Kneissl's ratings
Pinsider Kneissl has rated 115 machines.
This page shows all all these ratings, and forms Kneissl's personal top 115.
Rating comments
9.860/10
12 months ago
After JP I figured I had to keep the Elwin train rolling... Another winner! Great upper left flipper game.
4.951/10
1 year ago
Foxy Lady Game Plan, 1978
Weak symmetric layout.. but interesting since it's a cocktail and the slingshots are unique. two kickouts on each side are difficult to shoot directly and stay in. I got a playfield in trade and brought it back to life with an arduino pinball controller. My kids covered it with hotwheels and various other stickers and I had them make the callouts so they love it.
9.860/10
1 year ago
Jurassic Park (Premium) Stern, 2019
My first Elwin layout; it does not disappoint. Sweet game, I had considered going pro... since it’s not missing much gameplay wise. I’m Very glad I went with a premium. Pinball eating t-rex is the best gimmick in pinball, his jaw even moves when he roars with the pinball in his mouth. Difficult game, which is perfect for a home use pin.
9.440/10
1 year ago
The Hobbit Jersey Jack, 2016
I was skeptical as the layout isn't what I usually go for, and the upper flipper has no unique purpose. The theme integration and rules bring this one home. It's also neat to see a modern pin packed to the gills with coils and gadgets.
9.016/10
3 years ago
Monster Bash (Special Edition) Chicago Gaming Co., 2018
Sweet reboot of the original.
8.068/10
4 years ago
Guardians of the Galaxy (Pro) Stern, 2017
crazy underrated. The intro code must have stunk real bad for this game to be off the top 100.
6.590/10
4 years ago
Star Wars (Pro) Stern, 2017
Could change with time, but first impression is not good. Feels like a tiny step up from Gottlieb street level pins, rules might be great at home, but not straight forward enough for casual location pin.
9.800/10
4 years ago
Alien Heighway Pinball, 2017
I'm a few weeks and maybe a couple hundred games deep so here's a more in-depth review:
The game is incredibly immersive with very good flow (when you're on it) and packed with shots. I'm very happy with the purchase. This is my second NIB.
The build quality is better than stern, maybe on par with JJP, probably with a little less polish. There's a few funky things going on with the plastics, the ramps have some holed tabs hanging out. (maybe they took out ramp entry switches?) Wiring on the playfield looks pretty nice overall, you can tell they took out a proximity switch sometime later in dev, the cabinet wiring could be cleaned up a little better. Probably all these things will iron out further in production. I got confirmation plastics are acrylic, although it is much thicker than any game I've seen. The same goes for the metal parts; much thicker than modern stern mechs. Oh, and the backbox. I thought it looked kinda lame in pics, in person it's much more impressive and fits well.
On to the game-
This thing has shots!; easy, super hard, back hand, across the way and (awesome!) combos. The hardest single shot is the chestburster (up the lane just left of the right flipper) it's doable from the lower left flipper, but we're talking Tron gem shot, I doubt anyone can rely on hitting it this way. Fortunately this is easier (but not easy) to hit from the upper left flipper. This leads to combo shots, the best being lower right flipper to mother kickout, to chestburster to upper left ramp. The game tracks endless combos as long as you don't repeat the previous shot (can't go left ramp, right ramp, left ramp, etc.) I've also noticed the game has some combos named, kind of like the Picard maneuver in STTNG i'm not sure if that's more points or what.
The sound-
Probably the biggest factor in how immersive the game is. It's just well done. Seems like it's got a large variety of call outs, I don't think I heard "game over man, game over" the whole first night I played it. I dig fishtales, but if you leave a ball waiting to launch the music get really annoying. Nothing like that here. This game keeps some cool low key music going and drops a random callout now and again. Switch between modes before starting ball one and you get some cool story progression in the callouts.. I think i'm just scratching the surface here guys.
The Art-
I've got a standard with backbox screen, so I can't comment on the large egg or the LE Xeno. Backbox art with the screen looks good to me, the lit sides look really good. The playfield is cool, not super busy, but lots of details you notice over time, if you've seen the reveals from @aurich, you know what you're getting.
