dtown's ratings

Target Pool. Wow. When properly shopped and dialed in right, this is one wicked two inch flipper wedgehead. Great rules that have been gone over before by other reviewers. Never mind the other reviews saying that it's tough to reach the top part of the playfield. With a waxed playfield and high tapped flippers I had no problem reaching the upper area. The "bong, bong, bong" from hitting a lit arrow target and scoring 300 points is intoxicating. The only thing that brings it down for me is the so so artwork. It reminds me of those Highlights Magazines I saw as a kid in the dentist's office. Otherwise a top notch Ed Krynski design and not too easy to find in nice shape.

I recently did a minor restoration on a Genco Hits & Runs. It's a fairly rare game that you don't see much. Less than 500 made in 1951.

The good:

- It's a baseball themed pinball machine. Very cool.
- Two large bells in the back of the cabinet sound great.
- Very nice artwork on the playfield and the cabinet. One thing Genco did right in this era was to give each game some cabinet artwork that fits the theme well as opposed to the typical square and diamond shapes.
- Two little baseball players move back and forth at the top of the playfied are neat.
- Rules are actually pretty good. Try and hit the lit roll overs to advance your batting average and runs. This will turn the kick out hole and side lane lights on and off. If you manage to roll over the side lanes or get your ball in the kick out hole when they're lit, you'll earn three "specials." EXTRA SPECIAL!
- With good rubber and properly set up this is a pretty snappy game. Superior nudging is a must.
- Genco shooter gauges are beautiful when polished.

The bad:
- The top center kick out hole is tough to save.
- Outward mounted flipper bats as opposed to inner ones
- Getting the ball in either side lane is VERY hard
- No replay knocker
- Finding one to play

Recently finished restoring one that had been in a barn for 25 years or so. The huge slings and no inlanes make for one wicked and unpredictable game. Trying to trap the ball is no easy task.

Rules are straight forward. Four drop targets. Two up top and two in the middle. Knock each pair down and they reset and give you a star. When you get to the fourth star you must knock all four down to collect the special. Otherwise rip the lit spinner for a thousand a spin.

I love the DC pops and slings and while this is one brutal game I find myself coming back for more. Bicentennial theme is super cool and I like the artwork better than Bally's Freedom.

Four three inch flippers in 1972. I bet that was a sight to see then. Especially since that was the era when the transition from two inch to three inch was happening.

Recently brought a King Rock back from the dead. Didn't last long till selling it though. The backglass is excellent but it all goes kinda down hill from there. Playfield art is ok. Two spinners but because of their locations the ball doesn't flow through them like an orbit mounted one.

Rules are about as basic as it comes. Un-light the KING letters either though the upper rollovers or the side mounted targets. Then just keep ripping the spinners and hitting the center target when special is lit. The spinning green lights in the center of the playfield are neat, though.

Worst thing about the game is the lower playfield GI. There is none. Nothing below the middle playfield side plastics. Finally, with four flippers it's basically a back and forth fight. Forget about trapping the ball. However, I guess this was one of the games that introduced players to the "double flipper bitched" drain.

Just finished a lengthy shop job on an Aztec. The DC pops and slings really kick and this one was pretty fast for an EM. When waxed good and the switches made sensitive this is a fun table. The right "J" gate is cool and ripping the spinner is always a lot of fun. Add a point for a unique theme with colors that pop and this is great late model Williams EM.

Though BOP is viewed as a "one shot game" everything else about the table elevates well above that moniker. The light show and sound are top notch. Playing BOP in the dark is a sight to behold. Superb artwork all around and Python's suggesive tidbits are fun to look for. I don't know if the last-ability is there in a small collection and I'd sooner get a Pinbot, but there is no denying the audio/visual appeal of this pin.

What more is there to say? It's the table that defined what Steve Ritchie was to become. Even he says it's his favorite pin of all time. I just shopped one with Novus and three coats of wax and it plays super fast. Be ready for the ball flying back at you from the center targets. Tough to find one without playfield wear as it's obvious this was a popular pin in 1980. The artwork is nothing special but my dad likes it. Says it reminds him of Jack Kirby's style from 60's Marvel comics. I can see mine sticking around for a while. Firepower is a perfect early solid state bang for the buck pin.

Sorcerer. A decent game with fantastic artwork. The Sorcerer seems to be Mark Ritchie's Black Knight in that you, the player, must battle him to win. Even the call outs remind me of BK2K which came about five years later. I had one and this is one tight playfield and not easy to keep the ball in play. The ramp is ok. Basically a hold over from Firepower 2. Personally, my favorite shot is the left loop into the jet bumpers. Very satisfying. Sound effects and "music" are very in your face which was still prevalent at the time. Because of how tight this playfield is, everything seems to take a beating on it. Especially the drops wich are literally just inches away from the upper flipper. Two ball multiball is nothing special but this is still a good player and actually tough to find anymore. "Feel my power!"

