middaleman's ratings
Pinsider middaleman has rated 47 machines.
This page shows all all these ratings, and forms middaleman's personal top 47.
Rating comments
6.434/10
4 years ago
I don't entirely get the hype. It's not a bad game by any stretch, but it doesn't do anything particularly special for me I guess? It's kinda ugly IMO. I'm not a dinosaur / JP fan particularly so all of that is completely lost on me, and as just a game, it's fine. It's fun.
Shots are decent I suppose. I don't mind shooting it.
Not anything even close to a top 10 though. Or top 20. IM is SO SO much better.
Sophomore slump FTW.
Shots are decent I suppose. I don't mind shooting it.
Not anything even close to a top 10 though. Or top 20. IM is SO SO much better.
Sophomore slump FTW.
7.632/10
4 years ago
Tales of the Arabian Nights Williams, 1996
Finally got to spend a good amount of time with this game and I see what the hype is about. Really fun game.
5.806/10
4 years ago
Congo Williams, 1995
Here lies the classic example of a so-so game that all of the pinball nerds have decided they love now. The trend of reviews spells it out pretty clearly. It's an incredibly average example of games of it's time. Nothing really innovate or particularly interesting about it, other than they were cheap and easy to get hold of until someone suddenly decided it was now cool to like it. It's definitely not a bad game, it has some interesting shots and can feel rewarding to shoot, but it is DEFINITELY not a top 50 all time game. (Go ahead pinside nerds, downgrade my review. You know you want to. It still counts.)
5.742/10
4 years ago
Munsters (Premium) Stern, 2019
A big heaping pile of yawn. Fun for new players maybe? Lacks depth. It's not a bad game, it's just not a lot of fun. Pinball should be, above all else, fun.
7.352/10
4 years ago
Black Knight Sword of Rage (Pro) Stern, 2019
Black Knight without an upper playfield? Sorry, no. I want this to be better than it is. It just isn't. It's not bad. It just isn't great. It should be great.
7.672/10
4 years ago
Black Knight Sword of Rage (Premium) Stern, 2019
Man, I really want to LOVE this game. I just don't LOVE this game. It's fun. The knight toy is amazing. It's fast. The music is awesome. The modes are great. The animations and voice work is excellent. Somehow, for me, it just doesn't come together in a comprehensive way that makes me want to keep coming back, and I can't put my finger on exactly why that is. Maybe it's because the upper playfield is kind of a waste? Which for a BK game makes me sad. Not sure. Good game, just not what I was hoping for.
6.782/10
4 years ago
Oktoberfest American Pinball, 2018
After a code update this game has gotten much better. Rules are deep, but easy to follow. I enjoy shooting it now. Still don't like the magnets that toss your ball about randomly, and the music can get grating, but much improved.
2.915/10
4 years ago
Cosmic Carnival Suncoast, 2019
Well there's $5 I'll never get back. This is a train wreck of an unfinished, poorly designed game that has no business being put into production. Bugs galore, bad shot layout, nothing even mildly original or interesting. How did this POS make it out the door?
9.616/10
4 years ago
Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Pro) Stern, 2018
I like the Premium better, but still.... one of the best games of all time.
8.896/10
4 years ago
Star Trek (Pro) Stern, 2013
Such a great game. Love the flow and combos. I don't think SR (or anyone else ) has made a game that does a better job of rewarding players who can keep the ball moving, hitting shots without having to stop and aim. The music and call outs are excellent, the light show is bright (sometimes a little too bright) and colorful. Overall definitely a top 10 pin for me. WARP 1, WARP 2, WARP 3....
5.651/10
4 years ago
Houdini American Pinball, 2017
This game is difficult to the point of being un-fun. Maybe if I owned one I would enjoy it more, and not sitting in an arcade putting dollar after dollar into it in an attempt to get the shots down. I gave up. (yeah, yeah, playgud) When I'm paying $1 a play a game needs to grab me at some level, and this one did not. It is pretty though, I'll give em that.
4.220/10
4 years ago
Dialed In Jersey Jack, 2017
Let me preface this by saying I am NOT a Pat Lawlor fan. His games are too start/stop for me. Weird layouts. Too much **** on the playfield. Having said that, Jersey Jack games are awful. All of them. No idea what this theme on this one is supposed to be. I hate BOB. I don't understand the point of the theater or the selfies or the bluetooth and how they fit into the theme. As usual it's just a bunch of bad ideas all thrown against a wall to see what sticks. The flow on this game is just awful. Different people like different things in pinball machines, and so you have to have one for every taste, but even given that this one is a giant dud for me. Doesn't help that half of the ones I've played have been broken in some way. Typical JJP.
8.200/10
5 years ago
KISS (Premium) Stern, 2015
Fun game. Better than I was lead to believe it was. As a KISS fan, it hits the right notes for me.
8.042/10
5 years ago
Firepower Williams, 1980
A classic SR. Fast, crazy, so much fun. Getting the multiball is so satisfying, and it added so many revolutionary things to the pinball genre. Have better games been made since? Absolutely, but FP holds up even after nearly 40 years.
