Sega

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Pinside Rating

This game received 170 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.617 _/10

7.617

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #164 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.665

Artwork: 7.625

Sounds/Music: 7.333

Other Aspects: 7.587

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.

7.058

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Found 93 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 93 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.976/10

3 months ago

DRD

DrDrain

Pinside member

9y 42,900 57 159

For a game that tried to compete with WPC games this is a pretty good one. It might have gotten a bit overlooked as a result of the "impending" WPC-95 generation games that included instant classics like Attack from Mars, Tales of the Arabian Nights and so on.

The layout is pretty similar to Jurassic Park (Data East) but it feels as if John Borg has made some significant tweaks here and there to make the gameplay a bit smoother.

By far the best feature on the game is the six ball multiball and the Frankenstein's Monster's throwing the ball onto the playfield. The Geneva Multiball is pretty enjoyable too. The only real flaw I see within the rules is the necessity of hitting that ramp over and over just to light the lock for the Creature Two Ball.

The artwork on the entire machine is pretty good but it just doesn't look the same as a Midway game would've looked.

As on all of the Sega games I've played on it takes a while to get used to the sounds but once I do I usually go with it. There are some very frequently used sounds though, like the "Monster Scream" and the "Million" callout. The later Sega games seem to be more focused on avoiding that.

All in all, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" is a good machine, with a nice layout, decent rules and good artwork. The game's target group probably consists of beginners and more casual players as I think it is pretty simple to play in general.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

7.638/10

7 months ago

VEE

Veemonroe

Pinside member

London

2y 55,550 205 7 176

Played at the Joysticks Arcade Bar in Prague.

My favourite of the SEGA pinball machines I’ve played, but sadly let down by the terrible art and the lack of YouTube tutorial videos online. It took me nearly four days to work out how to start modes, rather than just going for the two-ball Creature multiball everytime.

The John Borg layout with the trio of pop bumpers felt a bit unadventurous and walk-up play felt like it depended too heavily on shooting the right ramp to start multiball, shooting the North Pole to spot letters, and then hoping the bouncing ball would start a mode. Despite having a similar layout to Data East Jurassic Park (in the same room), it felt overall less exciting to me due to the lack of the drama of the kickback raptor pit and that there was only one scoop.

7.452/10

8 months ago

TTE

EvergreenTTE

Pinside apprentice

Champaign, IL

1y 16,650 4 39

I enjoy this game a great deal, probably because in addition to a very good layout and great toy/mech (the monster throwing balls out to start 6-ball multiball) it's very forgiving. If you miss a shot it's not likely to drain immediately the way a lot of games do. While it has its flaws (the "Who Am I?" callout grates after a short time) it gets the big things right and it's good dependable fun.

8.625/10

10 months ago

CRB

Crabspirits

Pinside member

Plainfield, IL

<1y 20,050 11 1 10

The layout is exactly the same as Jurassic Park (another Borg creation), with a VUK in place of the raptor kick. And having owned both at the same time, I will say that this is the better of the two. The toy is better, display is better, sound is better, artwork is better, and it just seems more solidly-built. Fun to watch the creature throw the ball at the glass for the first time on new players.

Crabspirits has owned this game in the past.

7.432/10

11 months ago

DIA

mrossman5

Pinside+ Frequent

Warren, PA

6y 197K 3,172 7 253

One of the better SEGA machines. Neat layout and pretty loaded compared to their later machines. Not a theme that clicks for me but still a fun machine.

8.940/10

1 year ago

MAO

Aiken

Pinside apprentice

Gelsenkirchen

1y 13,250 10 7

With pinsound and led Lightning nearly perfect

Aiken currently owns this game.

7.768/10

1 year ago

AJR

T1lt3dR0ll3r

Pinside apprentice

1y 19,150 2 6

When most people say something is disappointing, it's usually because it sucks when they expected it to be good. However, this table is disappointing instead because it set up high expectations for SEGA Pinball. Its ruleset might not be as complex and in-depth as a Bally/Williams machine, but it still gives players a reason to keep on coming back (other than it being the free table on The Pinball Arcade). Not to mention that the 192x64 DMD display provides great animations that I think are ripped from the movie (I've never seen it, so I can't be sure). Plus, it's addicting because of just how many points, and when you get the multi ball (which is admittedly really easy), it's so satisfying when the machine shouts "JACKPOT!", which makes it feel like a Wizard Mode (even when it isn't). Not to mention how impressive it is that you can alternate between the film score and Edgar Wright's Frankenstein. Maybe it's the bias from having many hours on this (being free on the Switch and all), but this is an underrated classic of the golden age of pinball.

T1lt3dR0ll3r edited previous rating on February 28, 2023.

9.140/10

2 years ago

MJK

MJK29504

Pinside+ Frequent

Hudson Oaks, TX

3y 23,500 11

The music, call outs, and the lighting with LEDs make this a great game. It way underrated and a great addition to any game room.

7.568/10

2 years ago

NAB

bouche03

Pinside member

Fort Wayne, IN

7y 55,300 95 2 28

Really enjoyed pumping some coins into this game; not overly punishing and ruleset was easy to understand from the start.

8.906/10

2 years ago

???

