One of my favorite early 90’s pinballs made by Bally, made with some of the wackiest ramps known to be on any pinball machine made at the time. Great artwork, great lighting, and amazing fun all the way around.. if you have never played this game, run to the nearest place that you can try it! You won’t be disappointed.

This is a silent hit of a machine. Even though it's easily the loudest in the room both visually and gameplay wise. So many neat toys, bright design, very 90s cool dude humor and integrating a bunch of other pinball based monster machines together. This game actually has lore. The cabinet is all covered in UV reactive paint and the modes are not easy to get but fun to master. There is so much I can say about this pin but it's a must play. If you grew up in the 90s you'll love this. It's probably not something you played back then but it has the humor and vibe of growing up in the early 90s. It's constantly entertaining, a challenge, and has a lot of stuff to uncover. There are a lot of tweaks you can make to this machine to make it even harder. If you see a Party Zone you have to give it a try.

Party zone. 1991. Where to start? Well, let’s start with the theme. Before commenting on the theme I feel it necessary to tell the origin story. Now, this is just what I heard - I have no way to confirm it. It is unclear whether the designer was struck by an unusual virus that resulted in a fever nightmare or - more likely, a meteor landed on earth with a space mushroom that the designer ingested. Either way, it was during this fevered delusion or hallucinogenic trip from a space mushroom that the designer saw the vision for his next game. In this strange trip he saw the characters from his prior pinball designs meeting together at a “cosmic cottage” for a space party. The party monsters from Elvira, the party animals from the Party Animal and the party dude from Dr. Dude will all meet at the cottage with their DJ/pilot/host (Capt. B. Zarr) for the ultimate bash. Once there - they will blast off in a red rocket “into the ozone.”

Off in a corner will also be a robotic stand up comic who will say jokes in a language that only the Captain can understand. The Captain will laugh while you will wonder “what did the comic say?” There will also be a crash test dummy that you can make dance if you spell “BOP” with the upper lanes. Don’t know why he is there dancing – but hey, this is not my trip.

All of this is taking place in super bright neon colors -the kind that only existed in the late 80s and early 90s. The art is a cross between an Archie and Jughead comic and a Tex Avery cartoon. If “subtle” had a complete opposite - it would be Party Zone. Now, I have read people criticize the art - honestly, I can not understand this - it is so in your face over the top that it crosses over to genius. It is definitely a product of its time that at one point may have seemed “old hat” - but time has definitely been kind to it and now it is retro brilliant. Every pinball newb immediately goes to Party Zone first every time at my house - true story.

It is timely to review this pinball machine because I have also heard that the same virus or space mushroom was recently re-ingested/infected by our designer 30 something years later and now we have a pinball machine involving galactic tanks fighting aliens to save cows and ice cream. You be the judge on whether or not I am telling the truth. Look at the playfields and you will see similarities - Including a shot directly in the middle of the playfield that is insanely risky and more often than not results in drains. Oh how I wish Captain B Zarr could somehow cameo in GTF - hey maybe the Nord-Man 3000 is actually the supersonic robotic comic driving the tank.

Okay-let us get serious and rate this machine. I love the art and theme - absolutely over the top that screams 1990s. Rule set extremely shallow even for the time but there is plenty to shoot and shots are nice and smooth. If you can shoot the middle Captain saucer shot you get a pick from four songs to play including "Pinball Wizard" by The Who (like how I put the band name in there so you don't get confused by all the other possible Pinball Wizard songs?) - but this shot is extremely deadly and often results in drains (GTF anyone?). I put carrot flippers on my game and it did make a big difference. Before that I was scared to shoot that middle shot and often found it better to try and bounce it in from the sides - but watch those outlanes - they are always hungry. DMD is solid for the time and sound is good for 1991. It only has a two ball multiball which is kinda lame but when you are shooting "Happy Hour" it works for this machine. I have never grown tired with the game because while it is shallow it is so much fun shooting and while "Happy Hour" looks easy - shoot the VUK to load up on "rocket fuel" and then get both balls up the left rocket ramp - I screw it up every time which keeps me coming back for another play. I put new Starship Fantasy ramps on my machine and it all looks so crazy brilliant to me. The Captain head in the middle follows the ball around the field as you shoot and honestly no other game does it as well as Party Zone - it is much smoother than Homer's head on TSPP. For anyone out there who has a goal to get Party Animal, Elvira and the Party Monsters, Dr Dude and Party Zone in a row in their collections (and maybe GTF as well) I bow down before your absolute sense of absurdity and will let you drink from my canteen anytime.

Once you know the stradegy (Left ramp, then the Cosmic Cottage, i wouldn't say its boring but you could easily get a high-score. But other than that, its very fun!

Great game , simple , fun , love the big bang , when people come over its the one everybody likes and plays ,

I own this game and it's highly underrated in my opinion. It's a great slice of 90's with its images and jokes. It can be a bit of a one shot wonder as the Big Bang jackpot is worth so much but it's a ton of fun to play. It can't compare to the depth and variety of today's pins but comparing it to other 90's pins it holds its own.

Fun and simple game for the time period, great value for a cheaper pin. Love that you can play pinball wizard as one of the songs and going for the Big Bang jackpot isn’t as easy as it seems. The scoop for capt b Zarr can be annoying as it’s pretty much luck if you make the shot or not.