3.233/10
5 years ago
Star Trek: The Next Generation Williams, 1993
One of the most over rated games in pinball. I have come to the conclusion that pinball nerds have an annual contest to decide which awful game they are going to decide to love next in some pathetic show of nerdom glory, ignoring the fact that it's without a doubt the ugliest pinball machine ever made, has the clunkiest most abstract toys ever, bad artwork and poorly laid out shots. Steve really pooped the bed with this one. I own 4 SR games, and wouldn't hit start on STTNG if it was set on free play much less put money into one. Right up there with TZ in the "dorks loves bad games" top 5. (Now is when the dorks flag my review and then rush back to the forums to trolls each other about which color rubber looks best on the right sling of insert game title here). Wouldn't put it in my collection if someone gave it to me.
5.443/10
5 years ago
Pirates of the Caribbean (LE) Jersey Jack, 2018
Awful. Just awful. Awful shots, jerky, the ship is dumb and adds nothing. Going to be a maintenance nightmare. Too busy, too much going on. Seems rushed and poorly thought out. The Typical JJP “let’s see how many gimmicks we can shove into a game, playability be damned!”
7.063/10
5 years ago
Star Wars (Pro) Stern, 2017
I hate middle buttons and video modes. This game PROMINENTLY features a middle button and a video mode. It's dependent on the middle button and the video mode. Boo.
6.959/10
5 years ago
Deadpool (Limited Edition) Stern, 2018
Slightly better than the Pro, but not by much. Still WAY too easy. Call outs are NOT funny. This pin should be edgier and funnier. And more fun to shoot.
7.532/10
5 years ago
Medieval Madness Williams, 1997
I don't know why this game is #2, but I do enjoy it. Perfect entry level, beginner game. Not super deep, but fun toys and easy to grasp. This is the game that got my daughter into pinball, so for that I give it an A+.
6.566/10
5 years ago
Wizard of Oz Jersey Jack, 2013
Just do NOT get this game. I do not find it even remotely enjoyable to shoot. Beautiful game. Not even slightly fun to me.
7.364/10
5 years ago
Deadpool (Pro) Stern, 2018
Solid game. BEAUTIFUL to look at IMO. WAY too easy. Should be funnier. Should be dirtier. Still not bad.
8.460/10
5 years ago
Spider-Man Stern, 2007
Fun game. Feels like an updated version of AFM, which is obv an all time classic. Shoots really well, very satisfying. Good layout, like the modes, fun theme. Really good game.
4.791/10
5 years ago
Pirates of the Caribbean Jersey Jack, 2018
My favorite thing about Pinside is the losers who flag reviews who aren't glowing of the game they spend their lonely nights at home humping. I’ve put a few dozen plays into this game and it just isn’t fun. What in the heck was JJ thinking? I hit start and have to pick from one of 22 different characters?!? The layout is weird. It’s brutal to shoot. I’m sure it will get the usual new game hype but this is a total flop. Worse than WOZ. JJ took a step forward with Dialed In. It was tough and had some oddity in the layout, but was rewarding to shoot. This is a HUGE leap backwards for them.
9.280/10
5 years ago
Batman 66 (Premium) Stern, 2016
This game has grown on me. Every code update adds more stuff, more fun, improves the game. The first time I played it, meh, but now... this is quite a great game. Good shots, lots to do, I love the stacking of the villains to add buffs. Sequence matters. There are lots of ways to play this game. So much fun. It's amazing how far it has come.
7.664/10
5 years ago
Big Guns Williams, 1987
I really enjoy this game. It's not one I'd need to own, cause I think it would get old really fast, but it's original and quirky and fun to throw a few quarters in. I absolutely LOVE the artwork on this game, and the fire the guns gimmick is cool. Solid game.
7.425/10
5 years ago
Jack*Bot Williams, 1995
It's pinbot, only it isn't. Fun game. I like the other 2 games better, but nothing wrong with Jackbot at all.
7.194/10
5 years ago
F-14 Tomcat Williams, 1987
A solid shooter. Not the deepest or most exciting game ever, but it's good for a few plays every time I see it. I'm partial to any table where it's you against the game, and the dog fight aspect of this and the taunts pull me in every time.
7.848/10
5 years ago
Lord of the Rings Stern, 2003
Good game. Not quite as good as some make it out to be, but it's fun to play and has a solid rule set and some tough shots.
7.891/10
5 years ago
Gorgar Williams, 1979
One of the best looking games of all time. The artwork is second to none. Simply stunning. Game play is of the era. Simple, fun, challenging. I will never forget the first time I heard "Gorgar speaks!" come out of those speaker. Any game that taunts the player gets bonus points from me. Gorgar beat you.
7.924/10
5 years ago
The Getaway: High Speed II Williams, 1992
Another case where as much as I hate to say it, the sequel is the better game. High Speed is my sentimental favorite, but Getaway adds enough twists to put it over the top. Fast, fun, everything you'd ever want in a pinball machine. SR at the top of his game.
