Bally
The Shadow Pinside Rating
This game received 640 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.315 /10
The Shadow
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.797
Artwork: 7.508
Sounds/Music: 7.922
Other Aspects: 8.426
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 9 of us have rated this game.
Found 347 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 347 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 8 of 14.
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Diamondville, WY
6.484/10
9 years ago
Newark
Decent table with terrible artwork and theme. One of the worst backglasses in pinball history.but aftermarket ones are available that transform the look of this game.
But this is truly a players game. Fantastic ramp diverters and a great mini playfield. In fact, along with Twilight Zone, I would say the best mini playfield of the era.three flippers produce superb shot variety, and an upper shot flipper loop that will test the most able players around.
The scoring system is hopelessly unbalanced though, so enormous scores can be amassed quickly by exploiting this
Good value in the used market if you can get past the terrible backglass and average playfield artwork and the theme tying it to a very average film.
But this is truly a players game. Fantastic ramp diverters and a great mini playfield. In fact, along with Twilight Zone, I would say the best mini playfield of the era.three flippers produce superb shot variety, and an upper shot flipper loop that will test the most able players around.
The scoring system is hopelessly unbalanced though, so enormous scores can be amassed quickly by exploiting this
Good value in the used market if you can get past the terrible backglass and average playfield artwork and the theme tying it to a very average film.
7.577/10
9 years ago
A cool game, but the theme does nothing for me. Also that backglass, ugh! This game has some cool gimmicks and features. The Battlefield and diverters on the ramps you control and pretty fun. I think if this game had some pops it would have added to it but God knows where you could cram them in, this game has a lot on it!
7.729/10
9 years ago
Biscarrosse
A decent game but not my taste. I like the diverter system but a little hard for my level like shots with the third flipper. I don't like the mini playfield and the general artwork. So not so fun for me.
Edit: rules are good and challenging. Mini playfield is getting boring in the long run.
Edit: rules are good and challenging. Mini playfield is getting boring in the long run.
7.544/10
9 years ago
The sun is shining ..... but the ice is slippery
there are several fantastic features on The Shadow: first and foremost, the lock shot, when the ball is grabbed by a magnet and whisked away, is a thing of beauty; then there's the start of multiball, which is a feast for the senses; the splendid upper playfield ('the Battlefield') which is like nothing else in pinball; and last but not least, the clever use of phurbas to turn two ramp entrances into four ramps, which is nothing short of quite inspirational, and again unique in pinball.
i think this is a wonderful game, it's beastly difficult to get a decent score on unless it's tweaked just right, but has lots to aim for. there are modes to enjoy (including a difficult video mode, a 'secret laugh mode' - enabled by using the gun trigger to hear the Peking Duck soundbite in all three saucers - that is a frenzy mode with Tim Curry going nuts, and is lots of fun especially when combined with a multiball) as well as more than one multiball, a high scoring Vengeance mode that focuses on the phurbas, and an even higher-scoring inner loop shot that pays dividends to those seeking the big numbers: i recommend watching Bowen's tutorial to see what i mean, if you haven't already. the wizard mode is just about attainable eventually by a mortal, which is always nice, ie. it's not impossible like SDMEWM on TSPP, but it's also not too easy, and is a real fillip when finally achieved.
anyway the Shadow is a fine pinball machine. plenty of bang for your buck, lots to enjoy, tough as old boots, and a good old family-friendly game that keeps you coming back for more. looks good too - I must be the only one to like the original backglass, but if you don't, you can now get alternative designs.
there are several fantastic features on The Shadow: first and foremost, the lock shot, when the ball is grabbed by a magnet and whisked away, is a thing of beauty; then there's the start of multiball, which is a feast for the senses; the splendid upper playfield ('the Battlefield') which is like nothing else in pinball; and last but not least, the clever use of phurbas to turn two ramp entrances into four ramps, which is nothing short of quite inspirational, and again unique in pinball.
i think this is a wonderful game, it's beastly difficult to get a decent score on unless it's tweaked just right, but has lots to aim for. there are modes to enjoy (including a difficult video mode, a 'secret laugh mode' - enabled by using the gun trigger to hear the Peking Duck soundbite in all three saucers - that is a frenzy mode with Tim Curry going nuts, and is lots of fun especially when combined with a multiball) as well as more than one multiball, a high scoring Vengeance mode that focuses on the phurbas, and an even higher-scoring inner loop shot that pays dividends to those seeking the big numbers: i recommend watching Bowen's tutorial to see what i mean, if you haven't already. the wizard mode is just about attainable eventually by a mortal, which is always nice, ie. it's not impossible like SDMEWM on TSPP, but it's also not too easy, and is a real fillip when finally achieved.
anyway the Shadow is a fine pinball machine. plenty of bang for your buck, lots to enjoy, tough as old boots, and a good old family-friendly game that keeps you coming back for more. looks good too - I must be the only one to like the original backglass, but if you don't, you can now get alternative designs.
