Stern
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Pinside Rating
This game received 375 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.974 /10
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.228
Artwork: 7.631
Sounds/Music: 7.471
Other Aspects: 8.131
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 7 of us have rated this game.
Found 214 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 214 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 4 of 9.
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Orange, CA
7.219/10
7 years ago
Ugly pin, regrettable theme, but a blast to play. Deep and satisfying ruleset, it is probably Lawlor's best Stern pin.
7.346/10
8 years ago
With a deep and unclear rule set RBION will have you doing the one more game routine. Not the best looking machine out there but a decent addition to a medium or large collection. Designed by Pat Lawlor there are things about this machine you are going to like. Produced by Sterns there are things about this machine your not going to like.
7.389/10
8 years ago
Ripley's Believe It or Not has a lot going on - sometimes a tad too much. The Idol toy with the magnet catcher in the upper playfield is neat, but could be more visible. The ramps are so-so, but somehow, RBION is still a pretty fun game to play.
I'd like to own it - probably after 20 or so other games - but it could make the wishlist once a few others move off that list to my "collection" list.
I'd like to own it - probably after 20 or so other games - but it could make the wishlist once a few others move off that list to my "collection" list.
Canberra
6.138/10
8 years ago
Pros:
- Standup targets actually register!
- Feels like a Williams game in terms of ruleset.
- Temple adds a ton of strategy to the game: 2x playfield, road trip, etc.
- Super Jackpot rules are interesting, and help the player learn essential multiball skills.
- Return of the vari-target!
Cons:
- Sounds make you feel like you just played Surf 'n Safari II.
- Vari-target often doesn't register on routed games and makes the game unplayable.
- Layout relies heavily on the left flipper.
- Continent modes are way too similar.
- Ghost from RCT is reincarnated as the shrunken head.
- Standup targets actually register!
- Feels like a Williams game in terms of ruleset.
- Temple adds a ton of strategy to the game: 2x playfield, road trip, etc.
- Super Jackpot rules are interesting, and help the player learn essential multiball skills.
- Return of the vari-target!
Cons:
- Sounds make you feel like you just played Surf 'n Safari II.
- Vari-target often doesn't register on routed games and makes the game unplayable.
- Layout relies heavily on the left flipper.
- Continent modes are way too similar.
- Ghost from RCT is reincarnated as the shrunken head.
7.816/10
8 years ago
This is, for whatever reason, one of the tougher machines I've ever played. As if the rules aren't confusing enough (not really that bad but will take a handful of games before understanding it), the shots on this table are difficult to make, most especially with the bottom right flipper. The bottom left and top right ones are fine, but the bottom right one is just hard to get balls onto ramps or into loops with. This table plays quite fast, and it's definitely a machine that caters more to pinball veterans. I like the premise and all of that, but even if this machine were simpler for a more casual pinballer like myself, I'm not sure I'd like it much (if at all) more. The Jamaican sounding shrunken head is nothing short of annoying, and the sounds as a whole are rather average. I do enjoy the look of the table though, but again, this game doesn't feel quite as good as I want it to. I'll put more time into this one and edit my scores if necessary.
8.348/10
8 years ago
Biscarrosse
Very good game
Was surprised How i felt good on it. My third PL favorites with Addams family and No Good Gofers
The only grip is that skill shot of the death. No interest.
Would like to own it
Was surprised How i felt good on it. My third PL favorites with Addams family and No Good Gofers
The only grip is that skill shot of the death. No interest.
Would like to own it
8.638/10
8 years ago
Ripley's is a game for players, featuring a deep ruleset, challenging wizard modes to achieve, and lots of scoring opportunities. It's like an amalgamation of past Pat Lawlor games, particularly TAF and TZ, and it shares many of the same features those games have. However, RBION to me features a more meaningful ruleset with greater things playing a bigger part when it comes to scoring big (i.e., not just play multiball or get Gumball locks over and over). The flow of the game is great when you get it down, but the shots can be tricky if you're new to the game, but that makes the satisfaction of dominating this machine even greater.
Cabinet art itself is probably my least favorite aspect of this package. The theme itself though works very well and despite it being a licensed properly, it fits as if it is a completely original theme. The sounds and speech are some of Stern's best when it comes to pre-SAM games with lots of humorous, memorable callouts and beefy sounding tunes. The playfield layout is very well done with a lot of shot options, and just about every shot on the playfield is important at one time or another. The looping left ramp wireform is nice and the right ramp crossover is interesting as well. Not many real "toys" on this playfield, but the two magnets, the upper gated playfield, the multiple spinners and the vari-target are implemented in a way that makes the game stand out. For lastability, Ripley's should satiate a skilled player's need for a long time. The stacking options are great in this game, particularly once you figure out how the tic-tac-toe style board works, bring those modes into traditional vari-target Continent modes, then bring both of those into the standard multiball (three modes running together). Truly satisfying stuff.