My first pin. Wonderfully designed by Steve Ritchie and its influence has been seen multiple times over the last twenty or so years. It's the theme that's lost some of its effect with me. Once again, the weakness of licensed games. Some live on and some lose their staying power. While I still like the movie it doesn't score the repeat viewings with me like some other 80's action films.

Nonetheless, the playfield is well laid out and the shots are very satisfying. Rules are easy to understand and the table is really a lot of fun. Call outs from Arnold are great even though he didn't seem to be into it from the interviews I've heard. Mine had the adult ROM which was a very minor plus since it's just one random award of NOTHING. All in all this a good DMD to pick up for around a grand but I don't miss mine after putting a lot of time into it.

While I do like this table, I'm in that camp that wishes Williams got the Monster Mash rights because I just can't stand the music. It's so corny. I guess it's catchy but I just don't dig it. The theme is a great idea and the rule set is very easy to understand. Playfield is a fan layout but flows well and can be quite fast on a well maintained table. Light show for Monster Bash mode is excellent so extra props to Sheats for that one. MB is and always will be well out of my price range but I'm fine with that. It's a like but not love affair for me.

I'm an outdoors type of guy so the theme is an instant win with me. Love the full translite artwork with the waterfall effect on the topper. Call outs are great and I love when he yells "WHITE WATER" just before multi ball. Music is decent but extra props for how it ramps up during gameplay. Playfield is just a masterpiece of plastic moldings. From the awesome Insanity Falls ramp to the boulder bumper caps, just jamb packed. Rules can be a little confusing with the Vacation Planner stuff but achieving multi ball and geting rafts is pretty straight forward. For me, this is Nordman's best.

Xenon is all about the art...the INCREDIBLE art! And the sexy lady moaning and groaning too. I love the backbox lighting with the marquee type illumination around the glass. As a player Xenon is an above average Bally from its time but not up there with Centaur or Fathom. It's also not as pricey as those two either. Nonetheless, Xenon looks so good that I could just stare at it in attract mode for a while. Kinda regret not taking a closer look at one with a worn playfield at the last Pinfest for $500 asking price.

Bally/Williams's last WPC pin proved to be a great "filler" title till RFM was ready. Too bad it was never finished but I did play Cactus Canyon Continued at Pinfest and was mighty impressed. I love the western theme and always wondered "where's the female baddy that's featured on the backglass?" Is she just in the art for effect or wasn't there time to add her to the software?

Even in its unfinished state CC is still one fun pin. Light show is a little weak but the call outs and music is fantstic. However, for me, much like MM, it'll never be worth the CRAZY money this table commands.

My favorite Steve Ritchie table from the 90's. Yes, I like it better than ST:TNG or T2. Just like BK2K vs. the original BK, I think The Getaway is a fantastic update from the original High Speed. It's very much like the original, just a little better. While the playfield is very similar to HS, it's the little extras that make this sequel superior. The magnetic "supercharger" ramp is a great toy. Shifting gears adds some extra skill to the game. ZZ Top's "La Grange" fits perfectly with the theme and blows the original's tunes away. DMD animations are ok and the video mode is basically Pole Position but none of that really matters. HS had a fantastic layout and The Getaway just improves upon it by taking it to 11.

The perfect integration of a licensed theme. Layout, art and gameplay all a ten for me. My only complaint is that I wish sound technology was better at the time. The Golden Earring title song would have been superb if it was CD quality.

It's Medieval Madness! One of the most expensive pins out there. While I don't like it as much as AFM, it's still a lot of fun and uses the Monty Python like theme very well. Great call outs and the castle is a blast. Playfield's a little dark but the artwork is a ten. MM is one of the best from the 90's but, not for the price it goes for though.

For me Centaur is pinball perfection. There's really nothing like it. Patla and Faris were definitely ouside of the box with this one. Amazing black and white artwork. Automatic kicker for multi ball. Unheard of at the time. I love the layout and the rules make it quite difficult. And of course, how can you forget the say it again sound effects. Totally awesome and a shame it was never used again, except for Centaur II. Average price of $1,400? Not in Pennsylvania. This baby commands 2k plus even in rough shape.

Not into Harley so the theme is wasted on me. Nonetheless, the table just feels like a poor rip off of The Getaway. The voice call outs are annoying. The screeching eagle drives me nuts during the bonus sequence at the end of EVERY ball. Honestly, everything on this table is about another multiball mode. The Harley toy and how it shoots the balls out at the multi-ball start is the only redeeming factor. Just a really cheap pin and another example of Sega/Sterns from the turn of the century.

Even without the extra toys and LED lighting this is still a great pin. Great music and sound. The way you change songs and how they're implemented should be the model for all future music themed pins. I'd love to get one and mod the crap out of it.

I like AC/DC so the music and theme is a plus for me. Great lighting on the LE's. Not crazy about the lower playfield but I guess it's better than big head. Swinging bell is a great toy and the major thing missing from the pro for me. Deep rules and a ton of fun to play keeps me coming back for more. My favorite Stern.