Bally
Theatre of Magic Pinside Rating
This game received 1089 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.439 /10
Theatre of Magic
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.633
Artwork: 8.509
Sounds/Music: 7.824
Other Aspects: 8.48
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 578 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 578 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 6 of 24.
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Alton, IA
8.960/10
5 years ago
Saint-zotique, QC
One of my favorites of all times. For this generation, this game is near the perfection. Ball flow and combos are very fun! The music and voices fit the game perfectly. I like the animations on the screen too. Game is pretty easy but the grand finale will give you more challenge. For sure the magic box is a great feature. Like the secret entrance (behind the box).
The only 2 cons I can do on this game is the reliability of this Magic box which can get broken by ball impacts. Fortunately, still today, we can find good replications to replace it. And finally, the hocus pocus magnets can be REALLY frustrating sometimes, because it doesn't freeze the ball enough long so sometimes, the ball is still moving and can go in the outlane instead of the inlane with a poor chance to save it.
This is a SOLID game if you are looking for 90's pinball machine. Not easy to find in good shape and pricey but it deserves it.
The only 2 cons I can do on this game is the reliability of this Magic box which can get broken by ball impacts. Fortunately, still today, we can find good replications to replace it. And finally, the hocus pocus magnets can be REALLY frustrating sometimes, because it doesn't freeze the ball enough long so sometimes, the ball is still moving and can go in the outlane instead of the inlane with a poor chance to save it.
This is a SOLID game if you are looking for 90's pinball machine. Not easy to find in good shape and pricey but it deserves it.
9.720/10
5 years ago
Great overall game. Fun for beginners and experts alike. Solid all the way around. Artwork, lights, gameplay, and ruleset are all top notch. It screams longevity. This would be a great home game to enjoy.
8.432/10
5 years ago
Theater of Magic is one of my all time favorites and keeps me coming back again and again. There is so much to do, the ruleset is fairly deep, there are tons of shots all over the playfield that are easy to hit, etc.
This is tops on my list to add to my collection and hope maybe Chicago will get it on the remake list :)
This is tops on my list to add to my collection and hope maybe Chicago will get it on the remake list :)
České Budějovice
Åkarp
8.732/10
5 years ago
For me this game has a fun theme and integrates it well with a good backglass and nice animations. I think the layout is a fun easy to shoot one and also can be a bit challenging at times. I don't like how the skill shot really doesn't have much to do with the plunger... It does have use as you need to time what reward you'll get when you plunge, and then you shoot for the shot and need to make it. So overall its a really cool skill shot. Really cool use of toys and a magnet. Like the trap door as well, even if I hardly ever make that shot.
Nice multiball rules and easy to get to the multiball. All in all I really enjoyed the game. The one thing I like about the layout is there are many different shots, but they do not feel cramped. They feel spread out just the right amount. Also this game has really cool ramps. The one thing I don't like is the rollover lanes. Hard to tell which is lit and which isn't... Yes, they have the mirror, but I can't really notice that.
I don't know if this is a top game of all time, but it has cool toys, good art with just the right amount of sex appeal, a cool theme, cool cabinet art, and good animations, and it shoots really well. So I don't know what else you might want. Don't know if its worth the price that people want for it though.
Nice multiball rules and easy to get to the multiball. All in all I really enjoyed the game. The one thing I like about the layout is there are many different shots, but they do not feel cramped. They feel spread out just the right amount. Also this game has really cool ramps. The one thing I don't like is the rollover lanes. Hard to tell which is lit and which isn't... Yes, they have the mirror, but I can't really notice that.
I don't know if this is a top game of all time, but it has cool toys, good art with just the right amount of sex appeal, a cool theme, cool cabinet art, and good animations, and it shoots really well. So I don't know what else you might want. Don't know if its worth the price that people want for it though.
Paris
Sydney
Unknown City
8.434/10
5 years ago
Ipswich
Classic pinball table with one of the best playfield layouts around. Plenty of magic gimmicks to give the game the wow factor, but also nice ramps and orbits for the pinball player. Themeing is good, what rules there are are good, and the art and music is perfect for the film.
