Stern Electronics
Nine Ball Pinside Rating
This game received 59 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.659 /10
Nine Ball
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.862
Artwork: 7.677
Sounds/Music: 5.321
Other Aspects: 7.857
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.
Found 29 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 29 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 2.
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9.135/10
7 months ago
Portland, OR
Nineball is Steve Kirk's masterpiece. A challenging shooter's game that requires bank shots to make certain shots, and has an early multiball (that your opponent can steal!) It has lots of drops, and maybe the best spinner placement in pinball history. The spinner is placed right next to two long rubbers, so the angle that you go through the spinner will dictate where the ball will go from there. Simple, but inspired. I think this game is close to perfection. The playfield art has some nice Kirby space crackle, and the backglass is alright but is maybe the only weakness of the game.
9.051/10
1 year ago
London
Probably my favourite early SS game.
I love the vibrant wizard artwork, the individual drop targets that can only be shot from the side (or by a careful rebound) and it even has multiball! Simply delicious, a wonderful shooter’s game and a brilliant test of skill. I would absolutely love one of these.
I love the vibrant wizard artwork, the individual drop targets that can only be shot from the side (or by a careful rebound) and it even has multiball! Simply delicious, a wonderful shooter’s game and a brilliant test of skill. I would absolutely love one of these.
8.446/10
1 year ago
I really enjoy my nine ball. This is a fun game with a very unique rule set. My only big drawbacks on the machine are the art package and the sound package. Compare this to Paragon, which came out the year before. The playfield is pretty barren with art, and the backglass is very plain.
As for features and fun... 3 ball multiball with physical ball lock? 15 drop targets! Drop targets that drop to reveal new shots that can only be hit on the rebound! Non-Gimmie Skill shot! I really enjoy this game. It is fair and balanced, but not a marathon slugfest game. This is a very good "test of skills" game to play against other players. The spinner buildup and rules make sense, the U shot and payoff makes sense, the goal of getting to the 9 ball is straight forward. I love the individual addressable drops. If you can get your hands on one, play it!
As for features and fun... 3 ball multiball with physical ball lock? 15 drop targets! Drop targets that drop to reveal new shots that can only be hit on the rebound! Non-Gimmie Skill shot! I really enjoy this game. It is fair and balanced, but not a marathon slugfest game. This is a very good "test of skills" game to play against other players. The spinner buildup and rules make sense, the U shot and payoff makes sense, the goal of getting to the 9 ball is straight forward. I love the individual addressable drops. If you can get your hands on one, play it!
7.341/10
3 years ago
I like drop targets. This game has them... in abundance!! I found this game to be perfect for sharpening your shooting skills! It plays relatively fast for an early SS game which is good. I found it enjoyable.
7.388/10
3 years ago
I love the lights, artwork, and gameplay...but I'm not crazy about the theme. You just don't see many around, but it is one of the best classic sterns.
7.223/10
4 years ago
Had a blast playing this Classic Stern.
Looking for one to fill the "Classic Stern Slot" in the lineup.
Looking for one to fill the "Classic Stern Slot" in the lineup.
7.125/10
4 years ago
Love this game! One of my favorite early Stern's. Tough but rewarding shots and a rule set way ahead of it's time. Hoping to add one to my collection.
10.000/10
5 years ago
Been waiting to rate this game for three months now while I refurbished it -- so far it has not disappointed. I love the variation provided by the eight bank drop target, horseshoe, spinner, etc. Cool that it even has a two or three multiball feature. Sound gets a little old after awhile -- background sounds like an airplane engine droning on. Cabinet and playfield art are excellent -- enjoy simply looking at the game. Should be a keeper!
Edit: 11/2018
After playing/owning this game for several months I have yet to tire of it. In fact it has quickly become my favorite. Maybe I'm more into old school pinball and less is more when it comes to animation and toys. . . whatever. As of right now this would be the last game to leave my collection.
Edit: 11/2018
After playing/owning this game for several months I have yet to tire of it. In fact it has quickly become my favorite. Maybe I'm more into old school pinball and less is more when it comes to animation and toys. . . whatever. As of right now this would be the last game to leave my collection.
7.081/10
8 years ago
Had some more time on one of these. Not sure why I had it rated so low before, really nice classic Stern.
