Bally
Doctor Who Pinside Rating
This game received 364 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.837 /10
Doctor Who
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.11
Artwork: 7.455
Sounds/Music: 7.236
Other Aspects: 8.048
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 7 of us have rated this game.
Found 191 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 191 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 4 of 8.
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8.625/10
8 years ago
Gold Coast
Just purchased my first Dr Who on the weekend having never played the table before. They are getting really collectable in Australia and this one was in beautiful condition and a very fair price so took the plunge.
To say I'm glad I did is an understatement. This game Rocks. Amazing Flow and the Fun Factor is through the roof. I don't think I have ever played a game with more one more go appeal. The reason for this in MHO is the games simplicity. Having only one mode (video) really helps focus the player around scoring. For most games in my collection the final score I post is secondary to my overall enjoyment but with the Dr its front and center. This makes the game refreshing and a great addition to a larger collection. I really love having a clear strategy and idea of how I am going to play the game from the outset and then getting to work executing that plan. As such I think it would be a great game to build your skills for Tournament Pinball. Yes it could be said that any game can be approach with a scoring strategy but with the Dr it just feels right, to focus rather then explore.
In many ways the game layout and design reminds me more of a modern Stern but with the build quality and artwork of Bally/Williams. The Time expander is a blast and really brings the game to life. Even the Video Mode most of which were awful from this error is a blast.
A very very underrated game in my opinion and one that is ready for a major revival. I have played almost every game in the Top 50 and own a number of much higher ranked tables and this deserves to be up there with the best. Easily Top 30.
Would recommend for anyone that loves a fast, smooth playing experience. Wouldn't have it in a single collection as I think it works best as a break from other more mode focussed tables.
To say I'm glad I did is an understatement. This game Rocks. Amazing Flow and the Fun Factor is through the roof. I don't think I have ever played a game with more one more go appeal. The reason for this in MHO is the games simplicity. Having only one mode (video) really helps focus the player around scoring. For most games in my collection the final score I post is secondary to my overall enjoyment but with the Dr its front and center. This makes the game refreshing and a great addition to a larger collection. I really love having a clear strategy and idea of how I am going to play the game from the outset and then getting to work executing that plan. As such I think it would be a great game to build your skills for Tournament Pinball. Yes it could be said that any game can be approach with a scoring strategy but with the Dr it just feels right, to focus rather then explore.
In many ways the game layout and design reminds me more of a modern Stern but with the build quality and artwork of Bally/Williams. The Time expander is a blast and really brings the game to life. Even the Video Mode most of which were awful from this error is a blast.
A very very underrated game in my opinion and one that is ready for a major revival. I have played almost every game in the Top 50 and own a number of much higher ranked tables and this deserves to be up there with the best. Easily Top 30.
Would recommend for anyone that loves a fast, smooth playing experience. Wouldn't have it in a single collection as I think it works best as a break from other more mode focussed tables.
7.728/10
8 years ago
Castro Valley, CA
As a DW fan, I love this game. Really played the heck out of it during college and was really happy to finally buy one. Good game. To have a high scoring game you have to combine the three main scoring elements: multiball, video mode, and loops/WHO combos. The game does focus too much on video mode, and the loops to increase playfield multiplier are repetitive, but nothing's perfect. Getting to Davros counts as a wizard mode, if difficulty is set high enough. He has tons of speech and really taunts you as you try to attack him! As for the rest of the game, though, sound is not so great. The Daleks and theme music get repetitive. No bass in the audio, so a subwoofer won't improve it. And there's a volume bug that causes it to increase volume over time...!
8.401/10
8 years ago
Owned this for best part of a year now. What I like most is the variability in how it can be played. Time expander multiball to destroy Daleks, going for WHO loop successions, transmatting Doctors - or combining all in one game. The game plays fast with minimal, and accuracy is the key to good shooting.
Downside is when the miniplayfield is acting up. It can be difficult to rectify, but when it's working well, it provides a great feature to shoot for. Backglass was a rush job when you read about the history, so the cartoon-ish look of the doctors is quite poor. Cab art is dynamic though - especially when the red's are not faded.
The game will stay in the collection for a few year I believe. I tend to rotate games that are similar to others I own, and this one is different enough to go to regularly for a quick bit of fun.
Downside is when the miniplayfield is acting up. It can be difficult to rectify, but when it's working well, it provides a great feature to shoot for. Backglass was a rush job when you read about the history, so the cartoon-ish look of the doctors is quite poor. Cab art is dynamic though - especially when the red's are not faded.
The game will stay in the collection for a few year I believe. I tend to rotate games that are similar to others I own, and this one is different enough to go to regularly for a quick bit of fun.
7.202/10
9 years ago
Kettering
Spell W-H-O and do nothing else is the key to this game, a shame really let down by this one fatal flaw. Not being a Dr Who fan probably doesn't help either! I watched in a comp somebody put 100+ loops on one of these and that was all they did. It's kind of satisfying at first but them gets very boring after a while. One for the fans I think!
