Williams
Space Shuttle Pinside Rating
This game received 236 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.643 /10
Space Shuttle
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.883
Artwork: 7.625
Sounds/Music: 6.321
Other Aspects: 7.906
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 3 of us have rated this game.
Found 128 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 128 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 6.
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Fredericton, NB
6.984/10
3 years ago
Rockwall, TX
I love the theme. The price is certainly reasonable as well. It is tough to find one with even a decent playfield, however.
8.292/10
3 years ago
Space Shuttle is the game many people credit with reviving the public's interest in pinball.
I always enjoyed playing this machine, and I still do. I don't think every thing about the design in inspired, but somehow I still think the game is really fun. I definitely would love to have one in my collection.
I always enjoyed playing this machine, and I still do. I don't think every thing about the design in inspired, but somehow I still think the game is really fun. I definitely would love to have one in my collection.
7.272/10
4 years ago
Was deciding between space station and space shuttle..went with space station......this is a good machine a loads of fun..but prefer station.
8.668/10
4 years ago
Wait a second. Space Shuttle is rated lower than Space Station? Your kidding me! I've owned this pin for 8 years, it was hard to find and won't let it go. It definitly keeps you coming back. You have to keep in mind when rating this pin it was 1986! Who doesn't like space and Nasa? For me the sounds are the best part and take me back to the arcades. I dont understand some people say the voice is annoying? Looking down on the space shuttle toy the first toy put in a game makes me want to pull the plunger. This game was used very often back in the day so playing one in good shape makes a big difference. The quality of materials used in this game really shows. Mine feels very solid.
8.230/10
4 years ago
Great game! The very good artwork and very nicely designed playfield. I do not grow tired of playing this game! It is a favorite.
The playfield, specifically, at the top does get beat up a lot. Hopefully one day I will replace it as I do like playing it.
The playfield, specifically, at the top does get beat up a lot. Hopefully one day I will replace it as I do like playing it.
8.516/10
4 years ago
This game is in my small collection between this and my b lack knight these 2 won't ever leave. Rules are super easy to under stand and multi ball is difficult yet easy and satifising to achieve. Air lock is an awesome gimic. Game is great for a small collection with non pinball player and pinball regulars.
I wish they would have made the ramps from metal for durability.
I wish they would have made the ramps from metal for durability.
7.490/10
5 years ago
Just recently got my hands on a space shuttle, i can see now why its credited with saving pinball. I have played a fair amount of firepower and laser cue, (both awesome games btw) i feel like they took what has worked great and added good fresh ideas to them. The ball drain on the left is a little rough but other then that i really enjoy the game play. The speech and sound still holds up well today, the music while fits well hasn't aged well. I actually like the music from laser cue better.
7.611/10
5 years ago
This is not a great looking pinball machine. It's not bad looking one, its just bland for me. I know for the time a Space Shuttle was new and exciting, but for me now, a space shuttle is just a clunky looking relic of the past, a marvel to be fair, but not something that is sexy to look at. So I find the cab and backglass and playfield art to be really drab and boring. I do like the space shuttle toy in the middle of the playfield, and I like the ramp that it sits upon and I like how it utilizes the drop target.
While I don't care for the theming or the art. I really like the gameplay and the rule set. It's a simple basic rule set, but very effective. It reminds me a lot of Sorcerer.Except there are two ball locks and that means you can get 3 ball multiball. It does have a few things sorcerer doesn't have. Like a circle disc that pops up between your flippers during multiball start that serves as a way to help protect your balls. Cool little feature.
So anyway. I think the best strategy is to lock a ball. Then shot the drop target and then shot the ramp and multiball starts. Once in multiball hit the targets that spell shuttle and this will get you the reward that is listed on the playfield. Keep hitting this and that can lead to a lot of good stuff. And again I think the strategy for this game is a lot like the strategy for sorcerer and that is, get to multiball and when in multiball that is when you aim for the risky shots. Once you go back to single ball play shot the lock and then go back into multiball.
Simple game play. But its fun.
The sound effects are typical of that era and it does have some callouts. But, I wasn't a fan of the callouts. They're just there. They don't really detract from the game, and I guess they can immerse you in the theme. But, again not a big fan of the theme. So they were just there for me.
All in all a very fun game. Don't know if I would want this in my collection, as I rather have a sorcerer, but again if I had a huge silo filled with pins, this would be nice to have in it. Just for me, not a looker and that is something I like in a home pin.
While I don't care for the theming or the art. I really like the gameplay and the rule set. It's a simple basic rule set, but very effective. It reminds me a lot of Sorcerer.Except there are two ball locks and that means you can get 3 ball multiball. It does have a few things sorcerer doesn't have. Like a circle disc that pops up between your flippers during multiball start that serves as a way to help protect your balls. Cool little feature.
So anyway. I think the best strategy is to lock a ball. Then shot the drop target and then shot the ramp and multiball starts. Once in multiball hit the targets that spell shuttle and this will get you the reward that is listed on the playfield. Keep hitting this and that can lead to a lot of good stuff. And again I think the strategy for this game is a lot like the strategy for sorcerer and that is, get to multiball and when in multiball that is when you aim for the risky shots. Once you go back to single ball play shot the lock and then go back into multiball.
Simple game play. But its fun.
The sound effects are typical of that era and it does have some callouts. But, I wasn't a fan of the callouts. They're just there. They don't really detract from the game, and I guess they can immerse you in the theme. But, again not a big fan of the theme. So they were just there for me.
