Stargate

Pinside rating

This game received 240 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.710 /10

7.71

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #140 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.96

Artwork: 7.977

Sounds/Music: 6.835

Other Aspects: 7.848


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.

7.558

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Found 138 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 138 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 6.

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8.859/10
3 years ago
This is a fun game but could really benefit from a bit more work on the sound. Licensed quotes from the film would have been wonderful, but I guess didn't work out. The sound bites that are there NEED more variation, there is someone constantly shrieking "Shoot the Pyramid!". The DMD animations are mostly good, but we had trouble working out what the mouse dragging something meant until we re-watched the film and realized it was supposed to be one of those big animals (a "mastadge") dragging a person. My favorite moment is the eerie sounds and lightshow at the start of "Sandstorm".
The game modes are good, the wizard mode is achievable but tough to get to and rewarding when it happens.
It's a fun machine I had gotten "temporarily" about a decade ago but haven't managed to tire of.
9.780/10
4 years ago
This pin is criminally underrated simply because it is a Gottlieb. Of course, it is the absolute best game they ever built, however.

There are really no flaws to it, other than possibly the "shoot the pyramid" callout frequently going off.

Beautiful game play. Gorgeous backglass and playfield. Awesome toys/gimmicks. The theme is just amazing!

It is one of the best games for the price, bar none.
8.520/10
4 years ago
really fun to play
8.796/10
4 years ago
Great Premier game! Sound is the weakness of this game. Call-outs are repetitive but can be turned off if desired. Ramps are positioned well but are steep...you need to hit them right for the ball to go up! I love the rule set on this game. Two wizard modes, I've been in both many times but only completed one (Eye of Ra) of them. Several multi-ball modes with up to 4 balls in play simultaneously. Challenging enough to be hard but still want to play again. A fun, fast game. Had it for a few years now, still play it regularly.
8.232/10
4 years ago
This game draws me to it.Easy rules to follow and fun to play.Playfield lacks colour but the pyramid and guards look good.The glider craft is up there with the best off them as far as toys go.Interesting back glass.
8.968/10
4 years ago
i'm not too crazy about gottieb pinballs but this is one that i did like.
it has decent sound effects and dot matrix animations.
maybe some modes are a bit unbalanced.
this is one of the better Gottlieb pinballs but also one of their last pinballs they made.
7.621/10
4 years ago
Stargate is a fun game with all the great toys and features. The backglass is very epic.
7.406/10
4 years ago
This game is fun enough given what it is. I was surprised as I was never expecting it to be all that fun from the first look of it. This compares to Batman '89 in terms of overall experience. Fun to play, not necessarily something I'd have to play frequently.
8.556/10
5 years ago
This game should be more popular than it is. Lots of cool modes that are just deep enough to be a challenge, but not impossible. Nice artwork and a layout that's creative and fun. If you find one pick it up!
8.328/10
5 years ago
It's a great game, lots of modes, many things to do. Skill shot is easy to complete. I like the fact that you cumulate your quartz and trade it for a reward. Glidercraft is a cool toy, innovative for a 90's game. The only negative point I could say is on the lower part of playfield, the space is very limited, so if you get the drop targets on the left, you have to be alert for quick comebacks.
8.232/10
5 years ago
Lots of action and its fast. Love the glider craft. An underrated game. Lots of modes, lots of shots, lots of multiballs. Its a well built machine.
8.512/10
5 years ago
This game has a lot of interesting modes many of which have 3 or 4 ball multiball which is a lot of fun. After you complete all the modes, you get the final Eye or Ra mode. The modes feel fairly balanced except the Save Sari. It's a timed mode and I usually just let my time run out because it's not really worth going for.

The call outs can certainly get a bit repetitive, but the music sounds good.

It has an interesting feature where you can collect Quartz and then you can trade them in for different awards. Deciding when you trade your Quartz ends up being pretty important in the game.