7.632/10
8 years ago
I played this game for the 1st time yesterday at a fellow collectors house.
its a fun pin. interesting rule set. simple but challenging playfield layout. awesome skill shot that really requires skill to hit. great risk-reward shots and one of the best spinner shots ive ever seen. these don't show up often. if you get the chance to play one don't pass it up.
its a fun pin. interesting rule set. simple but challenging playfield layout. awesome skill shot that really requires skill to hit. great risk-reward shots and one of the best spinner shots ive ever seen. these don't show up often. if you get the chance to play one don't pass it up.
8.069/10
9 years ago
Nine Ball is a very good overall package. We have multiball but no speech.
Originality: medium.
Art/Lights/Theme: Very good.
The blue on orange looks fantastic.
Sound: Good sound effects, but they sure take their sweet time to tally up a score.
1. no orbits
2. single pop bumper
3. horseshoe (fun as hell)
4. "hidden" ball lock
5. 4 sets of drops totaling 15 drops
6. Spinner hovers over the table
Ball Control/Hazards: Very good. There's a lot of space in this game, and the ball draining is very forgiving (with outlane posts on novice)
Balanced Scoring: (unknown) I haven't played enough games to know how the scoring works
Fun/Lastability: Fun to keep trying to achieve a few tough goals like a max-spinner rip, a 173,000 shot, or earning the special by knocking down the timed drop target on left.
Symmetry: good. I’m rather sure its an asymmetrical design.
Use of pops: good. It's a little weak only having one pop, but at least it's smack dab in the middle of the upper playfield.
PF Visibility: excellent, you always know what's going on.
This game makes me want more early SS Sterns...
Originality: medium.
Art/Lights/Theme: Very good.
The blue on orange looks fantastic.
Sound: Good sound effects, but they sure take their sweet time to tally up a score.
1. no orbits
2. single pop bumper
3. horseshoe (fun as hell)
4. "hidden" ball lock
5. 4 sets of drops totaling 15 drops
6. Spinner hovers over the table
Ball Control/Hazards: Very good. There's a lot of space in this game, and the ball draining is very forgiving (with outlane posts on novice)
Balanced Scoring: (unknown) I haven't played enough games to know how the scoring works
Fun/Lastability: Fun to keep trying to achieve a few tough goals like a max-spinner rip, a 173,000 shot, or earning the special by knocking down the timed drop target on left.
Symmetry: good. I’m rather sure its an asymmetrical design.
Use of pops: good. It's a little weak only having one pop, but at least it's smack dab in the middle of the upper playfield.
PF Visibility: excellent, you always know what's going on.
This game makes me want more early SS Sterns...
9.618/10
10 years ago
Adelaide Hills
A great playing game, with some cool features like building the spinner and the horseshoe before collecting, and hitting the numbered targets in order. Too many of these targets can be spotted by the inlanes and the bumper at the top of the playfield, tho, making this part a bit too easy. I own this and it gets a lot of play by me, never gets stale. Stern's best SS.
Update: I've owned this a couple of years now and I'm upping the score, it is the most played machine in my collection by my visitors (and they have some nice modern DMDs to choose from.) It is a really nicely balanced game, your approach to the game varies from ball to ball - shooting the 1-9 targets, building up the spinner by going for the 3 banks (and not collecting it until it is maxed out), going after the horse shore when you're only 1 or 2 shots away from 173K (and the torture of collecting it one shot too early or missing it and rolling it over to 10K), or building your bonus times. Most DMDs don't have this level of choice in strategy. It requires super accuracy to make lots of tight shots. There's a reason they labelled it "tournament pinball" on the back glass.
Set up is critical to make this game sing - I have wow (extra ball) set to 70K points, specials set to 130K points, bonus X set to carry over ball to ball and requires both 3 banks to advance, and the outer targets on the 3 banks advance spinner value.
Update: I've owned it longer and it keeps getting better. Subtle decisions like, should I rip when the spinner is lit for 1600 points or should I drop another 3 bank target first to take it to 2500? I'm now getting better at setting the horseshoe target up for 173K points and collecting. I'm also getting better at banking the ball off the right side rubbers into various targets and the multiball lock. Locking a ball gives you another shot up the shooter lane to light the spinner for 2500.
There are so many ways to score and the optimal strategy continues to change depending on what is happening in any given ball. I just keep going back to this game in my home collection of 8 (6 DMDs).