The game is incredibly immersive with very good flow (when you're on it) and packed with shots. I'm very happy with the purchase. This is my second NIB.
The build quality is better than stern, maybe on par with JJP, probably with a little less polish. There's a few funky things going on with the plastics, the ramps have some holed tabs hanging out. (maybe they took out ramp entry switches?) Wiring on the playfield looks pretty nice overall, you can tell they took out a proximity switch sometime later in dev, the cabinet wiring could be cleaned up a little better. Probably all these things will iron out further in production. I got confirmation plastics are acrylic, although it is much thicker than any game I've seen. The same goes for the metal parts; much thicker than modern stern mechs. Oh, and the backbox. I thought it looked kinda lame in pics, in person it's much more impressive and fits well.
On to the game-
This thing has shots!; easy, super hard, back hand, across the way and (awesome!) combos. The hardest single shot is the chestburster (up the lane just left of the right flipper) it's doable from the lower left flipper, but we're talking Tron gem shot, I doubt anyone can rely on hitting it this way. Fortunately this is easier (but not easy) to hit from the upper left flipper. This leads to combo shots, the best being lower right flipper to mother kickout, to chestburster to upper left ramp. The game tracks endless combos as long as you don't repeat the previous shot (can't go left ramp, right ramp, left ramp, etc.) I've also noticed the game has some combos named, kind of like the Picard maneuver in STTNG i'm not sure if that's more points or what.
The sound-
Probably the biggest factor in how immersive the game is. It's just well done. Seems like it's got a large variety of call outs, I don't think I heard "game over man, game over" the whole first night I played it. I dig fishtales, but if you leave a ball waiting to launch the music get really annoying. Nothing like that here. This game keeps some cool low key music going and drops a random callout now and again. Switch between modes before starting ball one and you get some cool story progression in the callouts.. I think i'm just scratching the surface here guys.
The Art-
I've got a standard with backbox screen, so I can't comment on the large egg or the LE Xeno. Backbox art with the screen looks good to me, the lit sides look really good. The playfield is cool, not super busy, but lots of details you notice over time, if you've seen the reveals from @aurich, you know what you're getting.
8.236/10
6 years ago
Metallica (Premium/LE) Stern, 2013
Great game! solid draw, good intensity, lots of shots and rules to make them worth shooting.
7.846/10
7 years ago
Striker Xtreme Stern, 2000
Totally underrated pin. Sure, it's not a top ten, but it's totally a respectable game with decent rules, great layout and lots of gadgets.
8.327/10
7 years ago
Fathom Bally, 1981
This game is legit fun. Inline drop targets galore, and a three ball multi ball that feels similar to BSD's three stacked multi ball. A ridiculously awesome and beautiful machine with a very strong 'one more game' draw. One complaint I don't care for is the pop bumper being open to direct shots.
7.691/10
7 years ago
Cactus Canyon Bally, 1998
It's good, but not as great as one might be lead to believe.
7.390/10
8 years ago
Dirty Harry Williams, 1995
Not a bad game, but i can see how it blends in with average 90's titles.. art isn't great to me. and the sound doesn't do much either.. gameplay is decent, although i just played startrek LE before this one so it felt quite slow... so i may be a bit hard on the rating.
7.920/10
8 years ago
Starship Troopers Sega, 1997
Seems like the consensus on sega pins is very negative, but all the ones i've played (including starship troopers) are pretty darn good fun.
8.140/10
8 years ago
Space Shuttle Williams, 1984
Space shuttle and sorcerer are rock solid mid 80's titles. Depending on the day one might make a case that this has better gameplay, but it's soundly beaten in the art dept. if you dig the theme this game is absolutely worth owning.
7.537/10
8 years ago
Time Machine Data East, 1988
A fun game, playfield layout feels a bit off but doesn't play horrible. The theme is excellent, the music is pretty good and the chimes are a nice touch.
8.356/10
8 years ago
The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard Data East, 1994
I like that british 'jackpot' callout. Pop a pinsound in this game and boom!