I sold my Ripley's only because I needed the money. I look forward to the day when I can acquire another one. It's a fantastic game and one of my favorites I've had the opportunity to play.
Cabinet art itself is probably my least favorite aspect of this package. The theme itself though works very well and despite it being a licensed properly, it fits as if it is a completely original theme. The sounds and speech are some of Stern's best when it comes to pre-SAM games with lots of humorous, memorable callouts and beefy sounding tunes. The playfield layout is very well done with a lot of shot options, and just about every shot on the playfield is important at one time or another. The looping left ramp wireform is nice and the right ramp crossover is interesting as well. Not many real "toys" on this playfield, but the two magnets, the upper gated playfield, the multiple spinners and the vari-target are implemented in a way that makes the game stand out. For lastability, Ripley's should satiate a skilled player's need for a long time. The stacking options are great in this game, particularly once you figure out how the tic-tac-toe style board works, bring those modes into traditional vari-target Continent modes, then bring both of those into the standard multiball (three modes running together). Truly satisfying stuff.
I sold my Ripley's only because I needed the money. I look forward to the day when I can acquire another one. It's a fantastic game and one of my favorites I've had the opportunity to play.
10.000/10
8 years ago
I don't care what anyone says... this game is very fun! and one of Pat Lawlors best designs... he fit a lot in this game. The only complaint is the annoying idol, but so what... I got over it and fun game, very under rated.
6.244/10
8 years ago
Meh... Average. This shows how a non-creative corporate structure (Stern) can suck the life out of a brilliant game designer (Pat Lawlor). I guess if you fnd a nice one for closer to $2k it might be worth giving it a whirl, but no way is it a keeper. The game play is okay, but the art direction and aesthetic of the game are shockingly poor when compared to Lawlor's work at at Williams. To the pont where they affect the enjoyment of the game.
10.000/10
8 years ago
Played a lot of the top 100 machines...and this one deserves to be in there. Very creative layout, good colors, lots of challenges that make this one have staying power. I can't imagine why someone wouldn't think this one isn't great. The theme is fun and family friendly, and set on easy can get good for introducing someone to pinball....but set hard can be really tough to beat. I have added the backbox LED kit, the idol mod, scoop light, and LED's throughout and it looks and plays great....and for a veteran player, it keeps me interested and will not be leaving my game room. I wish that there would be more mods available though...seems like the aftermarket people have overlooked this one.
6.986/10
9 years ago
Warsaw
A mediocre machine. Although it's not a bad game it also doesn't stand out with anything particularly interesting.
Pros:
- 3 flippers
- some interesting shots
- nice toys, particularly the "Easter Island head"
- the biggest pro of this game is the artwork, in my opinion
- overall enjoyable, but fails to dazzle
Cons:
- strange rules
- little modding potential
- the "talking head" at the end of the score count is annoying
Pros:
- 3 flippers
- some interesting shots
- nice toys, particularly the "Easter Island head"
- the biggest pro of this game is the artwork, in my opinion
- overall enjoyable, but fails to dazzle
Cons:
- strange rules
- little modding potential
- the "talking head" at the end of the score count is annoying
7.652/10
9 years ago
Kettering
Fun game, kind of an oddball theme but Stern has made this one work quite well. Typical early-ish Stern release but it has plenty to do and can be fun. 6 pops on a game is also nice and a little bit rare. Translite is instantly forgettable though!
7.947/10
9 years ago
RBION is a PLD "Pat Lawler"
it is a marvelous display or thought & strategy
but is a game you discover the rules the more time you spend on it
Atlantis is your goal (wiz mode)
there is the upper left mini bagatelle that features 3 displays above interact with the center of the PF
to unlock features or objectives
the penguins get annoying
shrunken head if the pitch is off is weak or if the magnet has mushroomed from neglect
getting M-Ball is actually difficult and this game give you nothing for free
you could have a great game, sub 20,000,000 points real kickers
are you ready to take a trip with Mr. Ripley??
it is a marvelous display or thought & strategy
but is a game you discover the rules the more time you spend on it
Atlantis is your goal (wiz mode)
there is the upper left mini bagatelle that features 3 displays above interact with the center of the PF
to unlock features or objectives
the penguins get annoying
shrunken head if the pitch is off is weak or if the magnet has mushroomed from neglect
getting M-Ball is actually difficult and this game give you nothing for free
you could have a great game, sub 20,000,000 points real kickers
are you ready to take a trip with Mr. Ripley??
Telfs
8.500/10
9 years ago
This game is a great game. It has challenging multiballs that reward trapping, complex deep rules, tight rewarding shots and punishing outlanes that will teach you to nudge! In my collection it would be one of the last to leave. Long after honeymoon phases of new machines pass, I still go back to play Ripley's.
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