Update: Another year on and I still love this game as much today as ever before. I now consider it the best solid state ever made. Fathom, Centaur, EBD etc are super games, but I would tire of them after 3 years of heavy play. Not Nine Ball.
Update: Another year on and I’m upping the points, this pin is in my top 3 of all time. The fast game time is a plus.
Update: I've owned this a couple of years now and I'm upping the score, it is the most played machine in my collection by my visitors (and they have some nice modern DMDs to choose from.) It is a really nicely balanced game, your approach to the game varies from ball to ball - shooting the 1-9 targets, building up the spinner by going for the 3 banks (and not collecting it until it is maxed out), going after the horse shore when you're only 1 or 2 shots away from 173K (and the torture of collecting it one shot too early or missing it and rolling it over to 10K), or building your bonus times. Most DMDs don't have this level of choice in strategy. It requires super accuracy to make lots of tight shots. There's a reason they labelled it "tournament pinball" on the back glass.
Set up is critical to make this game sing - I have wow (extra ball) set to 70K points, specials set to 130K points, bonus X set to carry over ball to ball and requires both 3 banks to advance, and the outer targets on the 3 banks advance spinner value.
Update: I've owned it longer and it keeps getting better. Subtle decisions like, should I rip when the spinner is lit for 1600 points or should I drop another 3 bank target first to take it to 2500? I'm now getting better at setting the horseshoe target up for 173K points and collecting. I'm also getting better at banking the ball off the right side rubbers into various targets and the multiball lock. Locking a ball gives you another shot up the shooter lane to light the spinner for 2500.
There are so many ways to score and the optimal strategy continues to change depending on what is happening in any given ball. I just keep going back to this game in my home collection of 8 (6 DMDs).
Update: Another year on and I still love this game as much today as ever before. I now consider it the best solid state ever made. Fathom, Centaur, EBD etc are super games, but I would tire of them after 3 years of heavy play. Not Nine Ball.
Update: Another year on and I’m upping the points, this pin is in my top 3 of all time. The fast game time is a plus.
8.539/10
10 years ago
So much for for a game with so little on the playfield. Love how you have to hit the shots in order. The spinner on the right doesnt look like it will be a clean shot but you can really rip it. Also like the captive ball shot, you really cant aim for it.
Not a deep ruleset but you can slap away on the flippers on this one and have a blast! Would love to own.
Not a deep ruleset but you can slap away on the flippers on this one and have a blast! Would love to own.
8.940/10
10 years ago
Wow. Strap yourself in it's time to play Nine Ball! This game was way ahead of it's time for 1980. From the moment you plunge the ball into play it's serious game on. Steve Kirk and Stern offered up a table with drops galore, a nicely placed hanging spinner. An upper left horseshoe lane and more.
Ball speed is fast faster and fastest! Multi ball is the frosting on the cake. Great sounds. Artwork and rule set. Mine needs some p/f touch ups but the games a definite.keeper. One negative on Nine Ball is the switches have to be totally dialed in and the MPU must have the latest roms or the game loses track on multi ball on how many balls are left in the captive ball area.
One thing on NB. The pricing is all over the place. I might have overpayed a bit for mine but it's a hard game to find and a nice example can be 2 k or a project can be 300.
Ball speed is fast faster and fastest! Multi ball is the frosting on the cake. Great sounds. Artwork and rule set. Mine needs some p/f touch ups but the games a definite.keeper. One negative on Nine Ball is the switches have to be totally dialed in and the MPU must have the latest roms or the game loses track on multi ball on how many balls are left in the captive ball area.
One thing on NB. The pricing is all over the place. I might have overpayed a bit for mine but it's a hard game to find and a nice example can be 2 k or a project can be 300.
3.841/10
10 years ago
Nine Ball had a good looking playfield for 1980. Wide and roomy and theres lots too shoot. Stern should be putting these drop-down targets on their new pinballs, (like AC/DC should have had and Metallica does). They work pretty well, look good and are good to hit, depending on target placement. The spinner is awesome and is in a good spot. I miss spinners on the new machines too. Shame no ramps but it was the 80's. Gets a bit boring and playability isnt there for me. Deep enough rules but not my thing. Not one for the wishlist but it was a good effort back then.
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