7.718/10
8 years ago
Star Trek (Pro) Stern, 2013
Intense. Great flow. Was my first nib. Owned about a year and was ready to move on. Still, it's a solid pin
7.903/10
8 years ago
Diner Williams, 1990
default settings are a bit soft, with a few adjustments this game can be one tough cookie. dine time is great, too bad it doesn't get more excited about the Jackpot like taxi. The music seems appropriate but didn't seem like cg's best work, I'm chalking it up to the theme being the least attractive feature for me, besides watching some happy days reruns I don't relate to the era it was meant for. it sounds like a negative review but really this game is beautiful with great feeling shots and a fun risk reward factor, that strangely reminded me of BSD.
8.724/10
8 years ago
Lord of the Rings Stern, 2003
Solid. I like shorter games, but you give that up here for deeper rules.
After owning one a while I have the reevaluate my opinion on longer ball times. The right rule set can make it work. One of the greats.
After owning one a while I have the reevaluate my opinion on longer ball times. The right rule set can make it work. One of the greats.
5.595/10
8 years ago
Johnny Mnemonic Williams, 1995
Johnny Snoremonic: That stupid hand kills it. Fast flowy till you wait four years to get a ball back. Also the call outs are awful.
8.135/10
9 years ago
Paragon Bally, 1979
king of the real wiiiidebody, this theme and art is timeless, and badass... plus it has shots for days and is brutal as hell.
6.645/10
9 years ago
Safe Cracker Bally, 1996
Fun, at least the first go.. last ability is questionable. It's unique, but the gameplay is meh.
5.759/10
9 years ago
Wizard of Oz Jersey Jack, 2013
The rules help, but this is not my kind of layout, where are the shots that satisfy? not on this table. the drain gimmicks to save your ball are neat. the upper flipper has one tucked away stand up target.. cmon!
7.678/10
9 years ago
High Speed Williams, 1986
Pretty amazing for everything to gel like it does in this game with so many firsts. Great flow, i wish the ball locks kicked out faster.
5.509/10
9 years ago
The Avengers (Pro) Stern, 2012
The game is fun, but the craftsmanship is complete garbage. I played a nib Tron built around the same time this came out. Stern can make solid games.. This one is a pile of cardboard.
7.330/10
9 years ago
Jungle Lord Williams, 1981
Caucasian2Step says it all. this game is a riot. too bad the art is hideous.
8.591/10
9 years ago
Banzai Run Williams, 1988
My buddy up the road got one and i'm glad he did.. this game is a ton of fun. I typically shy away from lawlor pins in general, but this one is very unique. The whole package works very well as a system 11 pin. Banzai call out never gets old. The lower playfield is brutal, lots of satisfying shots.
8.080/10
9 years ago
Sorcerer Williams, 1985
fast, fun, fair scoring and sweet art. choppin' wood kinda game. A bridge between early solid state and the more modern style play "Well done"
with lightning flippers.. it's appropriately brutal, very fast and has magical flow. It fills an older game itch perfectly.
with lightning flippers.. it's appropriately brutal, very fast and has magical flow. It fills an older game itch perfectly.
6.094/10
9 years ago
Star Wars Data East, 1992
I don't think much of this one. I think the starwars fanbois are carrying it over the finish line.
8.819/10
9 years ago
X-Men (LE) Stern, 2012
I rate it the same as pro. I don't see the added value between the two.
8.819/10
9 years ago
X-Men (Pro) Stern, 2012
Really sweet pin. The game is months old and every one i play lately looks like it's been on route since the 90s. Voices are a bit lame.
8.646/10
9 years ago
Medieval Madness Williams, 1997
fantastic game. Is it the king of the hill? That's debatable.
8.039/10
9 years ago
Police Force Williams, 1989
Awesome theme. love the art. Music rocks. Layout is cool, and unlimited millions is fun. The big negative here is that shooting the millions ramp over and over is a long term downer... And really the only thing worth shooting for points.
1.782/10
9 years ago
Spy Hunter Bally, 1984
Awful. just Awful. How did this go into production with such an awful layout?
