Metallica Remastered Pinball Review

Some pinball machines are so good that you don't really want a remake.

You just want the original machine to be given another chance.

That is exactly what makes Metallica Remastered so interesting. Stern has taken one of its most beloved music machines, kept the core gameplay created by John Borg and Lyman Sheats, and rebuilt almost everything around it with modern hardware, new artwork, expanded rules, new presentation and a huge amount of additional Metallica content.

The result is a machine that feels familiar immediately, but also feels like a genuinely new version of a classic.

Gameplay

The biggest compliment you can give Metallica Remastered is that it still feels like Metallica.

The original's fast, aggressive gameplay remains at the heart of the machine. The layout hasn't been thrown away and replaced with something completely different. Instead, Stern has refined the geometry and mechanical elements while preserving the fundamental flow that made the original so satisfying.

And that flow is excellent.

Metallica is a machine about making shots, building momentum and keeping control while the game constantly asks you to do more. The music isn't simply background noise either. It becomes part of the rhythm of the game.

The Remastered version expands the rules with new modes based on Hardwired... to Self-Destruct and 72 Seasons, as well as the new Blackened Wizard Mode. There are also additional Insider Connected challenge modes for players who want even more to chase.

It gives experienced players considerably more depth without losing the immediate accessibility of the original.

If you want to understand why John Borg's designs have remained so influential, our John Borg Pinball Machines Ranked is worth a look. Metallica Remastered sits at the top of our ranking for good reason.

Layout & Flow

This is where Metallica Remastered really shines.

The original Metallica was already known for its fast, flowing layout, and the Remastered version wisely doesn't try to fix something that wasn't broken.

Shots connect naturally and the game encourages you to keep moving. There is very little feeling of simply waiting around for something to happen.

That makes it particularly satisfying once you start finding a rhythm.

The ramps and major shots can begin to feel almost musical as you play, which is one of those qualities that is difficult to describe until you've spent some time with the machine.

And although the game can be extremely fast, it isn't simply fast for the sake of being fast. The layout gives experienced players plenty to work on.

It is one of those games where improving your accuracy genuinely changes how much you can get out of it.

Rules & Code

The original Metallica already had a strong ruleset, and the Remastered version expands rather than completely reinvents it.

The new game adds additional objectives and modes, including content connected to Metallica's more recent albums. The Blackened Wizard Mode gives experienced players another significant target to work towards.

There is also a much greater amount of presentation integrated into the rules than was possible on the original machine.

With Stern's modern Spike 2 electronics and Insider Connected, the game has room to continue evolving through software updates.

This is important because Metallica Remastered isn't really trying to be a completely different game.

It is trying to be the version of Metallica that could have existed if the original had been designed with today's technology.

Theme & Artwork

This might be the biggest visual improvement.

The original Metallica already had a strong identity, but Metallica Remastered takes the artwork in a completely different direction.

The Premium and LE models feature new artwork by Metallica artist Rhys Cooper, with much more detailed illustrations, stronger colours and a considerably more premium overall presentation. The LE takes it even further with reflective cabinet artwork and a mirrored backglass.

It is a spectacular-looking machine.

And this is also one of the reasons it works so well with custom artwork.

There is so much visual information already present that you don't want to cover it up. The best mods simply extend the existing design into areas that would otherwise be plain.

Our Metallica Remastered Pinball Mods are designed with exactly that philosophy in mind.

The machine already looks incredible.

The goal is to make the whole cabinet feel even more complete.

Sound & Atmosphere

This is probably the easiest category to judge.

It's Metallica.

The Remastered version includes 22 songs, adding eight tracks to the original soundtrack, along with new sound effects, animations, concert footage and more than 1,000 new speech calls.

And because the music is so deeply connected to the gameplay, it doesn't feel like you're simply playing pinball while a Metallica playlist happens to be running in the background.

The whole machine is built around the band.

The new LCD presentation also makes an enormous difference. Concert footage and new animations give the machine a much more modern feel, while the music remains the star of the show.

For a music-themed pinball machine, this is exactly what you want.

Models: Premium vs LE

Metallica Remastered is available in Premium and Limited Edition versions, and both are impressive.

The Premium already gives you the updated playfield, new artwork, LCD presentation, expanded rules and the Remastered experience.

The LE, however, goes considerably further.

Limited to 500 machines worldwide, the LE includes Expression Lighting and Speaker Expression Lighting, a mirrored backglass, reflective cabinet artwork, upgraded audio, custom armour, shaker motor, anti-reflection glass and several other collector-focused upgrades.

Visually, the LE is spectacular.

But the Premium is probably the sweet spot for players who care primarily about the gameplay rather than having every possible collector upgrade.

And whichever version you own, there is plenty of room to personalise it. For example, our Metallica Remastered Premium WizDoors extend the artwork onto the coin door, while our Metallica Remastered WizBlades bring more of that artwork inside the cabinet.

These are exactly the kinds of areas where custom artwork can add something without fighting the factory design.

Who Is This Machine For?

Metallica Remastered is an easy recommendation for music fans, but you don't need to be a Metallica obsessive to appreciate it.

It works particularly well for players who enjoy fast games, flowing layouts and machines where shooting accurately is constantly rewarding.

Beginners can enjoy the music, presentation and immediate action without understanding every rule.

Experienced players have a much deeper game waiting underneath.

That combination is one reason Metallica Remastered already appears among our Top 10 Most Replayable Modern Pinball Machines. It is a machine that gives you something to chase whether you're playing your first game or your five-hundredth.

And if you're particularly interested in Stern's best work, we've also included it in our Stern Top 10 Pinball Machines of All Time.

Final Verdict

Metallica Remastered is one of those rare machines where the word Remastered actually feels appropriate.

Stern hasn't simply taken the original Metallica and changed the artwork.

It has modernised the entire experience while respecting what made the original special.

The gameplay remains fast and satisfying. The layout still flows beautifully. The rules are deeper. The presentation is dramatically better. The soundtrack is bigger. And the new artwork gives the machine an entirely different visual presence.

Most importantly, it still feels like Metallica.

For existing fans of the original, it is a fascinating second version of a game that was already a classic.

For anyone discovering Metallica pinball for the first time, this may be the best version to experience.

And for collectors, the combination of incredible factory artwork and the possibility of extending that artwork with carefully chosen custom mods makes it one of Stern's most rewarding machines to personalise.