Bally
Scared Stiff Pinside Rating
This game received 788 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.452 /10
Scared Stiff
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.366
Artwork: 8.767
Sounds/Music: 8.165
Other Aspects: 8.454
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.
Found 457 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 457 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 4 of 19.
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København
7.915/10
5 years ago
Denver, CO
I love games that incorporate the backbox into the game. Scared Stiff is so much fun and has great audio clips. The shots are fairly easy and the rules are shallow, but it's a great game to come back to time and again.
9.660/10
5 years ago
The look of the 3 dimentional back glass is amazing. Elvira draws you in. Once you play a few times you realize the spider wheel is important as it can help you make the 6 objectives. The comments are great although not appropriate for children. Each objective is accomplished by 3s which makes it fun to follow as you play. The toys are very unique as wells. Stiffa meter real meaning is questionable. Over all a great game and worthily of high rating.
8.275/10
5 years ago
I think this table is one of the most fun out there.
Every time I see it, I need to play.
Every time I see it, I need to play.
Sydney
Bologna
8.920/10
5 years ago
One of the best games of the era. Beautiful cabinet, one of the best backglasses ever made. Amazing theme integration and toys. I could play this one all day long. Sound/jokes get a little repetitive but that's a small knock on this one. The shots are silky smooth, great layout. This one is on my wishlist for sure!
9.340/10
5 years ago
I ignored this pin for years before I started collecting them. I only saw the theme and the little rubber pencil eraser toys and plastic bones and silly spider backglass. Once again, I was wrong to judge and dismiss this machine. It's deep enough, with 6 main modes and then the spider backglass web to complete, and moving up the Stiff-O-Meter! It's kinda trashy, kinda sexy, pretty spooky and odd, and a huge amount of fun. The shots are straightforward and pretty easy, but satisfying, and they allow you to accomplish much even if you are new to the game. The crate is really fun to shoot. When the lights are bright and the color DMD is installed, this game is great looking. Now I understand why these are pretty hard to find and not cheap to own. Can't wait for number 3!
Update-I own this one finally! Just an exceptionally fun pin with 1990's-shallow rules, but in a larger collection, it works. Most pins, especially recent ones, are very difficult to complete. I've only completed 3 or 4 pins ever. SS is a game you can reasonably attempt to complete in a fairly short period of time. I've finished the 6 modes several times, and finished the Stiff-0-Meter once for Monster MB. You can also finish the 16 spider awards for Spider MB, which I haven't seen. The shots just feel right. The 2 ramps are smooth and fun, and the trunk is a blast to hit and works great. The spider is creative and fun, and the spider VUK up through the bottom of the ramp is clever, but must be carefully adjusted (balls can hit the bottom if the VUK is not set just right). Progress on all the modes can be made at the same time, and you can complete all 6 modes in just a few minutes. Hitting all 10 levels on the meter isn't easy (on one ball). There is also a secret passage if you are able to shoot the ball softly up the left orbit. I've only seen this hit once! This game isn't super deep, but it shoots great, has funny callouts and good music. The cabinet looks cool with the coffin design. A keeper for us for sure!
Update-I own this one finally! Just an exceptionally fun pin with 1990's-shallow rules, but in a larger collection, it works. Most pins, especially recent ones, are very difficult to complete. I've only completed 3 or 4 pins ever. SS is a game you can reasonably attempt to complete in a fairly short period of time. I've finished the 6 modes several times, and finished the Stiff-0-Meter once for Monster MB. You can also finish the 16 spider awards for Spider MB, which I haven't seen. The shots just feel right. The 2 ramps are smooth and fun, and the trunk is a blast to hit and works great. The spider is creative and fun, and the spider VUK up through the bottom of the ramp is clever, but must be carefully adjusted (balls can hit the bottom if the VUK is not set just right). Progress on all the modes can be made at the same time, and you can complete all 6 modes in just a few minutes. Hitting all 10 levels on the meter isn't easy (on one ball). There is also a secret passage if you are able to shoot the ball softly up the left orbit. I've only seen this hit once! This game isn't super deep, but it shoots great, has funny callouts and good music. The cabinet looks cool with the coffin design. A keeper for us for sure!
8.960/10
5 years ago
Norwich
This game is straight up, balls out FUN!
From a rules perspective, it isn't the deepest in a home collection but is so fun for non pinheads and friends really get on with this game. It has some challenge for a season player and the multiballs offer a chance to really stretch out your high score compared to an average player or newer player.
The Monster Multiball is the only real challenge in the game though, but it doesn't matter, hitting it is an incredible rush.
From a rules perspective, it isn't the deepest in a home collection but is so fun for non pinheads and friends really get on with this game. It has some challenge for a season player and the multiballs offer a chance to really stretch out your high score compared to an average player or newer player.
