Williams
Pinbot Pinside Rating
This game received 476 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.920 /10
Pinbot
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.846
Artwork: 8.051
Sounds/Music: 7.463
Other Aspects: 8.064
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 263 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 263 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 4 of 11.
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8.968/10
5 years ago
Piedmont, OK
PinBot is a fantastic pin that's not too hard or complex to have a ton of fun on without having to study a 1000 page rule manual. Shots are all straight forward, and the Vortex ramp skill shot is quite unique. PB offers rewarding shots to novice players with a nice wide and exciting ramp, huge "chest" area to hammer away at, and simple yet rewarding targets no matter the phase of play. I personally love managing the ball while on the upper playfield, nudging the ball to where I need it most. The visor lift-up is cool, and opens up the eye sockets which themselves are appropriately sized for moderate difficulty to hit. Nice simple 2-ball muti mode is still a challenge to keep going.
12000 PB's were produced, along with 2 follow-on titles after this one. Success? I certainly think so!
12000 PB's were produced, along with 2 follow-on titles after this one. Success? I certainly think so!
8.345/10
5 years ago
Pinbot, the first machine in my collection! This game is a lot of fun, with the goal of opening the visor, locking both balls and hitting the ramp for the solar bonus. There really isn't a lot to it when you really think about it, but somehow this game keeps you coming back for more. The art, sounds, and music all work really well together. My only complaint about this game is those darn outlanes are evil!
7.149/10
5 years ago
This is a great pinball machine to play. The Bagatelle takes up to much room but works with the design of the game. I like this game a lot more than Bride of Pinbot. The music and playfield art really give you the illusion you are in space. The topper is built very well and adds to the game. I color coded mine with blue and red LEDs and it makes a big difference in how it looks. I had to adjust my drop down target in front several times to get it right. If its to low it jumps the ramp as it passes over the drop down and won't go into the eyes of pinbot plus there is often wear at this spot because it hits the wood. I highly recommend this game. It has the "I want to play it again and again" aspect to it.
7.964/10
5 years ago
Classic system 11. Get multiball, hit the ramp for jackpot.
Seriously though; I fell in love with this game for the awesome artwork and sound. The game play is quite good too. Fairly simple rules on the surface. After watching some tutorials, there's a neat skill shot, a trick to completing the grid faster and other strategies in completing the planets. So, not just multiball and ramp..
The game is a drain monster, but if you can get a streak going; it's a blast to play.
Seriously though; I fell in love with this game for the awesome artwork and sound. The game play is quite good too. Fairly simple rules on the surface. After watching some tutorials, there's a neat skill shot, a trick to completing the grid faster and other strategies in completing the planets. So, not just multiball and ramp..
The game is a drain monster, but if you can get a streak going; it's a blast to play.
6.003/10
5 years ago
Ipswich
From a nostalgia perspective it's a good game, and the themeing is great. But I can't stand this playfield layout is absolutely dire. The ball dribbles out of the bumpers towards the left outlane every single time, multiplayer games are awkward as balls are in locks when they shouldnt be for another player. All saucers launch the ball straight down the middle more often than not, ramp shots end up in the bumpers half the time removing all flow...the ball flies out of the bumpers and hits targets through no input from the player meaning the 'one shot visor' is often ruined through no fault of the player.
I dunno. I like the theme and the art/sound, but this layout grinds my gears! I prefer PIN.BOT's Taxi appearance to be honest.
I dunno. I like the theme and the art/sound, but this layout grinds my gears! I prefer PIN.BOT's Taxi appearance to be honest.
8.267/10
6 years ago
One of the most beautiful machines ever made. I don't know what it is about this game that just draws me in. One of Python's greatest pieces of art. It's beautiful but a tough machine at the same time. This table seems to drain easily on the outlanes which gets really annoying. The flow isn't super great since there's only one ramp shot, lots of the time the ball just goes crazy bouncing off drop targets and posts. The helmet on the top is a cool feature, as is the upper play field that the ramp connects to. Its a very alluring machine, I want to be much better at it than I am someday. Let's not forget about the music, the music is wonderful. Lots of variation too.
7.435/10
6 years ago
Waterloo, ON
Meh. A classic, yeah... I get it. A good game, but hard one that seems to really do it for me. I'll play it happily, enjoy it, but would allow a ball to drop without hesitation if something better came along. Solid, solid game, and I can understand why some would love it.
9.027/10
6 years ago
Ah, Pinbot. So much love, so much hate. Brutal outlanes. Beautiful artwork. Damn difficult skill shot. So rewarding for careful controlled play. It’s a game that I want to play everyday.
8.261/10
6 years ago
Pinbot is a brutal system 11 game. The sounds and lighting are very well done for a game of that era. Build quality is also solid.
9.196/10
6 years ago
What a fun pin to play! Getting the visor to open is very cool. The skill shot is fun as well is getting across the planets.
8.110/10
6 years ago
Pinbot holds that nostalgia marker for me, an endlessly repetitive yet fun pin that all other pinball machines are compared with. The ball start sound is so good it has haunted my dreams for decades and just thinking about it makes me hungry to play some pinball like a Pavlovian response. The randomness of the bagatelle and the 9 times out of 10 broken skill shot ramp just add to the charm. Objectively this isn't a deep game and I can see why someone who has never played it will dismiss it in favor of flashier and/or more modern offerings. I would wager however that anyone who has actually sat down to play a decently maintained non-virtual example will all agree that it is a classic worthy of being in any collection.
7.972/10
6 years ago
Köln
Classic game, classic design. After all, how many other pinballs had two sequels made after them? The idea of a 5x5 matrix of lights with 2 rows of 5 stand ups perpendicular to each other to light up the matrix – great idea. This leading to the rising visor revealing the two sinkholes to lock balls for multiball – that was out of the box thinking. In a real throwback to the beginning days of pinball (when there were really pins on the playfield) Pinbot has this nifty upper playfield – the ball bounces around on the pins and can leave this playfield on one of 4 different spots – each with different consequences. Not sure if nudging would help here – I’m always fascinated watching the ball bounce around.
There are several different goals to achieve. In addition to the multiball there is also trying to get all the planets. It is a fun challenge, but kind of dangerous because you’re shooting sharp left or sharp right.
Pinbot has great sounds and also a very good light show.
There are several different goals to achieve. In addition to the multiball there is also trying to get all the planets. It is a fun challenge, but kind of dangerous because you’re shooting sharp left or sharp right.
Pinbot has great sounds and also a very good light show.
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