All in all a very fun game. Don't know if I would want this in my collection, as I rather have a sorcerer, but again if I had a huge silo filled with pins, this would be nice to have in it. Just for me, not a looker and that is something I like in a home pin.
7.676/10
5 years ago
For the mid 80's it was outstanding. I probably dumped more of my lawn mowing and paper route money into this one than any other. Hard to find one in good condition, but if I found one for the right price, I would own it.
6.983/10
5 years ago
I like the individual ball locks for multi-ball and the "heat shield" feature. The shuttle ramp is a rewarding shot and the old fashioned telephone bell is a nice variation of sound. If I was more into space themes I'd probably have a greater appreciation for it, but still a fun game worth some play time.
8.773/10
5 years ago
I just spent a weekend with Space Shuttle at a friends house, and couldn't get enough of it. I always remember it being a solid game, but once I started playing it, it was hard to stop. It has the kind of rule set that I love in Pinball. Is it repetitive? Yes. Is it addicting? oh yea!
It has a few objectives that are each easy to complete, but doing them all at once to really get the high scores isn't easy.
Max out the spinner on the way to maxing out the bonus multiplier and then start the multibull and hit the ramp over and over again while spotting all the targets.
Super awesome game. I'm looking for my own right now. This is the game that saved pinball, and for good reason!
It has a few objectives that are each easy to complete, but doing them all at once to really get the high scores isn't easy.
Max out the spinner on the way to maxing out the bonus multiplier and then start the multibull and hit the ramp over and over again while spotting all the targets.
Super awesome game. I'm looking for my own right now. This is the game that saved pinball, and for good reason!
7.108/10
5 years ago
Ipswich
This one is an absolute gem, and I'm glad it's held in quite high regard against other machines of it's era. Lots of nostalgic sound effects and great theme integration. Multiball is really fun to achieve, and great use of drop targets. Love the layout of the game, aside from the ball flying to the right outlane out of the pops...but the air lock feature makes up for that so it's not too bad. In a large collection, i think this game is a must-have to represent it's era, but in a small collection perhaps the lastability is limited. Big fan of this game nonetheless though.
7.330/10
5 years ago
I try and drop a few quarters every time I see this classic in the wild.
For me it has one of the most satisfying set of lane change/rollovers in pinball (irrespective of the fact they also spell U,S,A). The pops underneath have great action and with a quick hand/steady bump you can crank your multiplier up in no time.
The sounds even now are great. Early 80's synth, but great.
I'm not a seasoned pinhead, but how many other games have a drop-target "guarding" a ramp to activate the multiball? Very cool timed feature.
My kids love this table too, and there's enough going on that it probably wouldn't get boring over the long term. It's no 8 mode monster like we have today, but a great playing example of one of these with some lighting upgrades (it's dark stock in my opinion) would probably be a solid first pin or addition to any collection.
For me it has one of the most satisfying set of lane change/rollovers in pinball (irrespective of the fact they also spell U,S,A). The pops underneath have great action and with a quick hand/steady bump you can crank your multiplier up in no time.
The sounds even now are great. Early 80's synth, but great.
I'm not a seasoned pinhead, but how many other games have a drop-target "guarding" a ramp to activate the multiball? Very cool timed feature.
My kids love this table too, and there's enough going on that it probably wouldn't get boring over the long term. It's no 8 mode monster like we have today, but a great playing example of one of these with some lighting upgrades (it's dark stock in my opinion) would probably be a solid first pin or addition to any collection.
7.464/10
5 years ago
Köln
Space Shuttle is more the old fashioned kind of pinball, it doesn’t drive towards a wizard mode or a big jackpot. It is fairly easy to get multiball and multiball is one of the main ways to get points. Clever is each ball is locked separately so you can go immediately for 2 ball multiball after locking one ball or lock the 2nd ball and have 3 ball multiball. To start multiball and to get points during multiball you keep going for the center ramp. There’s something satisfying about this ramp – it’s unusually positioned, too, because it does not lead back to an inlane. The other goal is to keep knocking down the drop targets and increasing the spinner multiplier. This can get exciting as the multiplier resets for each new ball. And hitting the drop targets usually takes you to the thru-lanes – each completion increases the bonus multiplier. Space Shuttle also has a target you sometimes want to avoid – the right ramp – it’s frustrating to be trying complete the 7 stand-ups to get the extra ball award for instance then accidently hit the stand up at the end of the right ramp and then the award changes to something not as good.
Space Shuttle has a particularly attractive backglass with the gold accents. Soundtrack is ok, a few of the sound bits were reused in Pinbot (not a problem, though) and a few robot sounding call outs.
Space Shuttle has a particularly attractive backglass with the gold accents. Soundtrack is ok, a few of the sound bits were reused in Pinbot (not a problem, though) and a few robot sounding call outs.
8.364/10
6 years ago
A classic machine that saved pinball. It's beginner friendly with simple to understand rules, easy two or three ball multi ball, and an awesome theme. I love space themes and for 1984 the Space Shuttle was all the rage. The play field is full of cool artwork and the mirrored backglass is no slouch either. There isn't much I don't like about this machine, one of the machines I'd love to own someday.
6.930/10
6 years ago
A good Williams table ftom the 80s. Gets old quick for me, not enough going on. No way should his be rated higher than Jokerz, in my opinion. Good quality build, (it's a Williams) and decent sound. LEDS really make this machine pop. It's a beautiful machine, and might be worth something one of these days, when people finally figure out that the real one was fake. Lol. Good for a few plays, but not as your only pin.
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