This game is a lot of fun right off the bat and has a lot of depth to keep you coming back.
7.332/10
5 years ago
Couldn't get into it, a lot of stop and go and too many multiballs for me. Really unique ideas and I wanted to like the game. For some reason it just didn't click with me, pretty easy overall due to the Gottlieb flippers, wide open ramps, and constant multiballs.

Cool theme and toys, falls short on gameplay.
7.771/10
5 years ago
Stargate is a love it or hate it game and supremely innovative for its time. I think its great! I enjoy games with cool ramps and multi-balls so this one is easy to love for me. The ramps are incredible - the ball stays ABOVE the play-field a lot and require clean hits to complete. Also, the multi-ball modes are all well done.

Other innovations:
Skill shot variation (3 different options) is such a great touch and copied over and over
Horus targets are super cool as they essentially create 2 shots
Glider toy and pyramid is so weird but connects the cheesy theme perfectly
Code - really like the fact that you can make IN GAME choices.

You can see a lot of Stargate in current games, particularly Jersey Jack's. The problem with Stargate is in production - play-field wears easy, especially outlanes, and MANY have this issue with clear having a "shattered glass" look, etc. It is VERY hard to find a nice one - i looked for 3 years. I see the price of these on the steady climb for a nice one - beat ones are cheap. It is the crown jewel of System 3's
7.084/10
5 years ago
My first machine was a Stargate, my kids refuse to let me trade/sell it to this day. The pyramid call out is annoying, but overall the game is pretty decent. Cabinet isn't the best looking, but few non Williams games were back then. It's still a fun game to play and unlock all the modes. The ramps are not that easy and are always a rush to hit on big combos. I think the only major weakness on this game is the pyramid call out and lack of hearing all real character's voices call outs from the movie.
7.816/10
5 years ago
I enjoy playing this game. I never stay on it as long as other machines it seems, but its still fun. I don't mind the callout "shoot the pyramid", or its repetitiveness, but maybe that's because I usually play a few games and then move on. Overall, a fun game for sure though.
9.560/10
5 years ago
I rated this game so high, because it is one of my top 2-3 games I have ever played. Fun fun and more fun. So much stuff to shoot, great layout, fast, multiball and add a ball, etc. the only drawback...it is a Gottlieb. Hahaha. All kidding aside it is a truly great game.
9.660/10
5 years ago
As Yoda would say... "You must unlearn what you have learned". This is one of the most innovative pins I've ever played. The stunning 3D backglass mesmerizes you. The backglass lightshow is brilliant. Once you get over your awe of the backglass and move on to the playfield, the awe continues. Toys on top of pop bumpers? I thought that was a Jersey Jack invention, but no! Guard targets that pop up to reveal tunnels? Now that's innovative! Ramps that look too steep for the ball to climb, but yet they are smooth and rewarding! How about practical design? All of the fuses mounted on the underside front of the playfield? Wow! Software that allows you to configure the game from a standard 3 ball quick-play stomp to a full 30+ minute journey adventure like Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? Software that tells you the game rules during attract mode by using the flippers? Now that's flexibility! Modes galore! Difficult combinations! Lots of incredible speed and flow! The game guides you through the shots by the numerous flashers with callouts and the sound is quite clearly understood. The first time you play the sandstorm mode your jaw will drop. And how about that glidercraft that pops up from under the pyramid! It's a real treat that even first time players can experience. How many times have you wished for a switched service port? This game has two service ports, one switched and one unswitched! Wow, I just can't say enough positive about this game. The flippers do feel different and the EOS is at a steeper angle than you're used to. This allows you to catch the ball very easily, but makes it more difficult to transfer the ball from one flipper to the other, so you must relearn your flipper skills. If the game takes a knock for anything, it is the lack of a free play setting, but just install a button switch in the coin door and you're good to go. Gottlieb did a stellar job on this one and considering all of the innovations, it's very difficult to believe that this is a 1995 game. Some of the features aren't even available on machines built today. Maybe someone sent it through a Stargate from another world? Magnificent game, it's such a shame that Gottlieb couldn't continue, but at least they went out with a masterpiece. Theme implementation is second to none on this one, a real treat for Stargate fans. Clearly this game is frequently overlooked because it is a Gottlieb solid state, but that is what makes it so surprising, it's not just a great Gottlieb, it's a fantastically well designed pinball machine that ranks right up there with the world's best. So "unlearn what you have learned" about Gottlieb and seek this game out. Dial up those chevrons and transport yourself to another world through Gottlieb's magnificent Stargate.
Note: Since this is a '90s game, it benefits greatly from modern enhancements, especially LED lighting. Adding a tactile transducer (bass shaker) to the cabinet also greatly enhances sound depth and allows older games to compete with modern shaker motor machines. This game has been reviewed with these modifications in place.
7.861/10
5 years ago
Stargate is a game I played in the 90’s and enjoyed it. When the opportunity presented itself for me to own it, I jumped. After owning it for quite a while I found it to be very challenging. Never running out of things to do and just overall fun. As everyone else says, the call outs can be repetitive but that’s just part of this game. The machine is built like a tank and can be rock solid if well maintained, unfortunately, mine was not but parts are still available and easy to find. My only real complaint is how dark the playfield is... led’s Brighten it up but it could really use some additional accent lighting.

