Demolition Man
A widebody SuperPin with four multiballs, a magnet-powered Cryo-Claw, gun handle triggers, and combos that are the key to everything. Complete all four multiballs for the Demolition Jackpot, or complete all five Claw awards for Demolition Time.
The left ramp is lit for Quick Freeze after you hit enough yellow standup targets (turning off their insert lights). Shooting Quick Freeze locks a ball. Lock enough balls and multiball starts. This is the fastest path to multiball: hit yellow targets → shoot left ramp. On Ball 1, you can start multiball in as few as three shots: upper flipper to the underground scoop, right flipper to the left ramp, then the right ramp. Quick Freeze should be your default choice from the Cryo-Claw when available.
This is a widebody game — the playfield is wider than standard, which means balls have more room to take bad angles. The flipper gap feels particularly punishing for center drains. The game has gun handle triggers instead of standard flipper buttons (though they work the same), plus thumb buttons on top of the handles that score secret jackpots during specific moments — more on that in Level Up. The Cryo-Claw is the signature toy: a magnet arm that picks up the ball and swings it over five award lanes. You press both gun triggers simultaneously to drop the ball. The timing is tricky but fun. The biggest trap for new players: focusing on the Claw awards instead of just locking balls. Quick Freeze at the Claw is almost always the right choice.
Your Game Plan
Fast Multiball — Three Shots Is All It Takes
BALL 1Skill Shot — Side Ramp from Upper Flipper Earnable
The plunge sends the ball around to the upper left flipper. Shoot the side ramp for the skill shot — worth 5M (it counts as the first combo). Each made skill shot increases subsequent combo values. Miss it and you still have a ball in play, so it's low-risk.
Hit Yellow Targets → Quick Freeze → Lock Earnable
Hit the yellow standup targets (turning off their insert lights) to light Quick Freeze on the Left Ramp (Quick Freeze). Shoot the left ramp to lock a ball. Repeat until multiball starts. The yellow targets are scattered around the playfield — you'll hit them naturally while making other shots. The fastest start: scoop shot → left ramp → right ramp.
Start Making Combos Earnable
Combos are sequences of major shots connected by flashing red arrows. Each shot lights the next logical shot — left inlane lights right ramp, right loop, and AcMag; right inlane lights left orbit and left ramp. Combos score 5M for the first, 6M, 7M, etc. with no cap. The arrows stay lit even if you make other shots in between. Chain as many as you can.
Multiballs and Claw Awards
BALL 2Start Another Multiball Earnable
Each multiball has a different name (Fortress, Museum, Wasteland, Cryoprison) but they all start the same way: Quick Freeze locks. Complete all four for the Demolition Jackpot at the right ramp — worth the total of all jackpots scored across all four multiballs. This is the game's big payoff, so keep starting multiballs.
Use the Cryo-Claw Wisely Earnable
Complete the MTL rollover lanes to light the left inlane, which lights the Cryo-Claw / Right Ramp on the right ramp. The Claw grabs the ball magnetically and swings over five lanes. Press both gun triggers to drop the ball. Choose Lock Freeze for instant ball locks, or AcMag for a repeatable center ramp scoring mode. The other three awards (Prison Break, Super Jets, Capture Simon) are less valuable.
Score Explode Hurry-Ups Earnable
Four shots (left/right loop, left/right ramp) have 'Explode' inserts worth 10M each. They're lit by shooting the underground hole when it's NOT lit for a combo. The Retina Scan (eyeball shot on the left) also starts an Explode hurry-up. 10M shots add up fast during active play.
Push for Demolition Jackpot or Demolition Time
BALL 3Complete Remaining Multiballs Earnable
If you haven't completed all four multiballs, keep going. The Demolition Jackpot at the right ramp is the sum of all jackpots you've scored. Even if you can't complete all four, each individual multiball is still the best scoring opportunity in the game.
Work Toward Demolition Time Earnable
Complete all five Claw awards (Start AcMag, Lock Freeze, Prison Break, Super Jets, Capture Simon) to light Demolition Time at the underground shot. It's a 5-ball multiball where all jackpot shots are lit. Hard to reach but devastating when you get there.
Combo Count Toward Computer and Extra Ball Earnable
Every 10 combos lights the Computer at the underground shot for a random award. Extra ball lights at 12 combos. Keep chaining combos throughout the game — they're the foundation of everything. Even modest combo chains build your score steadily while working toward bigger features.
Stay Alive Out There
- → Widebody Center Drains Are Real: The extra-wide playfield means balls take weird angles you're not used to. Center drains are the most common way to lose a ball. The anti-biff bars under the flippers make bang-backs nearly impossible. Focus on controlled play.
- → The Ball Saver Is Generous: Small red inlay lights above each flipper indicate the ball saver. It's active at the start of each ball and during multiball. Use those first few seconds to make aggressive shots — you'll get the ball back if you drain.
- → Left Inlane Is Valuable: The left inlane lights the Claw on the right ramp (if MTL lanes are complete) AND starts combo arrows. It's the most valuable lane pass on the game. Anytime you can feed the left inlane, you're setting up your next big play.
Don't Be a Hero
- ⚠ Super Jets from the Claw: When the Claw is lit, Super Jets is the weakest of the five awards. The jet bumpers score modestly and the ball bounces unpredictably. Always prioritize Lock Freeze or AcMag from the Claw instead.
- ⚠ The Computer (Random Award): The Computer at the underground shot gives random awards when lit. Some are great (extra ball, multiball), but many are mediocre. Don't go out of your way for it — let it come naturally from combo milestones.
- ⚠ Starting Payback Time During Multiball (on real machines): There's a known issue where balls can get stuck behind the underground drop target during multiball, wasting your Demolition Time or mode timer. Be aware of ball paths near the underground area during multiball.
This is a 5-ball game, so you get more chances than most. Average games are 100-200M. Good tournament games break 500M. The best players push into multi-billion territory with heavy combo chaining and multiball stacking. For league, consistently hitting 300M+ is solid.
Demolition Man has gun-shaped handles instead of standard flipper buttons. The triggers on the handles work as flipper buttons. The thumb buttons on TOP of the handles are the secret — they score a secret jackpot once per multiball during certain moments (jackpot awards, Capture Simon, Retina Scan, and other specific events). Press both simultaneously when you see a big score flash on the display.
Demolition Man shares DNA with Judge Dredd (released the year before by the same design team) but fixes most of Dredd's design issues. The playfield flows better, the modes are more rewarding, and the combo system gives every shot purpose. If you enjoy one, try the other.
The Research Pile
Every claim is sourced. Here's where we got our homework for this guide.
Comprehensive rulesheet covering combo mechanics, all four multiballs, Claw awards, Explode hurry-ups, Computer awards, and Demolition Time qualification.
Detailed rules covering playfield layout, skill shot, combo system, Quick Freeze mechanics, Claw operation, and multiball details.
Tournament-oriented quick reference covering the 3-shot multiball start, combo strategy, Claw priorities, and secret jackpot button presses.
Production history, Cryo-Claw mechanics, SuperPin line context, and the Stallone/Snipes custom speech.