The Monster Multiball is the only real challenge in the game though, but it doesn't matter, hitting it is an incredible rush.
7.935/10
5 years ago
Classic game, classic theme, great art and audio package. Love the risque humour all over. Simple rules and wide ramps can make the game feel a little bit too easy at times and perhaps a little shallow, but the theme more than makes up for that. Completing the spider is actually more fun than beating the stiff-o-meter because the latter is a little to manageable whereas that damn spider takes a while to complete! Good game, but not the very best.
Irishtown, NB
9.116/10
5 years ago
This was my third game purchased, which I picked up back in 2006 for price that would be a steal now. I'm a fan of anything Elvira, so theme was a no-brainer. I don't care for the red playfield, but I like all the toys, especially once you put back in the missing features like the lighting the Deadhead skulls and the dancing bogeymen. However, I think the dancing mode is a little silly and the leapers are just annoying.
Elvira's callouts are the best ("Wake me up when you're done!", "Another notch for my bedpost!"), and I like the "hip" Dracula voice. The 3D backglass and spinner spider are great, the cabinet artwork is cool and some of the music is pretty damn good (I like Double Trouble the best).
But how does it play? It might be a bit too easy, so maybe it's not great in a small collection but if you've got 5 or more pins it's nice to have at least one that doesn't kick your ass. A lot of players are negative on this machine because they've gotten bored with it, but to me that's a little self-serving. My take is that although the pins are for me, I love having friends over to play, most of whom are casual players or are drawn to the novelty. Scared Stiff gets a lot of play by my friends because of theme and it's not super complicated...they can earn Crate Multiball pretty easily and that generates a lot of fun and excitement, which in turn gets them wanting to play more. And I'm still trying to complete the spider wheel, which is pretty difficult.
Is it worth the money it goes for today? Absolutely. Everything has risen in price...try to find a Shadow or Dracula for under $3k...you'd have to be extremely lucky. Medieval Madness is also an easy game with a great theme and even the remakes are expensive!
In conclusion I would have to say that while it is not deep or hard, it has a great theme and a fun factor that entices curious friends to play, and sometimes that's better than only judging the machine by what it does for you alone. I won't say it will never leave my collection, but I doubt it. I love it.
Elvira's callouts are the best ("Wake me up when you're done!", "Another notch for my bedpost!"), and I like the "hip" Dracula voice. The 3D backglass and spinner spider are great, the cabinet artwork is cool and some of the music is pretty damn good (I like Double Trouble the best).
But how does it play? It might be a bit too easy, so maybe it's not great in a small collection but if you've got 5 or more pins it's nice to have at least one that doesn't kick your ass. A lot of players are negative on this machine because they've gotten bored with it, but to me that's a little self-serving. My take is that although the pins are for me, I love having friends over to play, most of whom are casual players or are drawn to the novelty. Scared Stiff gets a lot of play by my friends because of theme and it's not super complicated...they can earn Crate Multiball pretty easily and that generates a lot of fun and excitement, which in turn gets them wanting to play more. And I'm still trying to complete the spider wheel, which is pretty difficult.
Is it worth the money it goes for today? Absolutely. Everything has risen in price...try to find a Shadow or Dracula for under $3k...you'd have to be extremely lucky. Medieval Madness is also an easy game with a great theme and even the remakes are expensive!
In conclusion I would have to say that while it is not deep or hard, it has a great theme and a fun factor that entices curious friends to play, and sometimes that's better than only judging the machine by what it does for you alone. I won't say it will never leave my collection, but I doubt it. I love it.
8.989/10
6 years ago
One of the best games I've ever played. A great theme for fans of horror or cheesy movies. Really just another example of how great Bally/Williams was in the 90's. The spider spinning backglass is simple but a very effective way to add one more level of playing to the game. Multiball is also a lot of fun. Would love to own one if I ever had the capital for it!
7.191/10
6 years ago
The chest seems to be a sdtm drain fest. Game ok, but is not as fun as EATPM. Not sure what to think of the spider roulette game in the backbox. It's fun once or twice, but then it's repetitive.
10.000/10
6 years ago
Perfect pinball. What more is there to say? I call it a ‘Pinball Trainer’ . It gets players used to making shots and completing common pinball objectives. Great fun for newbs and pros alike. I’ve heard it called everything from easy to difficult. Once you are comfortable with the layout, achieving Scared Stiff should be possible.
If you haven’t experienced the Stiff o Meter, you haven’t fully played pinball.
If you haven’t experienced the Stiff o Meter, you haven’t fully played pinball.
5.604/10
6 years ago
I had this game in my collection for about 3 months and as it looks great, art and good theme the game is boring! so repetitive, I could not wait until I sell it. I am not a good pinball player and got to the wizard mode every time ... the game is ok to have if you have a huge collection of pins and play it once in a while. Way over priced these days and surprised it is not lower on the charts.
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