgress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award..
Plunge into the upper playfield.
Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall.NudgingMove the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall.Read the full Nudging technique the ball away from the lower exit and toward a lit blue mushroom.
Hit lit blue mushrooms to add ROCKET letters.Upper light transfer setup details
A lit left hit turns that lamp off and lights its matching right mushroom.Upper light transferA lit left hit turns that lamp off and lights its matching right mushroom.: A lit left hit turns that lamp off and lights its matching right mushroom.
A lit right hit turns its lamp off and does not relight the matching left mushroom.
Do not aim at the The upper-center device rotates counterclockwise, scores no points, and changes the ball direction.Spinning FlipperThe upper-center device rotates counterclockwise, scores no points, and changes the ball direction..Spinning Flipper scoring details
The upper-center device rotates counterclockwise, scores no points, and changes the ball direction.Spinning FlipperThe upper-center device rotates counterclockwise, scores no points, and changes the ball direction.: The upper-center device rotates counterclockwise, scores no points, and changes the ball direction.
When the ball reaches the lower playfield, hit red mushrooms.Red mushroom and Zipper flippers rules
It adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers.Red mushroomIt adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers.: It adds one ROCKET letter and closes the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again..
Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.: Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.
Keep the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again. closed when the center gap is the main drain risk.
Complete ROCKET to advance the lit planet by one step.ROCKET completion and Planet Bonus rules
It clears all six letters and advances the Planet Bonus.ROCKET completionIt clears all six letters and advances the Planet Bonus.: It clears all six letters and advances the Progress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.Planet BonusProgress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award..
Progress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.Planet BonusProgress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.: Progress carries between balls, but the operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 and its award.
Repeat the route, and do not depend on the Planet award in tournament play.
↪Fallback: Recovery: Protect the center drain
Recovery pivot: Use this when upper-playfield control is lost.
Hit a It adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers.Red mushroomIt adds one ROCKET letter and closes the zipper flippers. to close the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again..
Avoid yellow mushrooms while the center gap is dangerous.
Use the closed flippers to regain control.
Continue on red mushrooms for ROCKET letters.
Accept low switch scoring because ball survival is the main value.
↔Alternative: Position play: Open the right outlane gate
When trailing, use this higher-ceiling route: use this only when the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again. are open.
Collect at least three ROCKET letters.
The Shows right outlane on the Rocket III playfield. The right outlane gate opens while the zipper flippers remain open. gate opens while the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again. remain open.
A right-outlane drain uses the gate and returns the ball to the Shows shooter lane on the Rocket III playfield. A right-outlane drain uses the gate and returns the ball to the shooter lane..
The gate closes after use.
Complete ROCKET, then collect three new letters to reopen it.
↔Alternative: Light the left outlane kickback
Use this only with five ROCKET letters and open Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again..
Leave the sixth letter unlit.
The Shows left outlane on the Rocket III playfield. The left outlane lights for Special and activates its kickback. lights for Special and activates its kickback.
Completing ROCKET removes the kickback and advances the planet.
Do not open the Closing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again.Zipper flippersClosing them removes the center gap; a yellow mushroom opens the gap again. only to chase this award when the center is unsafe.
◆Builds toward: Planet Bonus
Spell ROCKET to advance one planet.
The Planet count carries between balls.
The operator selects Planet 8 or Planet 9 as the award threshold.
Read the local apron card because the award can be a replay, points, or an extra ball.
Sources and references4 references4 source links and outbound references.