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JLP Pinball Cards

Tales from the Crypt

Data East 1993 LCD
Strategy updated: August 11, 2026

Strategy

By far the biggest scoring is while playing Crypt Multiball if you can complete, and better yet repeat, the Monster Jackpot sequence. Play modes when it is advantageous to do so, favoring the Door Prize and the MB modes, Skull Cracking & Electric Chair.

Skill Shot

Just to the left of the right ramp entrance is a bank of 3 drop targets, a light will cycle through these and you want to plunge into a target when it is lit for the skill shot (4M)

Key Rules

Crypt Multiball

  • Hit the tombstone to collect letters in CRYPT, once completed the tombstone will lower, shoot the scoop behind it to start MB

  • The "C" is spotted on ball 1, and 2 letters each are spotted on balls 2 and 3, this ensures MB will be qualified at least once per game

  • The first MB can be started at the center spinner

  • There is a 2-part Jackpot sequence, to maximize scoring do the following:

    • Shoot the first Jackpot at the left ramp (25)

    • Balance hitting the captive ball to add-a-ball (until up to 6 in play) and Ripping spinners and shooting the crypt to boost Jackpot value

    • Crypt jackpot boosting is 1M times the number of balls in play

  • After collecting the 2X Jackpot, spell CRYPT again

    • Each letter collected will add-a-ball if 6 not in play

    • completing CRYPT scores the Monster Jackpot (50M + the previous double jackpot amount)

    • Repeat sequence to collect as many Monster Jackpots (+50M each time) as you can, however add-a-ball is over

  • A very short MB may be restarted at the center spinner

Modes

  • When lit, the scoop hugging the right side of the left ramp entrance starts a mode

  • To light the scoop shoot the lit spinner, best to always shoot the right orbit as it goes all the way around hitting both spinners. The left orbit drops into the pops.

  • Each spinner spin will change the mode selected, indicated by the flashing insert on the Creature Feature bottom center radial playfield art.

    • You may lock the selected mode by engaging the door handle plunger during play

  • Modes can be stacked but you cannot start another mode if a MB mode is running

  • Play all 12 modes to qualify Crypt Jam at the scoop (a 25-second unlimited MB frenzy where all switches score 1M)

  • 🥇Door Prize (video): Pick door until you reveal a zombie - "no whammies!" - points with no risk

  • 🥈Skull Cracking (MB): timed-20 seconds to start MB, hit the left-side captive ball on repeat, scores 5M-20M points and adds a ball

  • 🥉Electric Chair(MB): Shoot the mode start scoop to score 1M times the number of balls in play, ends when back to a single ball

  • ⭐️Thunderstorm: timed-25 seconds, shoot ramps on repeat

  • Super Crypt Kicker: Lights the left kickback for the rest of the ball

  • Super Keeper: timed-25 seconds, hit the 6 eyeball standup, 3 on each side of the lower playfield

  • Frightmare: timed-25 seconds, get 30 spinner spins for 25M

  • Psycho Pops: timed-25 seconds, hit 20 pops to score 25M

  • Robbing the Crypt: timed-25 seconds, shoot into the crypt 5 times, each successful shot adds 4 seconds to timer

  • Super Guillotine: timed-25 seconds, hit drop targets on repeat

  • Werewolf Countdown: a 15-second hurry-up to make the left orbit (starts at 30M)

  • Light Axe-tra Ball: lights extra ball at the center spinner, between the drop bank and the right ramp

Other Important Features

  • Relight left kickback by spelling KEEPER at the eyeball standups

  • BonusX can be increased (2X, 4X, 6X, 8X) by either spelling KEEPER or completing the drop target bank

tales-from-the-crypt-pf.jpg playfield
Playfield image by Ken (scottamus)