Scared Stiff

Pinside rating

This game received 794 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.451 /10

8.451

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #31 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.356

Artwork: 8.765

Sounds/Music: 8.172

Other Aspects: 8.455


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 8 of us have rated this game.

8.355

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Found 456 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 456 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 19.

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9.032/10
35 days ago
I Cant walk by this without playing. its timeless
8.960/10
40 days ago
Such a fun game. Like it more than house of horrors. The theme is a blast and the shots are very fun. I beat wizard mode only 4th playing so could probably never own as I’d like a tad more of a challenge but it will eat all my quarters on location. This game is a blast
8.940/10
44 days ago
The new Elvira ( Stern ) is very beautiful but I prefer the atmosphere of this one. Very funny game play and probably a under estimated pinball machine. Not very difficult game play so some gamers will prefer the new but much more expensive version
The sound is great and the expressions very funny
7.122/10
54 days ago
89/100
10.000/10
57 days ago
Absolutely gorgeous looking game. I didn't realize until rating this that there are no weak areas in this game. It's perfect in every way.

It's simple and easy to learn but hard to master and never boring. A perfect difficulty level in my opinion. I just love that you can simultaneously work through the 6 modes and feel like whatever you do, you're progressing towards the wizard mode. I always hated how some of the newer games have you stuck in a mode and can't do anything else until the mode timer runs out and you need to activate it again to retry.

Every shot feels fair and really great when you make it. Nothing feels too hard. Yet the game doesn't feel easy in any way. It rewards your increasing skill once you get good at hitting shots. It may be the perfect machine.
8.536/10
62 days ago
This game is under rated. The shots feel good, and has some of the best callouts in all of pinball. And the back glass wheel is really cool
10.000/10
4 months ago
I love this table
8.424/10
6 months ago
Scared Stiff is an absolute classic.

I think the layout is very special and makes for an interesting game. Especially the lock shot on the left and the left ramp are very satisfying shots to make. The toys on this game are superb including the coffin, the crate, the beast on the ramp, the jumping leapers and the Dead Heads on the backpanel. The rotating Spider on the backglass is also a very nice addition. This game is themed to the maximum in terms of toys.

The rules are very easily understandable as for every other WPC-95 game. I love the Stiff-in-the-Coffin multiball just like the Terror from the Crate. Scared Stiff is an awesome wizard mode albeit that it isn't as challenging. But the different stages on the Stiff-O-Meter are a lot of fun to play through.

This game is a lot of fun but similar to Monster Bash it isn't that replayable for me. Once I have played through the game I kind of don't feel like playing on anymore.

The entire art package is perfect. In terms of art there's nothing they could have done better in my opinion. The animations are brilliantly done on this game.

Overall Scared Stiff is still an awesome game and an absolute classic. This game can still compete with more modern ones in my opinion. It is probably an ideal machine for casual players and beginners.
9.620/10
6 months ago
This is a pin they just got right. The modes make it so much fun and being able to try and select the mode makes it really fun. I love the theme, enjoy the play, and the corny integration to Elvira overall is just perfect. Out of all the Elvira machines this one was the best. The audio quality is really good, the lamp animations and floppy monsters are just super fun. The trap door is a lot of fun and I think every aspect of this machine was just really well thought out. Every shot feels like something fun is going to happen. Best thing is it's approachable for a novice and still fun for a pro.

