Bally

Eight Ball Deluxe

Pinside Rating

This game received 219 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.943 _/10

7.943

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 1st in the game group "Eight Ball Deluxe". The group itself ranks #96 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.165

Artwork: 7.863

Sounds/Music: 6.575

Other Aspects: 8.227

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"

Eight Ball Deluxe

Eight Ball Deluxe Limited Edition

Found 110 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 110 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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6.994/10

4 years ago

EGG

explosiveegg

Pinside+ Frequent

Waterford Township, MI

5y 69,350 638 20 27

This is a decent game for the era. You'll spend most of your time shooting drop targets. The drop targets are memorized, so that the remaining targets will pop back up when you play your next ball. This is one of the neatest features about the game.

This machine has a third flipper, but it doesn't make great use of it. No shot directly feeds to the flipper and the flipper has no shots that are easier made with the upper flipper. It can be used to get control of the ball, but overall it is pretty useless.

The western theme doesn't do anything for me. The artwork is not bad, it's just not my taste.

The game logic seems faulty to me. The amount of balls you've knocked down is memorized and given as a bonus when the ball drains or special is hit. Being as these bonuses are the main way to get points. It makes the earlier balls in play much more valuable then the later ones. As knocking a ball down on ball 1 guarantees 5 ball bonuses, verses knocking a ball down on ball 5, which only gives one. I personally think if you're going to have logic the favors a ball, the later balls should have more value instead of how this game is setup.

Overall, it's a good game for the era. Though I feel it is overrated. Some people see something in it that I don't.

9.411/10

4 years ago

RMF

MasterReese

Pinside apprentice

4y 37,150 2 3 66 1

Classic pin with a simple ruleset yet very tough and is super addictive. I I love how you get bonus multipliers by hitting drop targets.

MasterReese currently owns this game.

6.095/10

4 years ago

???

Nosebeagle

Inactive member

Unknown

5y 4,000 9

This game is very repetitive. The middle of the play field is just plain empty. The drop targets and theme are cool but the game loses that loving feeling quickly. Speaking of quickly, your game will after be over quickly. I like to rate drain in terms of how much draining has to do with the players abilities alongside how apt the ball is to draining. 8 ball drains often and has little to do with your skill level. If you try to shoot at...anything really, you will lose your ball quickly. This gets annoying as you want to get into shooting the ball around to get a game of “pool” going, but you rarely have enough play time to get into the zone. Love the theme and lighting. This is a cool game concept that just misses the mark due to lack of variety and a bad drain rate.

8.974/10

4 years ago

RVJ

Pingball

Pinside member

7y 59,300 150 5 18

They made it three different times for a reason!

Pingball has owned this game in the past.

7.149/10

4 years ago

JNS

TecumsehPlissken

Pinside member

Longwood, FL

9y 115K 2,558 10 103

a simple yet superb solid state game

8.554/10

4 years ago

SJS

redhawk1689

Inactive member

Salina, KS

4y 36,650 12 2 37

This game got me through my upperclassmen men years at college! This is one of the best classic pinball games of the early 80's and is considered one of my top three machines that I must have! Admittedly, I am biased as, not only am I nostalgic about this game, but I prefer classic pinball to the more modern ones.

8.818/10

4 years ago

MAT

Matthew2015

Pinside member

9y 65,050 581 8

i don't like this as much as some other pinball machines.
Its still a good game but i found a bit difficult as you can shoot the ball just a bit off and lose it , so games don't tend to last too long.
But it very good artwork and the voice sound effects were great for the time.
the voice effect can get repetitive with it telling to " hit the 8 ball".
it got a upper left flipper to hit the 1-7 ball targets and is satisfying to eight ball target with it.
but overall this a good bally pinball from 1981.

8.930/10

4 years ago

MEH

ThePinballCo-op

The Pinball Co-op

9y 115K 1,752 40

I love this game. For a game that's made almost 40 years ago, this one has great rules and appeal. There's almost always something to shoot for and hit. The one thing I hate is that when you sink the 8 ball to complete the set, you are forced to hit the standups again to set the drops back up You'd be better off aiming for the left orbit, which makes this a one-flipper game at that point, especially on ball 3. No complaints otherwise, fun game!

ThePinballCo-op edited previous rating on June 05, 2021.

8.240/10

4 years ago

DOC

TractorDoc

DPS

Ashland, OH

7y 245K 2,923 33 106

Probably the most iconic billiards themed pinball.

Definitely a winner in the addictive/one more game category. A game with simple, intuitive goals; easy in the beginning but gets more challenging the longer you play. I always find myself needing just one or two more targets to achieve a fantastic score. . .

Solid State 80s sounds/voices are not for everyone but I like them in this sort of game, period correct if you will.

I'd love to own one someday (Edit, I currently do!) -- a Classic that fits in just about every collection.

TractorDoc edited previous rating on May 04, 2021.
TractorDoc currently owns this game.

8.692/10

5 years ago

???

Mark000

Pinside member

Brisbane City

6y 32,800 68 5 7

All time Classic.

