Williams

Fire!

Pinside Rating

This game received 119 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.263 _/10

7.263

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #223 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.177

Artwork: 7.735

Sounds/Music: 6.491

Other Aspects: 7.331

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 4 of us have rated this game.

7.506

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This title is part of group: "Fire!"

Fire!

Fire! Champagne Edition

Found 65 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 65 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.789/10

4 months ago

CAM

DeputyDrain

Pinside member

Saint Paul, MN

<1y 31,250 138

Fire! features a really easy to follow playfield with matching ramps and layout mirrored on both sides; though it is not always clear how to enter each game mode, it usually makes it pretty clear on what to do when you are in it it.

The playfield is absolutely gorgeous, some of the best art ever put onto a machine. The colors absolutely pop and the layout is so neat and attractive.

We have to talk about the bell though. The sound effects, the bell, the sirens, it is the most out of control and obnoxious sound effects I have ever heard in a pinball machine. The one I played on was cranked to the max too and I'm pretty sure it annoyed the hell out of anyone within earshot.

Silky smooth shots, really neat diversion ramp that extends on the top of the playfield, this is an incredibly fun machine. The one I played on needed the buttons to be hit really hard and I needed two fingers on the large flipper buttons to trigger them, not sure if that is normal or how these games were designed.

I love playing it, would hate to have it in a home setting in all honestly, it would drive me crazy.

6.106/10

4 months ago

MIK

statictrance

Skill Shot Repair

Upper Saint Clair, PA

8y 56,850 662 35 7

I couldn't wait to get rid of this game both times it came through my collection. The spot targets feel cheap, the mechanics of putting out fires is clunky, the center shot blows, and that boils the game down to almost all orbits. The ramp up/down logic is cool and the locks are a neat placement - too bad they're almost always broken. Then there's a bell - which is a really cool addition, until you realize there's no way to turn it off and it'll wake sleeping kids. Also - whoever thought a brown cabinet was an eye catching idea should be smacked around a bit.

statictrance currently owns this game.

7.468/10

7 months ago

EYP

ThePinballLord

Pinside apprentice

1y 16,250 33

One of the best games for its time artwork is really good on this machine and the sound effects also the details are really good and high quality I really want to buy this pin because it also has a really good price (Around £2000 to £3000. Or you can buy the machine and donate it to your local Fire Station :)

ThePinballLord edited previous rating on October 01, 2023.

6.383/10

7 months ago

VEE

Veemonroe

Pinside member

London

2y 55,550 205 7 176

Played a few times at the Joysticks Arcade Bar in Prague.

It feels underwhelming compared to other pins of the same era (e.g. PinBot), largely due to the limited range of interesting shots (two of the ramps go to stationary targets)! I spent a lot of time shooting fires on a huge area of standup targets near the top of the playfield, which felt reminiscent of games with an upper playfield - but a lot less interesting. The flow was worse than Firepower or Blackout from almost a decade earlier.

I kept wishing I was playing Whirlwind (better shots), Black Knight 2000 (better music) or - well - just about anything else from the System 11 era.

7.877/10

8 months ago

ABF

Sheev_Palpatine

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 104K 651 69

This is a fun shooter I definitely play this whenever I see it!

6.765/10

12 months ago

DTE

ClarkGriswold

Pinside member

Los Angeles, CA

3y 47,550 252 6 6

Fire! is a decent system 11 that offers a few thrills, but also a few disappointments. The theme is integrated well and the outside ramps are fun, but the playfield layout leaves a lot to be desired. The "save my baby" ramps to no where just weren't my thing. The sounds always seemed quite muffled (maybe it was just my machine). It was a good game for mixing up gameplay in a bigger collection, but it never called me back for one more game.

Overall, fun for a few games, but lacking long term replay value.

ClarkGriswold has owned this game in the past.

7.047/10

1 year ago

BSB

wichitakid71

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 31,650 29 9

I like this game but it definitely has limitations. Not a fan of the ramps to the stationary targets. I owned this game and the plastics on both sides had broken, but I was able to reinforce them with a fix I found on Pinside. Best part is the integration of the theme and sounds. The rotating fire wheel below the playfield was a nice feature, so was the bell on top of the back box. Not as good as the later System 11 games but still a worthwhile play.