8.158/10
9 years ago
King Tut Bally, 1969
I hate to get ems mixed in the same rankings as ss games.. This game stands out, way ahead of its time. Kickback, and a complete art package that really rocks the pants off similar era games.
8.381/10
9 years ago
Black Hole Gottlieb, 1981
A gottlieb I like! My all time favorite tilt sound. huge, wide open, and ridiculously fast. Very hard yet rewarding multiball.
8.301/10
9 years ago
Demolition Man Williams, 1994
Great flow, super fast for a widebody. Look past the backglass and this is a super fun game. They should've had Stallone and Snipes do more and better callouts, seems a bit repetitive for the era. to be fair Stallone calling out Replay! never gets old.
8.735/10
9 years ago
The Shadow Bally, 1994
This game has tons going on, deeper rules, tons of shots, multiple sweet gimmicks. Perba diverters really add a ton (7 shot combo) the battlefield is also a pretty neat gimmick. Rules have you shooting all over. Backglass is straight up awful, but I fixed mine day one.
8.570/10
9 years ago
El Dorado Gottlieb, 1975
If I was going to buy an EM, This game would be in the running.
8.514/10
9 years ago
Twilight Zone Bally, 1993
It's a very good game, seems like it has 10x more shots than TAF.
7.064/10
9 years ago
Black Rose Bally, 1992
Swing from the riggings is my all time favorite video mode, quick and cute. Game has really great flow, but lots of clunk, and I really dislike how much the cannon disrupts the ball near the flippers. It's a huge pain to get the cannon leveled even half decent. Cool mechanical gimmick, but ends up kind of ruining the game at the same time.
7.723/10
9 years ago
Theatre of Magic Bally, 1995
A dazzling game at first, but feels shallow before you know it.
8.083/10
9 years ago
Judge Dredd Bally, 1993
For sure a top 100 pin, probably not breaking top 50. Pretty sweet flow on the 4 flipper layout.
6.996/10
9 years ago
Guns N' Roses Data East, 1994
Top end DE game. TFTC is probably better.. widebody factor may be skewing the opinion of some.
7.846/10
9 years ago
Cirqus Voltaire Bally, 1997
This game looks so sweet.. but the play really was a letdown for me, maybe i'm rating it too harsh because of the letdown factor.
7.373/10
9 years ago
Scared Stiff Bally, 1996
Just seems like another shoot the middle pin to me.. maybe I need to clock more rounds on it.
7.359/10
10 years ago
AC/DC (Premium/LE) Stern, 2012
Fun game.. I don't understand the point of pop bumpers if the ball is just going to dribble out the same way every time.
8.892/10
10 years ago
Bram Stoker's Dracula Williams, 1993
Bought one as a project machine. It lives up to the reviews, strong one more game factor, excellent music, very hard. BRUTAL.
First pin i've sold and bought again. It's intense and rewarding when you make the stars align on this game.
First pin i've sold and bought again. It's intense and rewarding when you make the stars align on this game.
5.765/10
10 years ago
Scorpion Williams, 1980
Owned it for a month or two then flipped. Really sweet art, multiball widebody is fun. Audio package and light show are super weak for 1980, tons of games that year put it to shame.
8.167/10
10 years ago
King Pin Gottlieb, 1973
Played this with slightly mushy flippers and it was still very fun. Good EM
6.576/10
10 years ago
Space Mission Williams, 1976
Dunno what the hubub is about this game. Gradeschool friend had one in his basement.
9.560/10
10 years ago
White Water Williams, 1993
would love to own one. Original theme, good flow & rules.
Update:
Made a project of it and pieced one together. It deserves a place as one of the all time greats.
Update:
Made a project of it and pieced one together. It deserves a place as one of the all time greats.
7.913/10
10 years ago
Tales from the Crypt Data East, 1993
approachable for novice, hard shots and modes for the pro. sweet game. Music could have a better draw, but it does stay true to the theme. top end DE game. Owned it, loved it, sold it, don't miss it.
6.861/10
10 years ago
Earthshaker Williams, 1989
Beautiful game, good sounds.. and fun, at least enough to drop a pocket full of change. Gameplay has weak last-ability. Whirlwind, is as good in the looks and sound category, but lightyears better in gameplay. It's a very good system 11, but not even runner up to getting on the podium.
