Bally
Paragon Pinside Rating
This game received 234 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.833 /10
Paragon
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.823
Artwork: 8.816
Sounds/Music: 5.408
Other Aspects: 7.981
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 6 of us have rated this game.
Found 119 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 119 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 5.
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8.227/10
13 days ago
Pittsburgh, PA
Its beautiful because it is so brutal. This era is tough to compare to current games but this original theme and unique layout will make it stand the test of time. This game is the great equalizer in a pinball tournament as ball times are usually short but I love the rules and when you finally put it all together and max out the multiplier along with super bonus, its a thing of beauty. This is another game that won't ever leave my collection. Its great for its time and the price point is a good one. Don't have it as your only game but works great it a collection of games to mix things up.
9.105/10
3 months ago
It’s a hard game. It’s not generous. Minimalist. Addictive.
I’m blown away how much I like this game. Many interesting shots and ball paths. It doesn’t play like any other. I think it’s the last game in my collection I’d sell. In addition to the gameplay, it has my favorite artwork in pinball.
I’m blown away how much I like this game. Many interesting shots and ball paths. It doesn’t play like any other. I think it’s the last game in my collection I’d sell. In addition to the gameplay, it has my favorite artwork in pinball.
Wemeldinge
8.609/10
6 months ago
I love this game. Even though it's so challenging that it kicks my rump most times, I keep coming back for more. There's just so much to appreciate and enjoy. Here's some of the reasons:
1- The artwork. Oh the incredibly beautiful artwork! Paul Faris is one talented artist to say the very least.
2- The ultra-widebody that doesn't play like one. You have to be ready at all times. The pops and kickouts at the top of the playfield can get caught in a time-loop where the ball seems like it'll never come down. It lulls you into a trance while watching it, lowering your guard until ZOOOOM! It comes flying down towards the flippers, center drain or the Beast's Lair.
3- The Beast's Lair is super exciting. It gets your heart-rate up for sure. Do I nudge? Do I not? Oh no please don't drain! Please don't drain!!
4- The guardian in-line drop targets. Not one, but two dangerous drops that you need to take out before you can even begin multiplying the bonus. Diabolical design.
5- Double flippers on the right. This really took some getting used to. Habits are hard to break. Don't cradle that lower right flipper!
Really all of the game design elements work together to provide an excellent pinball experience. Greg Kmiec nailed it and the difficulty only adds to the enjoyment. Paragon teaches me patience and teaches me humility... and it teaches me I have more of a foul mouth than I thought I did!
1- The artwork. Oh the incredibly beautiful artwork! Paul Faris is one talented artist to say the very least.
2- The ultra-widebody that doesn't play like one. You have to be ready at all times. The pops and kickouts at the top of the playfield can get caught in a time-loop where the ball seems like it'll never come down. It lulls you into a trance while watching it, lowering your guard until ZOOOOM! It comes flying down towards the flippers, center drain or the Beast's Lair.
3- The Beast's Lair is super exciting. It gets your heart-rate up for sure. Do I nudge? Do I not? Oh no please don't drain! Please don't drain!!
4- The guardian in-line drop targets. Not one, but two dangerous drops that you need to take out before you can even begin multiplying the bonus. Diabolical design.
5- Double flippers on the right. This really took some getting used to. Habits are hard to break. Don't cradle that lower right flipper!
Really all of the game design elements work together to provide an excellent pinball experience. Greg Kmiec nailed it and the difficulty only adds to the enjoyment. Paragon teaches me patience and teaches me humility... and it teaches me I have more of a foul mouth than I thought I did!
7.651/10
7 months ago
Paragon is a classic for a reason. The art package is striking in that Frank Frazetta / Conan the Barbarian type of way. It has a strange pop bumper cage where the left drain usually is, and with some nudging and some luck, you can pull the ball back from the brink of death. It has lots of drops, and shots everywhere, and it has a more balanced scoring logic than many other solid state games. It's not my personal favorite from that era, but still a damn good game.
7.817/10
1 year ago
I’m going to start with the playfield and back glass artwork, very few pins can match it in this department (Centaur is probably the measuring stick for me) and it’s the entire reason we bought it as our first pin, the fact that it’s fun, challenging and has a pretty good layout for an older machine were just bonuses for us. I tried putting warm LEDs in it but incandescents are what belong in this title. The rules are pretty straightforward and easy to understand and make head to head matchups with other players more fun. The sounds are nothing to write home about but are period appropriate and don’t take away from a fun experience.
6.712/10
1 year ago
Widebody machine with some of the best and most creative artwork of all time on the play field and back glass. While there is a lot to shoot at for it's era, the game play can be slow. The sounds are almost non existent and I am not a fan of the double flippers on the right of the machine. Machine can also be a drain monster at times. The machine is an eye catcher in any collection and will get you to play it when you see it but is just not satisfying.
7.938/10
1 year ago
This is an excellent game, especially for the time. It's one of the fastest widebody games I've ever played and it has a ton of shots to keep you interested. The in-line drop targets are awesome and the artwork is possibly the best of any pinball machine.
7.671/10
2 years ago
Paragon has a lot going on for an early Bally SS machine. Rules are good, and it has plenty of mechs. The inline drops are, as always, a blast. Even though the game is single-level, the curving "waterfall" shot/lane kinda feels like a ramp the way the ball moves down and how it returns pretty nicely to the flipper.
Lot's of fun, easy to work on, enjoyable scoring rules, and tough playing. One of the better of the many great Bally titles of the this era. Would recommend this game to most pinheads, but be warned it is VERY wide and the playfields, particularly by the bonus inserts are often blown out.