9.255/10

1 year ago

ALE

Pyromedic

Pinside member

Clayton, GA

12y 71,300 661 8 22

Fire! Easily one of the most beautiful games ever made when it comes to Artwork. Absolutely stunning to look at. The backglass alone could adorn any wall by itself. The Ragtime music by Chris Granner fits the theme to perfection for the era, Sound effects fit as well to the theme perfectly, just hearing the game without watching you can feel the intensity of what is the Chicago Fire. the moo of Ms. O'learys cow is a great added touch when coining up, and the real bell is icing on the cake. Rules are great, distinctive for the game where the bonuses are max at the start the decrease the longer you take to rescue and "save the baby". Fun fast game, the fire effects during multi-ball never get old. This is the first pinball I fell in love with to want in my home.
5 Alarm fun for all!
Not the deepest rules, especially today so for some lastability could be an issue, but not in our house!

Pyromedic currently owns this game.

8.181/10

2 years ago

ARS

thedefog

Pinside member

10y 93,350 5,673 72

This game gets beat up for being "boring" due to lack of targets, but it is a good feeling game and has the fun factor going for it. The lights, bells, and sounds really bring it together as a package with the theme. The shots do leave you wanting more, and the window ramps don't feel great (would have been much better as a horseshoe with a bi-directional switch like in the back of SOF). This would not be good as the only game in your collection, but it is a lot of fun to post high scores on, has the one more game thing going for it, and it deserves more credit for a great art package.

8.248/10

2 years ago

BAZ

Balazs

Pinside member

London

5y 26,900 6 30 7

I think this is a decent sys 11 game. One of my favourite sys11.

Balazs currently owns this game.

9.260/10

2 years ago

???

Noname707

Inactive member

Santa Rosa, CA

10y 35,000 5 12 51

Way underrated machine. It is a blast to play I’m not getting the low ratings on it.

5.849/10

2 years ago

AOK

NetherFredo

Pinside apprentice

Cushing, MN

3y 35,400 7 9 92

This machine is prettier than it is fun. Great color palette.

Shoots ok, moderately fun. No great shots. Feels like more could have been done with the theme.

I found the bell annoying quickly.

8.656/10

2 years ago

DAV

Golgotha

Creekside Hideaway

14y 79,800 636 12

I have always loved the theme and awesome Back glass and playfield artwork. Flow is exceptional. Music addicting. If this game was a few years newer and had a DMD.... The sky is the limit. I found it interesting when I started my search that I saw they rarely come up for sale. It turns out most owners are either from Chicago (Like I am) or a Fireman. The game I bought was purchased from a retired Phoenix Fire Department Captain! It really IS True.

7.288/10

2 years ago

EJH

ehex9

Pinside member

Saint Albans Town, VT

3y 46,650 5 7 179

Fire is a good system 11 game. I did not play this one much, but I do remember enjoying the theme and over all play of the game.

7.937/10

3 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 234K 17,618 104

Love ringing that bell !!

5.390/10

3 years ago

JAL

Dwboca

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 79,550 470 35

An interesting game, has an olde timey silent movie feel to it
The fire plug is a big plus within this game that cam and should be used to your advantage. A couple of tricky shots and a fun multi ball. The ceramic fire wheel under the play field adds to the over theme.

Update. I've sold this. Its a mediocre game The playfield plastics are junk and game was made as cheaply as possible. Wear and tear and lack of proper maintenance can really hurt the game. The theme doesn't last long before it gets old amd stale.

Dwboca edited previous rating on August 27, 2022.

7.739/10

3 years ago

ADE

adeysolaris

Inactive member

London

5y 9,900 12 6

The first time I saw this machine in an arcade - it didn't 'POP' out like others around it and so I never gave it much game time. It's quiet understated - few colours on the field or the backglass.
Once you get to know it you realise it is rather a stylish game, definitely would look nice in the home.
Theme, gameplay, music and the playfield area are very well tied together, an open playfield with a nice arrangement of shots, the ramp to the window shot is very satisfying.
The multiball is 3 ball and with good control you can get the Jackpot by using only one flipper for shots.

It's a good machine to practice your repertoire of shots as the ball rarely spins but very easy to clock.

