ReadyPO's ratings

Most of the games you will see are the Collector's edition because of the value/how it looks. However gameplay is the same on all three versions, and this game has a lot going for it from both the software (which has undergone multi updates and continues to be updated), and the unique playfield - a standard body playfield in a wide body cabinet. This allows for five ramps which represent the five Scooby Doo gang members. This is a great pin in a home environment. You can play as each of the characters, each with their own attributes. Based on the 1969 original classic with the original villains. This pin keeps getting better and better.

Most of the games you will see are the Collector's edition because of the value/how it looks. However gameplay is the same on all three versions, and this game has a lot going for it from both the software (which has undergone multi updates and continues to be updated), and the unique playfield - a standard body playfield in a wide body cabinet. This allows for five ramps which represent the five Scooby Doo gang members. This is a great pin in a home environment. You can play as each of the characters, each with their own attributes. Based on the 1969 original classic with the original villains. This pin keeps getting better and better.

Most of the games you will see are the Collector's edition because of the value/how it looks. However gameplay is the same on all three versions, and this game has a lot going for it from both the software (which has undergone multi updates and continues to be updated), and the unique playfield - a standard body playfield in a wide body cabinet. This allows for five ramps which represent the five Scooby Doo gang members. This is a great pin in a home environment. You can play as each of the characters, each with their own attributes. Based on the 1969 original classic with the original villains. This pin keeps getting better and better.

Great music, of course, but that is about where the accolades end. Side ramp and electric magic do make this an improvement over the pro model.

Great music, of course, but that is about where the accolades end. Side ramp and electric magic do make this an improvement over the pro model.

You can always tell when a license costs too much. Here is one instance where the pro really is stripped down.

One of the best music pins that really integrates the pin with the music. Love the Cannon and the Bell. Prefer the Luci Premium art but overall, a great pin that is fun to play with great song choices. Lower table with mini flippers

One of the best music pins that really integrates the pin with the music. Love the Cannon and the Bell. Prefer the Luci Premium art but overall, a great pin that is fun to play with great song choices.

One of the best music pins that really integrates the pin with the music. Love the Cannon and the Bell. Prefer the Luci Premium art but overall, a great pin that is fun to play with great song choices.

Super soundtrack, cannon and hells bell toys. no lower playfield, which does not detract much from gameplay.

Great Art, song choices and a cool toy (toybox) make this a great pin in a collection. Not the best music pin, but overall well done - it definitely feels like an Aerosmith Pin, not something else with a skin job. As with all Spike system pins, I wonder how much work will be needed to keep it running through the years.

Great Art, song choices and a cool toy (toybox) make this a great pin in a collection. Not the best music pin, but overall well done - it definitely feels like an Aerosmith Pin, not something else with a skin job. As with all Spike system pins, I wonder how much work will be needed to keep it running through the years.

The LE has the pop up spinning disk portal, which is cool. However, it also has the Captain Marvel inverse gravity custom wireform ramp, which I have found to be very hard to hit and have the ball go all away around. I have only played on location, so I don't know if this can be dialed in somewhat, but it is frustrating.

The premium has the pop up spinning disk portal, which is cool. However, it also has the Captain Marvel inverse gravity custom wireform ramp, which I have found to be very hard to hit and have the ball go all away around. I have only played on location, so I don't know if this can be dialed in somewhat, but it is frustrating.

The pro is missing the pop up disk scoop and subway, which is a cool part of the premium/le. However, it is also missing the Captain Marvel inverse gravity custom wireform ramp which rejects a lot of shops unless the machine is really dialed in, so in this case I think the pro is better.

I also had a chance to play Magic Girl at Expo this year, finally completed by @applejuice and the Dutch team and am very glad to have had the opportunity. Obviously, this is a fully working machine that is, for the most part, complete. The most important thing is it was fun to play! With long lines, I didn't get as much time on it as I would have liked, so I can not go into much depth on this review, but I also stayed and watched gameplay by others and I can honestly say, this is a pretty immersive experience that I feel has that play it again feeling. I am not a Circus Voltaire fan though I do like TOTAN and Theater of Magic well enough, and there is kind of that feeling here.

What I liked:
Art package, especially the Backglass
Callouts
Flipper feeling
Levitating ball (which I didn't get but saw others get)

What needs work:
Still some work on base code/modes. With just a few working of these around, that will probably be a while coming. There were some ball hangups as well.

Mixed feelings:
Heads up display instead of in the BG. The kind of thing you need multiple plays to get use to I think.
Extra Buttons for Magna Save/Reversing the disk - just like the heads up, will need multiple plays to get use to these.