Mark000 has this game on the wishlist.

9.301/10

5 years ago

MDF

frenchmarky

Pinside member

Moreno Valley, CA

5y 79,800 3,113 7 30

Never get tired of this one. You can backhand nearly every shot. Another game where there aren't any 'gimme' shots once you're down to only a few drop targets left to hit. Six different specials so there's always the ultimate goal of lighting AND scoring them all in one game. Unending lastability. Unending. Yes the drains can be a beast sometimes but the narrow flipper gap balances things out. You can save flipper drains all day long without even trying very hard or being a pro.

frenchmarky edited previous rating on October 25, 2022.
frenchmarky currently owns this game.

7.729/10

5 years ago

KJS

CVpin65

Pinside member

5y 25,800 2 8

I grew up with this game. Excellent re-playability! Would love one for my pool table room and for my childhood memories.

CVpin65 edited previous rating on December 09, 2020.

8.656/10

5 years ago

GSB

GBSouth

Pinside member

Oakville, ON

6y 20,750 4 5 7

Played this years ago, it's on my list to buy. Just hard to find one in good shape.

GBSouth has this game on the wishlist.

9.368/10

6 years ago

DVK

davideokills

Superelectric

Cleveland, OH

10y 78,150 631 51 24

Superb 80s Bally in every category. I have a deep love for this era of Ballys and this game is in the top. Excellent in every way.

davideokills has owned this game in the past.

9.074/10

6 years ago

JES

john32

Pinside member

Kensington, KS

10y 49,450 155 86 45

what can you say. this game is a classic and everyone should have one in their collection. It not like the new games but this was the best game in the 80's

john32 currently owns this game.

5.560/10

6 years ago

DJB

brenna98

Pinside+ Frequent

Wind Point, WI

10y 132K 2,245 59 54

This is a nostalgia game for many. I've determined that's the only reason it's sought after and demands a higher price tag.
I did not grow up with this game, so I don't have a bias opinion of the game.
I feel the game is basic in layout and rules. It's still fun for a few plays, but I can think of several other Ballys' of the same era I would rather have.

brenna98 has this game on the wishlist.

7.828/10

6 years ago

USH

Madduxman

Inactive member

Kennebunk, ME

6y 6,000 7

CHALK UP!

8.920/10

6 years ago

MLF

stashyboy

Pinside member

High Falls, NY

11y 91,050 2,643 14 44

Hard to add to the scores of great comments about an all time classic. Theme aside, the shots/ layout and player feedback have to be some of best all time for a single ball/single level game!

stashyboy currently owns this game.

8.788/10

6 years ago

MJS

Matesamo

PinballRI

Warwick, RI

7y 117K 1,292 112 1

This one really snuck up on me but after a few games I learned why it was considered a classic. Great goals to aim for, multipliers can be tricky as they tend to come back down the middle, hitting the 8 ball and then landing in the kickout is a tough shot to make. All in all, it is the height of the early solid state pinball era.

7.242/10

7 years ago

RHO

spiroagnew

Inactive member

11y 121K 982 161

Best Bally game made without a spinner? Gotta be Eight Ball Deluxe! The game is absolutely charming, and serves the pool theme well by looking past green felt and pool balls, to include the experience of playing pool in a sh*t-kicker bar--guns, bull-riding, and cowboy hats. When I first stepped into Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, I felt like I was stepping under the glass in this machine. It feels real good to grab that eight ball shot from the upper flipper. The sounds only add to the charm of this game. I like other Bally games from this era a tad better, but EBD has a special feel to it, and no other Bally table feels quite it.

9.116/10

7 years ago

BAD

Badfingers

Inactive member

7y 20,250 1 23

A favorite frustration table, fast draining, but just one more game!
Love the sound!

8.654/10

7 years ago

IVO

outlane

Inactive member

Zürich

7y 15,250 64 8

Best Pinball of it's time. Wherever you prefer to shoot you will get a special after some time. And the stress if you don't hit the last Deluxe-target "One more for deluxe!" was far beyond it's time.

outlane currently owns this game.

8.905/10

7 years ago

WPG

guymontag451

Wedgehead

Portland, OR

13y 92,800 1,006 25 170

Classic Bally Pin, great speech and a fantastic layout. Redefined the classic pool theme.

guymontag451 edited previous rating on September 20, 2023.

7.475/10

7 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

9y 238K 31,369 268 14

Challenging rules, and somewhat prone to draining, but a fun game overall.

ForceFlow edited previous rating on April 18, 2017.

8.546/10

7 years ago

TJF

KingDaddy

Pinside member

Marblehead, MA

9y 55,150 611 3 31

This is one of the best game designs of all-time - especially if you out in the context of '80's Sold State. Just really fun and doesn't get old. My only gripe: while I love the Wedtern theme, I'm not a fan of the artwork. Could have taken a page out of the simple, graphic eloquence of El dorado, for example. The ladies in high-bottom jeans mustache-guy and the busy graphics and colors make it a game I won't have in my collection, as much as I love the gameplay.

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