Lot's of fun, easy to work on, enjoyable scoring rules, and tough playing. One of the better of the many great Bally titles of the this era. Would recommend this game to most pinheads, but be warned it is VERY wide and the playfields, particularly by the bonus inserts are often blown out.
8.792/10
2 years ago
This is probably my favorite game of all time. I love the game and I hate the game. You can have an incredible game followed by a game where you score <50,000 points. The game is super unforgiving. Make a mistake and the ball will drain. Other games can be easy to make a save. not this one. The unpredictable Beast's Lair may drain your ball may give it back to your left flipper. You never know. The inline drop targets are cool but a dangerous shot. The coolest shot in my opinion is through the spinner into the waterfall lane.
8.217/10
2 years ago
I've owned this game for a couple of years now, and I had an epiphany last night on how therapeutic this game is.
The game is a timeless classic, with a great layout, the first inline drop targets, the chaos of the beast's lair, and the trap of the double right flipper.
This is a game to learn how to master nudging, bumping, and tap passing.
Now most of the time I love my arcade pumping with a cacophony of lights, sounds, and music with my 5 pins and 7 arcade games.
However, after a stressful day, I just dim the lights and turn on Paragon.
The simplicity of a silent game, with only hearing the sound of the ball gliding against wood, and the occasional musical chime and chirp of a successful shot, this is soothing. This is like pinball ASMR.
When you want a challenging furious fight, turn on some jamming music and rock this game out. When you want a relaxing gameplay, to soothe, play this one in the middle of a quiet room, and ease up on the nudging and just let the ball flow where it will.
The game is a timeless classic, with a great layout, the first inline drop targets, the chaos of the beast's lair, and the trap of the double right flipper.
This is a game to learn how to master nudging, bumping, and tap passing.
Now most of the time I love my arcade pumping with a cacophony of lights, sounds, and music with my 5 pins and 7 arcade games.
However, after a stressful day, I just dim the lights and turn on Paragon.
The simplicity of a silent game, with only hearing the sound of the ball gliding against wood, and the occasional musical chime and chirp of a successful shot, this is soothing. This is like pinball ASMR.
When you want a challenging furious fight, turn on some jamming music and rock this game out. When you want a relaxing gameplay, to soothe, play this one in the middle of a quiet room, and ease up on the nudging and just let the ball flow where it will.
6.680/10
2 years ago
I'm of two minds on this pin.
My first thoughts are this is some of my all time favorite Backglass art. It's like if Frank Frazetta would have done a pinball backglass... And yes, the art isn't up to Frazetta's level, but its still very nice art, and I think its amazing. The playfield art is nice too, and the cabinet art is good for that era.
Of course the sounds are just electric sounds and not much of them, no music, and nothing fancy. The rules are simple... But, I do like simple rules.
My biggest beef with this game is its a widebody. When I first got into this hobby I didn't really understand what a widebody was, and I knew some people liked them and others didn't. I first starting playing virtual pins and so all the games were on the same screen, so I never grasped how different a wide body feels. And to me, I don't like how to handle or control a wide body. I'm not a fan of them. I find it harder to nudge and control. So I find the playing on this game for me is not enjoyable.
Couple that with the layout for this machine, which really doesn't give you much to focus on or shot... And I think the gameplay is rater forgettable. Which is a shame as this pinball is hands down one of my all time favorites to look at.
I wish I could say in 30 pin collection I'd love to own it. But, I just don't want to ever have to handle the fuss of moving this hulking beast around. I might try to get a back glass for it to mount on a wall.
Not saying there isn't fun to be had shooting it. It's still pinball and I enjoy shooting it. Just I do think after a handful games you feel like you've played enough. At least thats how I always feel.
My first thoughts are this is some of my all time favorite Backglass art. It's like if Frank Frazetta would have done a pinball backglass... And yes, the art isn't up to Frazetta's level, but its still very nice art, and I think its amazing. The playfield art is nice too, and the cabinet art is good for that era.
Of course the sounds are just electric sounds and not much of them, no music, and nothing fancy. The rules are simple... But, I do like simple rules.
My biggest beef with this game is its a widebody. When I first got into this hobby I didn't really understand what a widebody was, and I knew some people liked them and others didn't. I first starting playing virtual pins and so all the games were on the same screen, so I never grasped how different a wide body feels. And to me, I don't like how to handle or control a wide body. I'm not a fan of them. I find it harder to nudge and control. So I find the playing on this game for me is not enjoyable.
Couple that with the layout for this machine, which really doesn't give you much to focus on or shot... And I think the gameplay is rater forgettable. Which is a shame as this pinball is hands down one of my all time favorites to look at.
I wish I could say in 30 pin collection I'd love to own it. But, I just don't want to ever have to handle the fuss of moving this hulking beast around. I might try to get a back glass for it to mount on a wall.
Not saying there isn't fun to be had shooting it. It's still pinball and I enjoy shooting it. Just I do think after a handful games you feel like you've played enough. At least thats how I always feel.
7.425/10
3 years ago
I find wide-bodied games intriguing hence my interest in them. It's a completely different experience when playing one and I will always play one if I find one. However, the play is "leisurely" at best which tends to lose my interest more quickly than it should. Paragon is one of the three wide-bodied games that I think of when I hear mention of them. If you've not played it and you come across one, I urge you to avail yourself of the opportunity to enjoy one of the rarer experiences in pinball!
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