8.523/10
9 years ago
"the shadow knows"
OK look past the Back Glass, you know what just look to the playfield LOL
I love the Phurba's and how you can select the balls path
the upper field is like Araknoid in real life
the multi-ball lock effect is a cool sight to see (alot get blown out at magnet hole)
great music DCS (amazing with a sub kit)
OK look past the Back Glass, you know what just look to the playfield LOL
I love the Phurba's and how you can select the balls path
the upper field is like Araknoid in real life
the multi-ball lock effect is a cool sight to see (alot get blown out at magnet hole)
great music DCS (amazing with a sub kit)
9.420/10
9 years ago
Beautiful Doug Watson artwork on the playfeild -- and on the backglass, really... it's just that a lot of people don't want smarmy Alec Baldwin staring at them all the time. Buy the alternate translate and you get rid of that but lose the sexy Margot Lane also. Its a trade off. The game itself is fantastic, great flow, great play, fun mini-playfeild, love the magnetic ball lock. Just a fantastic example of the greatness of Bally/Williams in the mid 90s.
Adelaide Hills
9.247/10
9 years ago
The backglass (Baldwin) originally spoiled this for me until I played one with a cool alternate translite. Now I'm hooked - just love it - heaps of shots, very cool playfield & cab art, sounds fit the theme perfectly. IMO best playing pin from the Bally power era - top 10 for me.
7.435/10
9 years ago
Fun challenging pin a players machine for sure can be a tough pin to crack, but lots of fun with ramps mini play field great lighting sound and animations
8.026/10
9 years ago
Super classy fun game. I like the play and the diverters on the ramps. Nice wireform and metal ramps, that's always a plus. Love the art deco look of the game minus the backglass. Would have been superior if the Comic look could've been incorporated on the backglass. Battlefield is refreshingly unique. Dots are amazing. Sweetly Solid.
9.684/10
9 years ago
Great Game I have a few other Brian Eddy games BOP, MM and AFM. I find the fun factor of this game to slightly edge out all three. Just a well engineered game with fast play rewarding shots and a sound package that I believe is the best in pinball. When I play my Shadow I find that I'm engrossed in it planning my next move. A tip of the hat to a great designer. Thanks Brian!
8.734/10
9 years ago
Ottawa, ON
The Shadow has only one flaw...Baldwin!
Great flow and speed with lots of shots.
Overall great ruleset (with modes that have an additional bonus mode if you complete the first one) there is even a secret mode built in.
It has one of the best upper playfields and the ball lock is also one of the best and never gets old.
Managing the diverters are challenging and transform 2 ramps into 4.
The game offers various ways of playing it so you can mix it up once in a while.
Throw in the alternate translilte artwork by Aurich and it is a top pin. (It's a top pin without it really)
The Shadow is my personal favorite (even though it's not at the top of my personal ratings) as the original artwork lowers my ratings down on it somewhat. (I refuse to fanboy my favorites up to a perfect "10" like certain others do on here...)
2 must have mods for this game...LEDs and the backboard decal!
Great flow and speed with lots of shots.
Overall great ruleset (with modes that have an additional bonus mode if you complete the first one) there is even a secret mode built in.
It has one of the best upper playfields and the ball lock is also one of the best and never gets old.
Managing the diverters are challenging and transform 2 ramps into 4.
The game offers various ways of playing it so you can mix it up once in a while.
Throw in the alternate translilte artwork by Aurich and it is a top pin. (It's a top pin without it really)
The Shadow is my personal favorite (even though it's not at the top of my personal ratings) as the original artwork lowers my ratings down on it somewhat. (I refuse to fanboy my favorites up to a perfect "10" like certain others do on here...)
2 must have mods for this game...LEDs and the backboard decal!
9.325/10
9 years ago
This is my favorite game of all time. Ball lock, diverters and mini-playfield are all done masterfully. The third flipper is utilized so well with three shots. The loop shot is difficult and tough to hit two or more in a row but so fun when you do. Depending on your set-up, after a good loop shot, you can hold the flipper to make it into the Khan multi-ball hole. Just amazing design.
You can approach it many different ways i.e., battlefield, vengeance, loops or final battle. Final battle is a challenge to get to and feels like an achievement but not impossible and beating it is exhilerating. Oh and super jackpot on the mini playfield while in multi-ball...whaaat? That's awesome! Yes, backglass is horrible but an easy fix these days. Get a Brian Eddy design for under half the cost of AFM/MM. Get one (not mine)!
You can approach it many different ways i.e., battlefield, vengeance, loops or final battle. Final battle is a challenge to get to and feels like an achievement but not impossible and beating it is exhilerating. Oh and super jackpot on the mini playfield while in multi-ball...whaaat? That's awesome! Yes, backglass is horrible but an easy fix these days. Get a Brian Eddy design for under half the cost of AFM/MM. Get one (not mine)!
Reichelsheim (odenwald)
8.960/10
9 years ago
Finally played one and it was pretty fun.I'd love to own one sometime!
Spent 3 hours on this pin...what a blast!
Spent 3 hours on this pin...what a blast!
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