5.705/10

4 years ago

RIV

SteveRivet

Pinside member

Ashburn, VA

10y 35,650 29 2 22

Don't care for the symmetric playfield on this one at all. Can play a game or two, but not a machine I can really dig into. Definitely one of my least favorite System 11's - just not enough to keep you interested long term, although it's good looking and the theme is well integrated.

2.758/10

4 years ago

LAW

the_quail_man17

Inactive member

Plymouth, IN

4y 31,650 7 139

I truly hate this machine. I have never liked the theme, the play style. Always has been a very dull machine to me. Never enjoyed playing it. Now this is my personal opinion, so you make like it, but for me I will pass.

the_quail_man17 edited previous rating on March 11, 2020.

8.838/10

4 years ago

FIN

agentfin

Inactive member

Alameda, CA

4y 9,500 6

Fire! is by far the strangest pinball game I've played, but one of my lasting all time favorites. It takes a simple theme and rolls with it. There's just enough challenge to the shots to keep me coming back for more and enough story to keep me happy too.

6.644/10

4 years ago

JAS

Sinistarrett

Pinside member

Freeport, FL

8y 81,850 1,623 3 12

Played FIRE a few times now and I just cant get too excited about it. Its a great looking game with a cool theme and the fire effect is brilliant. But the gameplay just seems really pedestrian and the shots are kinda blah. Decent fun for a couple of games, but I dont really care to play it again.

8.395/10

5 years ago

???

Xfiles96

Inactive member

Madison, WI

5y 10,000 7

Beautiful theme. Really inspired touches with the lighting and playfield art.

6.855/10

6 years ago

DIA

mrossman5

Pinside+ Frequent

Warren, PA

6y 197K 3,175 7 253

Beautiful game. Like the center fire hydrant. Do not like the ramps that don't lead to anything and not a fan of the sound effects. Seems like it would get old in a smaller collection. Center ladder is a neat idea but I wouldn't buy one unless it was a nice price.

mrossman5 edited previous rating on April 24, 2018.

7.325/10

6 years ago

WXW

Lawlor_and_Order

Pinball 518

7y 81,400 38 112

I will voice a minority opinion (apparently) on Fire, and sing its praises. It's an unusual game, that feels like a throwback, but which has a very distinctive set of shots and a feel unlike most games of its era and quite a bit different from where pinball headed after the 1980's. That may be why many players don't like it and get bad first impressions, but in terms of having a relatively unique set of shot skills to make, it definitely warrants some second looks if you're serious about pinball.

First off, what it doesn't have. There's no upper flipper (at a time when this was common). There are no pop bumpers, at all. The slings are limited. There's no licensed theme, that's for sure. There aren't habitrail ramps - in fact the two most prominent ramps, the rescue ramps, lead nowhere but to a dead end, and the two loop ramps are subtle. It's symmetric in layout as well.

What it does have that's challenging:

- the pop-up stopper (fire plug) in the middle requires a different kind of flipper/ball management. The ball runs down from the rescue ladders,and the ability to get the plug activated and reactivated plays like old school rollover with center post pop-ups, but with the twist of the high ramps.

- a four-shot sequence required to go through the rescues and ball captures to multifball.

- a hidden ball U-turn in the center, followed by a launch ramp (raised) in the center (the ladder), which requires, in the manner of Attack from Mars, control of center shots that tend to come back down the middle. This is far more challenging than the typical ramp-ramp-ramp game of the era.

- an up and down back and forth flow that alternates with the two loops for ball control. The symmetry, which normally annoys me, is a feature here, in that it's required you alternate sides.

- the theme!

I personally adore the theme. It's old school fire fighting (as suggested, possibly the Great Chicago Fire - including possibly the first Williams Cow! - although the East Side and West Side layout suggests it's supposed to be New York). The artwork of the burning city and the mechanical effect of the burning city are wonderful. The working fire bell ringing is very cool - it's like "High Speed" for a 19th century fire department!

So, all that said, this might not be the game for you. But it's a different kind of game, and one with a very reasonable design center, and a theme that will please non-wizards.

Lawlor_and_Order edited previous rating on August 28, 2017.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

8.232/10

6 years ago

???

union76

Inactive member

Melbourne

6y 6,000 4 10

Fairly simple, good flow and a little bit beaten up (not taking this factor into account) - but I really enjoyed playing this when I had the opportunity. Ring that fucking bell............

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