Pinthul

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

3y 9,000 2 4 7

Absolutely incredible Playfield if you ask me. Lots of fun shots with interesting callouts. Dotmatrix animation is incredible in combination with the sound package. Isn't as deep as some other tables in 2021 but if this is not your only pin it makes for a GREAT switchup. The cabinet art is probably the weakest part for me, I just placed him between a wall and a pretty table :->

Pinthul currently owns this game.

10.000/10

2 years ago

BMW

Pinbenny

Inactive member

Adelaide

2y 0 1 8

Fantastic and under rated game, skill level needed for high score.

Pinbenny currently owns this game.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.740/10

2 years ago

KSM

munemori_s

Pinside member

Doral, FL

5y 36,900 59 27 12 3

Underrated game. Nice gameplay and hard to finish.

munemori_s currently owns this game.

7.275/10

2 years ago

TRN

NielsR

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 32,400 32 34

A funny machine to play. This was the first pinball I bought and in the future I will add it to my collection again. It's a cool machine to play with some cool toys on the playfield. compared to more newer pinball machines te lastability is a bit less. But overall a cool machine to own and I can really recommend it!

NielsR edited previous rating on September 28, 2023.

6.325/10

3 years ago

NIK

Nikrox2

Pinside+ Addict

Medina, OH

5y 89,800 1,581 18 15 2

Loved this machine. Traded it, but will get another soon! Very fun to play!

Nikrox2 has owned this game in the past.

7.256/10

3 years ago

TKM

Daditude

Pinside Moderator

Rockwall, TX

5y 266K 10,113 23 271 1

There is something about the game that keeps me going back. I like the spooky theme, numerous shots, and artwork. Something just works. I'm not really sure why it isn't rated higher.

Daditude edited previous rating on October 09, 2020.

8.517/10

3 years ago

TOM

marioparty34

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 176K 1,453 123 1

Very fun game. The playfield has a good variety of shots and seems like a lot going on.

8.560/10

3 years ago

???

dex82

Inactive member

Unknown

6y 13,000 3 31

Underated game!! Great rules and fantastic jackpot levels! Artwork Is Amazing and good sound!!

7.884/10

3 years ago

T H

Pjitegior

Pinside member

Bergen

4y 23,750 147

The best Sega in my opinion

9.180/10

4 years ago

ZAP

zahner

Pin-a-Go-Go

Fair Oaks, CA

10y 81,800 1,098 6 16

Fast and fun. the more you play, the better the games gets. Love the ball tossing Frankenstein's monster figure. Music is perfect - excellent candidate for a Pinsound board. Add a color DMD and this will be a keeper for me once I have the room!

8.332/10

4 years ago

HAR

harig

Pinside member

Wiener Neustadt

6y 50,850 545 7

positive:
very good artwork
love the great DMD animations-awesome with the large DMD-IMHO one of the best of that time
monster is a nice toy
6 ball Multiball
3 flippers
has modes
2 different theme songs available
good bang for your buck

neutral/not so good:
layout somehow similar to TAF - altough a bit more crowded-especially the left and top area with the monster takes much space with not many shots there.
shooting 12 stand up targets to start a mode can be a bit annoying/dangerous
North pole is a hard to hit shot (Yes I´m not the best player)

8.440/10

4 years ago

MSW

Break8ers

Pinside member

Medina, OH

5y 41,900 69 10 10

This game has a lot going for it. First it was designed by John Borg who designs great games IMO. If it had Williams on it instead of Sega it would be rated much higher. So the movie was terrible--who cares--you are playing a pinball machine. The shots are excellent with great art work by legend Paul Faris. The wizard mode is a blast. Unique start to multi ball which can lead to 6 ball if you hit your shots fast enough. The large DMD and animations are excellent. Some things to do if you want the full experience. Color DMD is awesome on this. You have to replace the flipper coils with the GNR coils. It totally changes the game. There was a design flaw with the originals. Full LEDS and it jumps with a great lightshow. Add some Titans and some lights to the back and you are set. Deep rule set and many modes. I have not even mentioned Frankenstein throwing balls at you but its awesome. Adjust settings to have him throw it hard and it hits the glass--way cool. You can even change the soundtrack--don't feel the hate for the music like others do.The ball launch is cool too--no regular old plunger--classic. Set it up with the right enhancements and you will not be disappointed.

Break8ers currently owns this game.

9.380/10

4 years ago

PAT

Figgins

Pinside member

Ottawa, ON

6y 29,650 7 21 42

Surprised it is not rated higher....I think it is great fun...

Figgins has owned this game in the past.

9.300/10

4 years ago

???

Giel

Inactive member

8y 18,800 1 11

Not in the top 100? That's bizar! This game is really good and challenge you every time.

Giel has owned this game in the past.

8.208/10

5 years ago

RIK

rtotans

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 75,100 211 34

Overall the game is pretty fun. I believe it would be rated higher if isn't a Sega. anyway, a pretty good rule set, and not an easy game to get deep into. I love the big dmd screen. I'll add more as I learn the game better. I always like to rate a game early on, and then update it as I play It more.

9.140/10

5 years ago

ADA

dccz

Inactive member

České Budějovice

5y 22,400 4 21 43

My second and third pin. Very underestimated. Great fun, I want to play all the time. I love music and talking. Ramp heavy to overcome. 6 multiball is a big rush. LIV LIV LIV :-)

dccz edited previous rating on March 19, 2021.
dccz currently owns this game.

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