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1992

Lethal Weapon 3

Quick Overview

Car chases, explosions and Uzi shoot-outs! Lethal Weapon 3 is a pinball machine released by Data East in 1992, based on the Hollywood action movie of the same name. You step into the shoes of detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh and relive the film's biggest action scenes on the playfield. The machine stands out with digitized movie clips on one of the largest displays of its day and a real gun handle. By 1994 it was Data East's most successful pinball machine ever.

Lethal Weapon 3

Basics

  • Release1992
  • ManufacturerData East
  • DesignersJoe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula
  • ArtMarkus Rothkranz
  • ProgrammingKristina Donofrio
  • MechanicsJohn Lund
  • Music and soundBrian L. Schmidt
  • GenrePinball
  • ThemeAction – Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) movie
  • SystemData East / Sega, 3rd generation
  • DisplayLarge dot-matrix (DMD) with digitized movie clips
  • Units produced10,350

Characters & Creators

Martin Riggs – one of the film's two leadsRoger Murtaugh – the film's other leadLeo Getz – the film's talkative supporting characterJoe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula – designersMarkus Rothkranz – artBrian L. Schmidt – music and sound

Standout features:

Large DMD with digitized movie clipsGun handle for the Uzi video shoot-outThree numbered saucers with stunt clips and a Super StuntLotsaballs multiball modeThree selectable background tracks

Play It Live!

The action has started! Grab the gun handle, complete the stunt scenes, and try Data East's most successful pinball machine, Lethal Weapon 3, at Arcade Museum Budapest!

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Game Objective

Lethal Weapon 3 brings the film's atmosphere onto the playfield: the goal is to complete the various action scenes and score as many points as possible. The playfield has three numbered saucers (1, 2, 3). Hit them in any order and the display plays a stunt clip, each worth more than the last: High Fall, Car Crash, Toilet, Explosion, then Helicopter. After the Helicopter, completing the three saucers again unlocks the Super Stunt, with a big bonus and a montage of all the clips. Repeated shots to the outer orbits load the Uzi's magazine, and the gun handle lets you take down criminals in a video shoot-out. During "Lotsaballs" multiball, several balls are in play at once.

Fun Facts

  • It is based on the 1992 action movie Lethal Weapon 3.
  • The game is known for its large dot-matrix display playing digitized movie clips.
  • The stunt order is: High Fall, Car Crash, Toilet, Explosion and Helicopter.
  • You can choose between three background tracks, including ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man".
  • Six machines were shown at the film's Los Angeles premiere in May 1992.
  • 10,350 units were built, and by 1994 it was Data East's most successful pinball machine.
  • The Michael Jordan pinball machine, a charity special edition of which only seven were built, is based on it.
  • Recommended for fans of action movies and anyone who likes spectacular, movie-themed pinball.

Why Is It Special?

Lethal Weapon 3 is one of the best examples of building a movie directly into a pinball machine. The stunt clips playing on the display, the film dialogue and the video shoot-out controlled with a real gun handle all steer the player toward the movie's action scenes. You can pick the music too: three background tracks, including a version of C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat", ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" and an original score by Brian Schmidt. The machine was a big hit: by 1994 it was Data East's most successful pinball machine ever, with 10,350 units built. Six machines were shown at the film's Los Angeles premiere in May 1992, but the finished game did not reach release until months later.