7.799/10
9 years ago
Enjoyable game, the lightning flippers make it just that little bit harder, and this is one of those games where you can see the ball centre drain from the moment the ball rebounds from the top centre shot... and its like slow motion......
good ruleset, great option to choose your doctor. kids and adult alike seem to enjoy this game.
good ruleset, great option to choose your doctor. kids and adult alike seem to enjoy this game.
7.365/10
9 years ago
Not a Doctor Who fan but this is a very fun Bally/Williams game from the height of their best era. The artwork drags it down, including an uninspired backglass hampered by licensing restrictions but the Dalek topper is awesome (especially modified to work like the prototypes), the time expander is a truly wicked expansion of the Oursler Pin*Bot locks and the game has great flow. You'd think that with a time traveling hero with loads and loads of adventures and villains they would have created some more imaginative modes but instead they focus on the characters of the Doctors which, while neat and changing the rules, is a bit too subtle. In the end its just very fun to play.
9.320/10
9 years ago
Charlottetown, PE
I've had DW for three years and it still grows on me. This is one game I'll probably never give up. The music / music quality is a little lackluster, but I installed a pinsound with custom sound mixes and it rocks now!
8.707/10
9 years ago
The Time Expander is what makes this pin. The call outs and music is super catching, but sound quality is low. This is a really fun pin.
Edit:
Okay, i'm coming back to this to add more to the review. I realized a lot of my higher rating reviews were a bit thin originally. I totally downplayed the Time Expander in my previous review. I believe this is the number one best toy/mech in any game. When I had a DW, mine worked perfectly. It consists of a mini-playfield that raises to three levels. Shooting this for me was the main goal and fun factor of the game.
The playfield layout is a design I typically really like with open playfields and different shots that aren't in a fan layout. The third flipper helps with that.
Some don't like the art, but I like the handdrawn playfield art and the side art. The translight art is meh, and a lot of people go after market. I also really love the theme and believe it was integrated very well. The kids hated it when I sold this pin, but wife was not sad to see it go.
Edit:
Okay, i'm coming back to this to add more to the review. I realized a lot of my higher rating reviews were a bit thin originally. I totally downplayed the Time Expander in my previous review. I believe this is the number one best toy/mech in any game. When I had a DW, mine worked perfectly. It consists of a mini-playfield that raises to three levels. Shooting this for me was the main goal and fun factor of the game.
The playfield layout is a design I typically really like with open playfields and different shots that aren't in a fan layout. The third flipper helps with that.
Some don't like the art, but I like the handdrawn playfield art and the side art. The translight art is meh, and a lot of people go after market. I also really love the theme and believe it was integrated very well. The kids hated it when I sold this pin, but wife was not sad to see it go.
8.236/10
9 years ago
This is a fun game and I like the rule changes that correspond to each doctor. The multiball is relatively easy to get started. I wish the programmers would have included one or two other multiball modes but otherwise a very solid DMD game.
8.800/10
9 years ago
Not a fan of Dr Who, the show. Really never watched it on tv.
After I tried this pin out, I snapped it up. I was lucky enough to find a very low production number and it came with the original motorized Dalek on top of the back box.
The game is fast and the Time Expander mini play field is a fantastic feature!
The game has a deep rule set. It's not a pin you walk up to and play twice. You will walk away dis-appointed.
This is one you have to play repeatedly to figure out how to hit the shots....
The Daleks do get pretty wound up, once you hit the third level on the time expander. Some folks don't care for them yelling for you extermination in their robotic voices, but it all works for me. By this point there is a lot going on!
The theme to me doesn't matter. The fun factor does. This pin has a lot going for it.
Try it out!
After I tried this pin out, I snapped it up. I was lucky enough to find a very low production number and it came with the original motorized Dalek on top of the back box.
The game is fast and the Time Expander mini play field is a fantastic feature!
The game has a deep rule set. It's not a pin you walk up to and play twice. You will walk away dis-appointed.
This is one you have to play repeatedly to figure out how to hit the shots....
The Daleks do get pretty wound up, once you hit the third level on the time expander. Some folks don't care for them yelling for you extermination in their robotic voices, but it all works for me. By this point there is a lot going on!
The theme to me doesn't matter. The fun factor does. This pin has a lot going for it.
Try it out!
9.204/10
9 years ago
I picked up a game that needed some work. After getting it all together I have to say this is one of the better games I've played. The mini play field is cool. The sounds not only fit the theme but do a great job of adding that sense of urgency at the right times. Especially if you like the TV series this is a must have.
6.598/10
9 years ago
I've played this game a few times at various conventions. I really want to like this machine, but the game play is boring. It does have some lasting impact thanks to the sudden surge in Dr. Who's popularity, but since it was made in 1992 newer fans may not be as excited.
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