I think the only flaws are related to a lot of ball traps that make this game unplayable if not upkept well. I've gotten a ball trapped in so many spots on public machines. There are a lot of parts and if this isn't kept clean it really destroys the gameplay. There's so much to clean too. I wish I had one of these because I've rarely played these out in the world where it's in perfect play condition.
7.580/10
8 months ago
Rated higher on Pinside than I think should be but many ratings were done many years ago before newer, better games have come out
9.616/10
10 months ago
Scared Stiff overall has a pretty shallow ruleset and isn't that difficult to 'beat', even so it is still a lot of fun to play. It has a good balance of theming and cheesy humor which is what makes many of the Williams games of this era so memorable. The first time you complete the Stiff 'O Meter you will think the machine is having a meltdown.
9.823/10
11 months ago
Such a classic shooter with a simple ruleset. Theme and artwork on point, hilarious callouts and scared stiff wizard mode reachable by average players. Still haven’t reached spider multiball after years of playing.
8.480/10
11 months ago
I first found myself thoroughly enjoying SS when it came out. And, every single time I've encountered it since, I've had to have a game and I've never regretted it. It's really a pin that's stood the test of time for me. And it was my late wife's favourite pin. So, yes, this review has both nostalgia and sentiment in it. Sorry.
First, a few things about SS that are well done.
The mini game in the backglass is really good in this pin. I realise it wasn't the first to do this, but SS uses it well. It's very easy to understand immediately what you need to do. It's easy to do. And, regardless of what you stop on at the end of the spin, the reward in game is great. Implementation doesn't get much better than that.
The shot arch flows really well, and is nice and satisfying to shoot. This is something that you'll find said about all of the good games. And it should be a given. Unfortunately this isn't always the case. Which is why it It's always highlighted when it is the case.
The monster skeletons that cover the ramps are really cool. They also draw your attention in when you see SS on site. No, in a 1996 game, they don't do anything. They're just there because they fit brilliantly with the theme.
SS is fun. It's easy to walk up to and just shoot, and have an enjoyable experience. Hitting everything feels good. And multiball isn't to hard to access. It has that "one more game" quality.
There are 2 things about SS that I find to be valid criticisms.
The rule set isn't as deep as modern pinball players might like. It's fantastic to be continuously spoiled by the depth, modes and wizard modes of the newer machine. It does however make some of the older games seem unfinished in the code department.
This game could do with another shot or 2. It's not the most crowded playfield you've ever seen. This is something that I could understand some of our younger pinheads thinking. They've cut their teeth on games that cram as many makeable shots under the glass as possible. And there's no blame there from me. My ideas about playfield layout have definitely changed over the last 15 odd years.
10.000/10
1 year ago
One of the best games ever.
9.620/10
1 year ago
Perhaps the perfect pinball machine. Scared Stiff has a great layout with fantastic flow. I love the easy to understand rules that even a first timer can figure out in a few minutes. It's simple yet deep and challenging at the same time.
8.836/10
1 year ago
Scared Stiff is what i think the best out of all the Elvira Pinball machines! The spinning spider inside the backbox is also a very creative gimmick! I also love how the Translite is a seperate layer thats infront of the interactive wheel.
9.480/10
1 year ago
It is a fun game, but after a while it can be a little repetitive. It has great music, sound bites, and animations.
8.296/10
1 year ago
Top tier Elvira, a dream pin on my wishlist. So much fun callouts and audio, simple and easy shots but also lot to do. The backglass spinner is a neat gimmick even if not really needed and could have been done on the DMD. The coffin box target is used alot and works well, with really lot of fun pop up toys all over. A great pin
9.800/10
1 year ago
Without a doubt the best Elvira game. Very addictive gameplay.
9.137/10
2 years ago
Fun game with a fairly simple rule set, but not too easy...nice balance. Elvira has some funny call-outs.
8.618/10
2 years ago
An extremely fun game with a very limited ruleset. Probably the easiest pin I have to achieve wizard mode on. As a single pin in a collection i could see boredom setting in but as part of a larger collection it will see lots of play.

Pros:
Cabinet and playfield artwork.
Best backglass of any B/W pin
Simple ruleset that is easy to comprehend and achieve without before hand knowledge.
Great sounds, callouts and innuendo
Great playfield layout

Cons:
Simple ruleset might leave something to be desired in a small collection
9.000/10
2 years ago
Cassandra Petersons voice is identical to a long-departed fondly-remembered girlfriend, so playing this machine for a hour or three reminds me of the, err, 'fun' we used to have, especially the call outs when nearing the top of the stiff-o-meter!! And I bet there aren't many comments like that on here ;-)
8.980/10
2 years ago
My favorite Elvira table.
8.098/10
2 years ago
Ramps are the smoothest I have ever played upon. I like the layout, it just seems a bit simple compared to modern games. The game is fun. I'm not sure how to make major points. There are no cheap drains. It's just a little outdated, but I still like to play it.
10.000/10
2 years ago
My favorite machine of all time! Out of the three Elvira machines Scared Stiff is the most fun to play in my opinion and has the funniest callouts. I just purchased one from the pinball company for my gameroom.
There are 456 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 19.

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