7.840/10
10 years ago
World Cup Soccer Bally, 1994
Just a sweet game. great flow. If it was an original theme it would be in the top ten or very close.
Sold it, I'm a sucker for original themes and had to bump one out. was feeling nostalgic for early williams sounds and picked up sorcerer.
Sold it, I'm a sucker for original themes and had to bump one out. was feeling nostalgic for early williams sounds and picked up sorcerer.
7.375/10
10 years ago
Road Show Williams, 1994
Two heads better than one? I think it would be a tough pick between this and funhouse
8.189/10
10 years ago
Tales of the Arabian Nights Williams, 1996
Very nice 90s pin. very cool, but not in my top 10
6.936/10
10 years ago
The Machine: Bride of Pinbot Williams, 1991
fun game. The layout has cool elements, unfortunately if you want your initials on the scoreboard all you do is keep shooting the left ramp, when she turns back its another half hour snooze fest till the theatrics are done. (Very cool the first couple times) solid pin for an arcade, Not to own.
8.283/10
10 years ago
Transformers (Pro) Stern, 2011
Tranformers do nothing for me, I thought it was a fun game.
7.756/10
10 years ago
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Stern, 2003
After playing some new Steve Ritchie games I kinda wonder how much he's been hamstrung by stern budget. I'm a little let down.
9.060/10
10 years ago
TRON: Legacy (Pro) Stern, 2011
I'm a sucker for Tron. Had the privilege of playing more than a couple rounds on a nib fresh out of the box. My rating has gone way up. Very fast game, crazy great flow once you get the muscle memory going. I like games with music that drives you when you get it singing. I considered TFTC borg's best game, till now.
6.923/10
10 years ago
Spring Break Gottlieb, 1987
Spuds mcKenzie! i dunno what the deal is.. the multiball off the line, hard to say. Spuds Factor brings the game up for me. kinda neat, and I really want to fall in love with a SS gottlieb
6.647/10
10 years ago
El Dorado City of Gold Gottlieb, 1984
Lots of drop targets. I could see the rating go up if i owned it and had things tuned up nice.
8.560/10
10 years ago
Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure Williams, 1993
Nice widebody action. We have top men working on it. WHO? TOP. MEN.
5.959/10
10 years ago
AC/DC (Pro) Stern, 2012
I was excited to play it, but am not impressed.
Update.. got a chance to play the LE, and loved it. the pro kinda sucks tho.
Update.. got a chance to play the LE, and loved it. the pro kinda sucks tho.
8.013/10
10 years ago
Batman (The Dark Knight) Stern, 2008
Good game. Stern seems to have a formula, approachable games with depth to keep the better players interested.
7.179/10
10 years ago
Black Knight Williams, 1980
Solid game, great theme.. J-Lord is same era and much better gameplay (but also very ugly)
7.728/10
10 years ago
Pirates of the Caribbean Stern, 2006
A fun game with lots going on. One thing I like about new stern pins is how approachable they are, but there's depth that will keep you interested. It makes up for some of the quality loss, most noticeable is the playfield surface.. it's no Williams.
5.940/10
10 years ago
Revenge From Mars Bally, 1999
I've wavered on pinball 2000.. I like pinball because it does crazy things a computer still can't copy on a screen. I guess it's more useful than a dot matrix screen that you hardly look at while playing.
6.086/10
10 years ago
Attack from Mars Bally, 1995
Maybe I need to play it more, but it's just not my style.. or something
8.691/10
10 years ago
Whirlwind Williams, 1990
One of the memorable games of my childhood, and the only one that I still hold in high regard.
6.722/10
10 years ago
Lost World Bally, 1978
A decent game for its age.. maybe a little bit of a miss compared to the better games of the era
8.031/10
10 years ago
NBA Fastbreak Bally, 1997
Much more fun than I thought, the layout goes well with the basketball theme. I just found out these can link up.. that bumps the rating up a fair amount for unique cool factor.