My only issues are the callouts being quite repetitive and there is little to no humour in any of them, which takes a lot away from the experience for me. Magic can be funny, but this game is so serious aside from one or two specific references like 'move your car'. there's also a question on it's lastability, as theres just modes, multiball, spelling theatre and advancing the clock, and that's it. Wizard mode also gets my vote for worst wizard mode on a great game.
My only issues are the callouts being quite repetitive and there is little to no humour in any of them, which takes a lot away from the experience for me. Magic can be funny, but this game is so serious aside from one or two specific references like 'move your car'. there's also a question on it's lastability, as theres just modes, multiball, spelling theatre and advancing the clock, and that's it. Wizard mode also gets my vote for worst wizard mode on a great game.
9.642/10
5 years ago
Near a perfect 10 .
I played the heck out of a TOM today at Knoebels Park... the trunk didnt work right, but I still enjoyed the Hell out of it. I didnt even bother playing the other pins much... Twilight Zone, Star Wars Pro, Game of Thrones...
So that tells you something.
Loved the updated lighting to LED. Hope they remake this game soon as I will definitely be adding one to my collection.
THe ramps are so satisfying , the spinner shots, the ... everything.. Beautiful playfield..
Theres just something about the layout. Its just .. Perfect.
I played the heck out of a TOM today at Knoebels Park... the trunk didnt work right, but I still enjoyed the Hell out of it. I didnt even bother playing the other pins much... Twilight Zone, Star Wars Pro, Game of Thrones...
So that tells you something.
Loved the updated lighting to LED. Hope they remake this game soon as I will definitely be adding one to my collection.
THe ramps are so satisfying , the spinner shots, the ... everything.. Beautiful playfield..
Theres just something about the layout. Its just .. Perfect.
6.851/10
5 years ago
Hengelo
Even though I like the theme of this game, it never really got me excited. All the elements are there, but the game still falls flat for me. I'll list the things I don't like about this game:
- The voices. Mostly the male voice just annoys me.
- The music. I understand that it's supposed to fit the magic theme, but it does nothing to get me excited. In fact, it might be one of my major annoyances.
- No humor.
- The trunk toy is just a bit lame. I don't like bash toys in general, but as a centre piece of a Magic themed game it's even more of a let-down.
On to some of the things I do like.
- The Speed. It can be brutally fast, which is a good thing to me.
- Very good flow
- Good artwork, mostly so on the cabinet
- A lot of gimmicks
In conclusion, I think it's an overrated game in the current ranking. On paper, it seems it has everything a great game needs, but once you actually play it, it might be a disappointment.
- The voices. Mostly the male voice just annoys me.
- The music. I understand that it's supposed to fit the magic theme, but it does nothing to get me excited. In fact, it might be one of my major annoyances.
- No humor.
- The trunk toy is just a bit lame. I don't like bash toys in general, but as a centre piece of a Magic themed game it's even more of a let-down.
On to some of the things I do like.
- The Speed. It can be brutally fast, which is a good thing to me.
- Very good flow
- Good artwork, mostly so on the cabinet
- A lot of gimmicks
In conclusion, I think it's an overrated game in the current ranking. On paper, it seems it has everything a great game needs, but once you actually play it, it might be a disappointment.
8.172/10
5 years ago
TOM has been the game I've been drawn to the most at the local bar/pincade. I have not dived deep into the ruleset but do like the variation of the trunk, ramps, and other shots on the playfield. A fun multi-ball, I can usually keep it going longer than I can on other games for some reason. May just have to add this one to the home collection someday. . .
9.072/10
6 years ago
When I think about 90's pinball machines this is the one that always stands out. There's so much going on, yet somehow it isn't overwhelming. The spinning trunk was jaw dropping to me as a kid and it still makes me smile today. Might have been the pinnacle of the golden era machines for me. Artwork was so cool, the theme is interesting and makes for cool gameplay with the different acts you have to fulfill. The cabinet is super cool, draws you in! A little too pricey for me to own one myself... but if it's in an arcade, you can bet I'll be dropping some quarters on this classic.
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