Very funny pinball, love the music

I find this position of the pinball machine strange, in my opinion it is from the top 100, but I understand that the latest pinball machines steal the show from our 90s, the theme I like very much, it is a lethal weapon style pinball machine, that is, play and have fun without many rules , play and replay .... it is a really nice and particular pinball machine, it brings together the characters of 3 pinball machines in one, the scoreboard is particular with the loudspeakers in the upper part, the colors are top, it is already satisfying to look at it but then you won't resist playing it

Goofy and fun with animated talking head, funky trick ramp leading to one of two minimalistic curvy plastic ramps (very unique look). Very effective multiball with build-up to Big Bang (progressive jackpot, from 20M to 99.99M) that's satisfying to score and leads to special Purple Haze music. Getting the 1M Pops award and then killing the pops during the other "10x Scoring" award can lead to sickening scores. The red GI circuit used during some animations is wicked (similar to Green lites on Space Station). Not much else going on, but not much that can breakdown either. Mastering those side targets and the mini-orbit behind them seem to be the key.

fun game for me, theming was a little creepy but it worked. i didnt end up buying it when i saw it but i definitely liked playing it. if i saw it again id like to spend some more time on it

Its fun for a while but got old fast for me. The rocket ramp is cool and the head spinning in the middle is a decent toy. I wish they would have re-designed Capt. B. Zarr and his giant chin. Don't love the art, and the game isn't deep enough to consider purchasing. I got my fill on location.

This is definitely a love it or hate it machine. I'm either in the zone and locked in, or drain 3 times in 90 seconds and want to throw the stupid machine out into the street. But I don't. It's got that "one more game" pull. Partly because Party Zone drains and drains and DRAINS. Those outlanes are hungry for your balls. And shooting for the Captain saucer is often no bueno. This game demands nudging skills.

Looks and Sound: yes, the sound quality isn't that good, the Captain sounds like he's talking through a radio. But that damn main theme just feels like a fun, stupid, 90's party. And when I select Pinball Wizard to play, it motivates me to maybe not suck this time. And with LEDs, the light show IS a party. When friends come over, see the bright yellow, ridiculous cab art and bright lights, they say, "That's f-ing cool." And it's rotating 4 player games all night.

Captain B.Zarr is a cool, funny toy that pulls people in, Supersonic Robotic Comic is so stupid it's clever, and the Dancing Dummy makes our kids laugh. The shots aren't all that expansive, and there's a lot of the balls rebounding right back at your flippers or quickly draining. The best strategy is basically hit the Cosmic Cottage 3 times for Happy Hour multi-ball, fill up Rock-It Fuel 5 times and then send both balls up the Rock-It ramp for the Big Bang. But it's still hard enough. After a year and a half of owning the game, I've only got the Bang Bang a handful of times. It's fun to watch the ball loop and zip smoothly up and down over and over. The skill shoot is satisfying and easy enough that our 8-year-old can get it. Getting Eat, Drink, and B.Merry (the Captain hole being so fickle makes this difficult) and hitting the WAY OUT OF CONTROL loop makes you feel so cool when you get it (especially when lit up and multiplied!)

All in all, it's not a perfect game, not worthy of the Top 100, but it's just goddamn fun. When I walk by it, I often go, "Yeah...I got time for one quick game." When friends and family see it, they just want to play it. It's a quick, casual blast. The flip side, it does make me hungry for longer and deeper games. So it may not stay in my very limited space collection forever. But until then, we're playing the hell out of Party Zone.

This is a solid pin that would be worth owning if you could get it at a bargain price. Nothing too great or too terrible. Just solid all the way around.

Neat little early 90s game. It has a fun and quirky type of feel. It is different enough that I feel it would work in a medium to large collection.
It isn't super challenging, but it is unique enough to hold your attention.

Not my cup of tea. Lastability in anything but a huge collection just isn’t there. Would pick one up if I found it for cheap, but probably wouldn’t keep it long.

Another great cheap, easy game.

Not a deep ruleset, fun theme.. pretty easy to play, easy shots to make.

I didnt want to give mine up... but I got a Twilight zone and this cant hold a candle.

Would be great in larger collection.

Pretty cool and fun game. Ramps are cool and fun and very different. Make it fun. Good shots. Not a lot of drain.

Overall I'd play it a few times and come back a few.

Fun!

Let’s Party Dude!! Total System 11 feel with DMD animation. Enjoyable and a good game to have in a larger collection. Shots are straight forward. Very approachable machine for someone who just wants to play some pinball.

head for the Rocket!

Party Zone is one of the most underrated pinball machines of all time. Never has there been another pinball machine with as much 3D interactive toys than Party Zone! Also I don't believe I've ever seen a macine from that era with a light show like Party Zone offers. The ramps are seriously crazy and that adds even more fun to the game. I also love the reference with the Party Animals! Others may not like Party Zone, but it's definately a keeper for me so much that I own 2 of them!!!!!

Party Zone isn't the most in-depth game, but it is definitely worth trying out! Great game for novice players and kids. Super bright, colorful and fun. The callouts are great, and the various characters on the playfield are cool. This game has a 2 ball multiball where you are building up the rocket value, and that is where you get the most points. Fill the rocket meter, and lock both balls in the rocket to earn the "Big Bang". It's actually tougher than it seems.

What really stands out on this game is the lighting. Flashy/colorful inserts, and a mix of White/Red GI lighting.

It's a cheapest B/W DMD for a reason. There's not much to shoot for. Very shallow ruleset.
Sound quality is below average.
Gameplay is hard and ball times can be very short.
I really wanted to like it. I even bought a second one. But that left from my collection just as fast.

This game was a pleasant surprise. I thought I would like Dr Dude and not like this one. But the opposite proved true. This is a fun game to play.