Eight Ball Deluxe

Pinside rating

This game received 222 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.925 /10

7.925

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 1st in the game group "Eight Ball Deluxe". The group itself ranks #99 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.145

Artwork: 7.843

Sounds/Music: 6.571

Other Aspects: 8.209


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 5 of us have rated this game.

7.625

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This title is part of group: "Eight Ball Deluxe"


Found 110 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 110 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 5.

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9.462/10
3 months ago
Best Bally of the era. It lacks a little in the gimmicks department but just has such solid play.
7.905/10
3 months ago
One of the best vintage pins there is.

The game makes perfect sense, the shots are challenging, and the theme is on point. There are many pool table games but none of them compare.
8.276/10
7 months ago
I really enjoy this classic and must play it whenever I see it!
8.061/10
11 months ago
Exceptionally fun early Bally machine, easily in the top 3 of the era. Price is a bit too high though.
8.231/10
1 year ago
Fun game- haven't seen one lately, but at the right price might be a great addition to the collection.
8.143/10
1 year ago
Another classic for a reason, and it’s very understandable why.

Pro’s:

Great playfield layout that has been replicated on other pool game’s deservedly. Forces you to aim strategically.

Rules are simple, but difficult to get to the big points (5X max bonus).

Art is really great: sure, it’s no Paragon, but it still looks very nice.

Callouts were fairly revolutionary, especially since it’s the first (that I’m aware of) to aid you in the game while playing.

Build quality (on the original 1981 and IMO the 1982 LE) is good, which makes sense considering Bally was on a roll at this time.

Con’s:

Not factored into the review, but the 1984 version has a cheap, particle board cabinet. While I prefer the cab art on that version, Particle Board is absolutely not the way to go for a cabinet build, and comes across as cheap.

Overall sound is average for the era.

Callouts are, at times, kind of stupid and unnecessary, like “Shoot for C” or “Get the EEEIIIGGHHT BAAALLLL corner pocket”.

Overall, a classic. It makes sense this game sold so well.
6.292/10
1 year ago
Liked the game as a kid and still do
7.819/10
1 year ago
Love drop targets great game. Wish I never sold mine. Find one that the owner is not out of their mine on price buy it.
Fun there is a reason everyone one wants this game.
8.359/10
2 years ago
This machine is a drain monster but i do love to play this one. I enjoy machines with drop targets, and of course this one has a large bank of 7 drop targets, a saucer whole for bonus, 4 drop targets for the multipliers and a left shot for the extra ball.

Great machine and challenging!

I prefer the Original 1981 version compared to the other 2. I will NOT play the LE version!
8.240/10
2 years ago
A great game from Bally's class of 1981. Still looking for one for my collection.
9.759/10
2 years ago
Eight Ball Deluxe is one of the best Bally SS from that era... Next to Flash Gordon and Xenon, Eight Ball Deluxe is super fun to play! The playfield layout is superb in all ways.. There is so much to shoot at! It has everything you want and need in a single level playfield. Not only is it challenging, Eight Ball Deluxe is one of those pins that keeps you wanting to play more and more! I highly recommend this pin to any collector or player if you are lucky enough to find one...
7.670/10
2 years ago
I’ve played this game time and time again. It never gets old. Great shot making game. For early 80’s pinball it’s tough to beat this one.
7.961/10
3 years ago
A true classic that is IMO one of the best of its era, and a standard by which other pins are judged against. This is one of a couple pins I can't see letting out of my collection anytime soon.
8.038/10
3 years ago
I really like 8 ball deluxe. As I have gotten deeper and deeper into the hobby I am going further back in the past and am now into games older than me, and this early solid state is really advanced for its time. The art is nothing crazy, but the layout and rules on this are excellent. I always spend a few quarters in this when I pass it. My local example at Crabtown USA is pretty cruddy, but this is still fun to play.

As far as the game itself, shooting for the individual ball targets is fun. I believe the scoring logic and layout on this game is excellent. I feel like the shot past the left flipper is a bit easy, and rewards with an extra ball a bit too easy. I love all the drop targets (13?) and when the tilt is set tight this game is punishing. I especially like the "Shoot for Deluxe" after sinking all the balls.

All in all this is a really fun game that I hope to rotate through my basement someday.
9.590/10
3 years ago
What hasn’t been said about EBD already? It’s just an all around fantastic pin!
7.268/10
3 years ago
Great to play on this reference Pinball of 80s
7.716/10
3 years ago
Another machine that satisfies my love of drop targets, and straight-forward rules. Great artwork and theme, with game play that's simple in concept, but difficult to execute (at least for me). Found it difficult to utilize the third flipper, but I assume that might be easier with additional chances to play. Very enjoyable.
7.501/10
3 years ago
Used to spend hours playing this game and it was time then well spent. While it certainly is not a complicated game and ruleset, it does have a better-than-average fun factor when compared to most other games of its era. By today's standards, it's still a game I would play occasionally - but not more than a few times before moving on. I enjoy most of the other modern pool (and other) themed machines much more. Aside from nostalgic purposes, I would rather own and play something from the 90's and beyond. And to be fair, I would rather play and own Eight Ball Deluxe than machines from the 60s and 70s.
9.520/10
3 years ago
Classic game.
Give it a chance and it will grow on you.My favourite pin all times because it is pretty simply but really satisfying shots and balanced scores.Short games were always my favourite, when will you ever reach the end of a game again when it lasts at least one hour.
Just compare it to a good movie a song.A blast for a certain time is the best IMO.

Once you learn how to control the linear flippers it feels like taming a horse!

One more for DELUXE!
6.503/10
3 years ago
The game itself is okay, with the rules straight forward. The speech for its day I'm sure was groundbreaking, but hearing "quit talking and start chalking" over and over gets annoying. The other sounds effects are pretty poor. A slow game that requires planning shots, which I think is the big appeal of the game. If knocking down drop targets and making a couple other shots here and there is what you're looking for, this is a good pinball. I keep playing it because it's ranked relatively high, but, at least for me, I never have that much fun when I play it.
4.367/10
3 years ago
I've had a chance to play this game on a few occasions and it's not really for me. I believe it is ugly and the game play is just okay.
8.261/10
3 years ago
Classic. One of the best pins of its' era. Great detailed artwork. Beautiful backglass. Tons of drops. It simply has that "one more game" feel.

"Quit talkin' and start chalkin'"

I love it.
7.373/10
3 years ago
One of the better early bally games. Great theme and shots that keep you coming back for more.
9.207/10
3 years ago
The best single ball game of all time. Definitely has that "one more game" aspect. Rules are straightforward and simple but just because you know exactly what you need to do does not mean you can actually pull it off. The difficult shots (8 ball and bank shot) pay off handsomely but hitting them reliably without draining takes a lot of practice and even then.... Sound was great for it's day. Art is excellent.
8.685/10
4 years ago
Great game to play with friends. Deep enough rules for an early solid state that advanced players can enjoy it, yet the rules are easy enough for beginners to get a grasp on the idea that there is more than just keeping the ball alive. Completing deluxe is a fun goal to go for when playing alone. Chalk up!
There are 110 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 5.

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