Overall it’s a great game and I agree with other reviewers, probably Gottlieb’s best game.
7.288/10
6 years ago
Stargate is by far Gottlieb's best game. The backglass is very original and with the rope light looks great. The playfield design, skill shot, and rules all are excellent. Fun game for all skill levels with heavy use of multi ball. The flip up targets are very cool and I am surprised this idea has not been copied in other games. Ramps are steep and satisfying to hit. A few things keep this one from greatness. The sound, call outs "shoot the pyramid" and music is very poor. This is typical Gottlieb sound, but is noticeable here as the rest of the game is so good. Also the DMD animations are not very good. If Gottlieb could have consistently made games like this in the 90's they could have been competitive.
8.608/10
6 years ago
Stargate: The very few negative things that people complain about are overwhelmingly made up for with incredible flow and rules of the game. Yes, the call-out to shoot the pyramid can get annoying. So...just hit the damn thing and you won't hear it so much! I also dinged my rating for the crappy GI Gottlieb used, but this seems common with other system 3 games. Not sure why they were so stingy with light bulbs…Good thing we have LEDs to make things better ; )
The rules and shots on this game are amazing. I especially like the 5 part combo shot. The modes are very fun and you can really score big if you can keep the multiball alive and actually hit what it wants. If you’re looking to become a better player, this complicated mode-based game will really challenge you. I remember studying a lengthy rule sheet to figure out what’s all going on. When I try to explain the rules to friends, it usually takes about 20 minutes and they usually get confused 5 minutes in.
At this point, I could say I’ve mastered the game; because I’ve been through all the modes 3 or 4 times in one game. Still..it keeps me coming back for more.
9.200/10
6 years ago
A surprising little Gottlieb machine, good layout and certainly feels like they got their moneys worth with the license. *** Having a chance to play this some more I am surprised by how deep the rules are, it seems like I am always discovering something new. The amount of toys in this are crazy, it would be a premium edition if released today, although painting them would make them look even better.
8.456/10
6 years ago
We've had a lot of fun with this pin, my whole family enjoys it. Tons of shots, lots of variety. Probably Gottlieb's best pin.
9.760/10
7 years ago
Great pinball, the TransLite is perhaps the most beautiful of all, the game is extremely fast and fun, the theme is a must!
6.879/10
7 years ago
Best Gottlieb machine of all. The PF is busy with a nice look, a lot of gold and yellow colours. Lots of shots and toys but the game isn't too deep. SHOOT THE PYRAMID callout gets really tiresome. Would get it if I find a decent deal. But maybe not recommended in a smaller collection, you need to try it to see if it fits your taste. Cabinet design is weird but backglass is cool and draws you in.
There are 138 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 2 of 6.

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