7.117/10
5 years ago
Star Wars (Premium) Stern, 2017
Any game where you have to mash a third button is dumb, and the video mode in this is WAY too much a part of the game. I want to play pinball not dodge asteroids. Great theme obv. Pretty game. Recently got to play it on the updated ROM and it's better. Still too much dodging asteroids. The game STILL hates you. Also still too one dimensional, but it's improved.
8.804/10
5 years ago
Theatre of Magic Bally, 1995
Another pinball classic. One of the few games that pulls off deep rule set with playability. Lots to do, great toys, amazing theming. Not much to not like about this one.
8.740/10
5 years ago
The Machine: Bride of Pinbot Williams, 1991
Top 10 game all time for me. Love the theme, love the build up, love the sound effects, love the shots. This era of games is my sweet spot, so I admit I'm partial. Pinbot is the original classic, but low key this is actuality the better game.
9.760/10
5 years ago
Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Premium) Stern, 2018
Play this game in a crowded arcade and you can avoid having to listen to Iron Maiden the entire time. Great game. Maybe the best of the Stern rock games (AC/DC?). I'm not a big IM fan, but if you are the use of their music is excellent and the call outs, animations, art work, layout, challenge and fun of this game is almost impossible to beat. Love it.
6.581/10
5 years ago
The Walking Dead (Premium) Stern, 2014
Way to blow a theme fellas. The not actually the actors call out are just unbelievably awful. Like, ruin the game awful. Just stop. The theming is on point, but the game play is just ok. The flow is off, it's a one note game. I kept going back hoping I would warm up to it, but never did. Very, very meh.
8.920/10
5 years ago
Attack From Mars (Remake - LE) Chicago Gaming Co., 2017
The day I get tired of hearing "MULTIBALL!" blast out of those speakers will be the day I give up pinball forever.
7.874/10
5 years ago
Pinbot Williams, 1986
The classic. One of my early favorites. Still some of the best theming and design in pinball. Sure it was surpassed by Bride, but this is one I can never walk past. When set up properly (which is rare) it's one of the top 10 games of all time.
6.190/10
5 years ago
The Hobbit Jersey Jack, 2016
Slow. Boring. Like most other Jersey Jack games, incredibly meh overall.
3.654/10
5 years ago
Twilight Zone Bally, 1993
Here is a classic example of pinheads thinking a table is good simply because it's overly complicated. Not a good game at all, no flow, totally stop and go which is awful, weird layout with the extra flippers, HATE the plunger, entirely too much to remember. The design of a game should be intuitive on at least some level. Theming is OK I suppose? It's just not fun which is 100% what a game should be about. Excessively over rated. (LOL people flagging my review cause I don’t like their favorite game. Typical Pinside. Losers.)
7.628/10
5 years ago
World Cup Soccer Bally, 1994
Fun game, love the call outs. Not a soccer fan, so it drops a few points off for me.
9.840/10
5 years ago
Total Nuclear Annihilation Spooky Pinball, 2017
This game had me at jump. As someone who grew up in the early days of SS, this game nails it. If you enjoy High Speed and games of that Williams era you will LOVE TNA. Fast, deadly, the sounds, music and call outs nail it. A few innovate features here and there (ball locks, CoOp) but the true glory of this game is the simple, fun, challenging layout. Scott has proven you don't need ramps and toys and other gimmicks to make a great game. Did I mention fast? Everything about this game requires your undivided attention or it's drain city. From the flipper plunges to the scoop, the balls will be flying fast and furious. I get why it's not for everyone. Younger players and those with ADD used to jumping ghosts and bluetooth will claim it's too simple. Less skilled players will get sick of watching the ball drain over and over, but make no mistake, there is plenty here to see and do and more than enough challenge for even the most hardened player. Kudos to Spooky for bringing back the lost art of fast, fun, crazy pinball with instructions that actually fit on the instruction card.
EDIT : So I purchased and finally got a TNA. Living with this game has confirmed everything I said before. It's #1 with a bullet. So simple, so difficult, so frustrating and yet so ridiculously rewarding and fun. If you don't get this game you don't love pinball, period. It's pinball in it's purest form.
EDIT : So I purchased and finally got a TNA. Living with this game has confirmed everything I said before. It's #1 with a bullet. So simple, so difficult, so frustrating and yet so ridiculously rewarding and fun. If you don't get this game you don't love pinball, period. It's pinball in it's purest form.
9.740/10
5 years ago
AC/DC (Premium) Stern, 2012
Just a classic. Fast, good flow, good shots. Love that the songs impact scoring and game play. The call outs are perfect. If you don't love hitting the bell you are dead inside. It's all about the multiplier folks. About as close to a perfect game as you can get.
8.105/10
5 years ago
High Speed Williams, 1986
Steve Richie at the top of his game. This is the one that really started it for me. My first true love. Great flow, super fast, just a total blast to play. Sure, there are deeper games, faster games, funner games, but few hold in place in my heart like High Speed. A classic.
7.716/10
20 years ago
Revenge From Mars Bally, 1999
In some ways I actually like this better than the original, but mostly not. Too bad Williams gave up before making more games with this platform, but at least they pulled this one off. Great humor, good flow, fun game.