7.484/10
10 years ago
Big Guns Williams, 1987
A darker machine. Very similar to F-14 in that if you start slapping the ball willy nilly it's gonna drain quickly. Making this game sing (by saving the queen) is very difficult. Cannons are sweet, speed is very fast. I think the art is great all around. Music is good. lasting power not the greatest.
8.956/10
10 years ago
Fish Tales Williams, 1992
Fun original theme. I like all the games i've played with mark and python together in the credits. Games ebb and flow, i always really liked fish tales, but lately i'm lovin' it
8.333/10
10 years ago
FunHouse Williams, 1990
I haven't clocked much time on this pin. Rudy can be annoying, I like it much more than I thought I would.
8.319/10
10 years ago
F-14 Tomcat Williams, 1987
Fun game. I was winged as a naval flight officer, So i'm biased. More realistic radio chatter would've been cool. I like my games fast and this one makes the cut.
Traded off for TFTC, I miss it sometimes.
Traded off for TFTC, I miss it sometimes.
6.832/10
10 years ago
Star Trek Data East, 1991
My rating will probably go up after i get more time in cuz I like trek... so so right now
3.542/10
10 years ago
Tee'd Off Gottlieb, 1993
I want to like a ss Gottlieb. The search continues...
3.892/10
10 years ago
Bobby Orr's Power Play Bally, 1978
Buddy at work wants one for his second machine.. not my thing. How did this ever rank in top 100??
6.848/10
10 years ago
The Rolling Stones Stern, 2011
I really like most of the new sterns i've played.. I prefer original themes and generic band themes rank lowest with me for the licensed category. Although, a bowie pin might be cool.
7.949/10
10 years ago
Four Million B.C. Bally, 1971
Might be the best em i've played coming from a guy who's more into late 80's pin.
6.617/10
10 years ago
Space Invaders Bally, 1980
I could see warming up to this one over time. Right now it's not my bag.
7.568/10
10 years ago
Champion Pub Bally, 1998
Lots of neat gimmicks. last time I played it just wasn't drawing me in to go for another round.
7.871/10
10 years ago
Breakshot Capcom, 1996
Another weak modern pin that plays like a wood rail.
Update: Came back for another run at this pin and enjoyed it much more.
Update: Came back for another run at this pin and enjoyed it much more.
3.518/10
10 years ago
Flipper Football Capcom, 1996
Not a winner in my book. Ranks below slow weak flippered em's decades before my time.
9.895/10
10 years ago
Taxi Williams, 1988
I liked this game when I got it, and it's grown on me even more since then. if I could only keep one, this would be it.
6.705/10
10 years ago
Hurricane Williams, 1991
Owned the game. It can get quick. A drain monster. After you get a good multi ball run you see the hook. Flipped it for a Tomcat.
5.208/10
10 years ago
Gorgar Williams, 1979
I think because it's the first talking machine people have a ton of nostalgic value added. I'd buy one for the right price. The art is badass, and the heartbeat works well.
7.931/10
10 years ago
The Addams Family Bally, 1992
This game is probably the top 5 of everyone's list for a reason. otoh, Lawlor pins are doing less and less for me lately. This one is riding on more nostalgia than gameplay
6.149/10
10 years ago
Aztec Williams, 1976
I can't say i don't like it because it's an old slow EM machine.. cuz there's EM's that I really like. I played it because it was there, not because I went there to play it.
8.314/10
10 years ago
Pinbot Williams, 1986
My aunt had one in her basement. The eyes in the robot head for multi ball is the coolest... legendary game. Fantastic music & sound. only down side is I'm a flow guy and this layout has nil in that category.
7.813/10
10 years ago
Black Knight 2000 Williams, 1989
Great game, was top of my wanted list when I got into pinball. It gradually slid down my list over time, but I finally scored one!
8.244/10
10 years ago
Alien Poker Williams, 1980
First pin, so i'm biased. I enjoy the pace of the game, you can play it slow or thrash it out and it can get pretty fast. Lots of shots to make. Robo alien voices are sweet! I think its excellent for the era. This game has much better lastability than I expected.
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