Overall Impression
If this had been the delivered product originally, I think it would have been a hit. Not sure if where modern pinball is today and the history surrounding this machine makes it viable in production - but I would definitely play it on route. Buy it for my home collection? Maybe - price would be a factor, further code updates, tweaks to address ball hangups. I have to say, though, HATS OFF to the team that brought Magic Girl to life! A very worthwhile project and I was thrilled to have a chance to play it!

UPDATE Oct 2023
Had the chance to play this again this year at Expo. The kickout kept putting the ball SDTM, and the heads up display is very hard to see. Adjusted rating slightly downward, the kickout can be adjusted but the more I played the more I found the display location annoying.

With a good art package and theme integration, If you are a Mandalorian fan, you will like this game. If you are not, you will like this game for what it is, but it is more in the vein of Munsters than say Jurassic Park or Godzilla. Pretty standard fan layout. The Prem/LE add the Grogu force magnet and the Mandalorian helmet tilting playfield. These are not essential to gameplay but do make the experience on the Prem/LE a little more engaging.

With a good art package and theme integration, If you are a Mandalorian fan, you will like this game. If you are not, you will like this game for what it is, but it is more in the vein of Munsters than say Jurassic Park or Godzilla. Pretty standard fan layout. The Prem/LE add the Grogu force magnet and the Mandalorian helmet tilting playfield. These are not essential to gameplay but do make the experience on the Prem/LE a little more engaging.

With a good art package and theme integration, If you are a Mandalorian fan, you will like this game. If you are not, you will like this game for what it is, but it is more in the vein of Munsters than say Jurassic Park or Godzilla. Pretty standard fan layout. No Grogu magnet or tilting playfield that is on the Prem/LE.

A great game that lives up to the hype. The the mechs are great and add a lot to the total experience, though the building and bridge don't necessary need to be animated to enjoy the game (but who are we kidding - the building sinking is way cool!) Art looks good on all the versions, IMO. What a modern pin should be - a well integrated theme, good use of IP, great rule set that has the combination of easy to play for causal player to more in-depth modes and objectives.

A great game that lives up to the hype. The the mechs are great and add a lot to the total experience, though the building and bridge don't necessary need to be animated to enjoy the game (but who are we kidding - the building sinking is way cool!) Art looks good on all the versions, IMO, but I do like the premium the best with Ghidorah.

What a modern pin should be - a well integrated theme, good use of IP, great rule set that has the combination of easy to play for causal player to more in-depth modes and objectives.

A great game that lives up to the hype. The pro is missing the mechs but still provides a pretty good experience. Art on the pro looks as good as the other versions, IMO. What a modern pin should be - a well integrated theme, good use of IP, great rule set that has the combination of easy to play for causal player to more in-depth modes and objectives.

Not a fan of JJP Flippers, always seem weak. Upper PF is a good addition to the CE and LE versions. Not a huge GNR fan but the included songs are pretty good.

Not a fan of JJP Flippers, always seem weak. Upper PF on this version is a plus. Not a huge GNR fan but the included songs are pretty good.

Not a fan of JJP Flippers, always seem weak. No upper PF on this version, and it is missed. Not a huge GNR fan but the included songs are pretty good.

Overall a very fun game with a cool layout. Captive ball, drop targets magnetic diverter and some great skill shots. New code really improved the rules and puts this game where it needs to be. The LE also the ghost hologram target with animations, and magnetic action slingshots. This game is tough but fun.

Overall a very fun game with a cool layout. Captive ball, drop targets magnetic diverter and some great skill shots. New code really improved the rules and puts this game where it needs to be. This game is tough but fun.

LOV has a well developed theme, shoots great and overall is cohesive. The modes make sense and I like the viking ship ball lock. I played several games at Expo and did not lose interest. The issues for me were the cost of the LE verses what was included in that version. I found better value in other games. If a standard of this is made at a reduced cost (is that even possible now?) it might be more in line with the value.

The artwork is ok, not the best but not the worst. Soundtrack is great. Where it falls short for me is the animations (or lack of). I also wish the viking ship was shaped more like a viking ship.

American build quality, as always, is excellent.

I have had a chance to play both Ultraman and Halloween, early in the production run of both. I understand the appeal of Halloween and the larger run, but the Ultraman theme means much more to me as it is something my brother and I could not get enough of when we were young (along with Johnny Socko and Giant Robot - the two shows aired back to back). I will tell you in my opinion that the art on the CE may be one of the best art packages of all times. Here is a pin that I would showcase on the end of an aisle so as not to obscure the cabinet art.

The playfield is also quite beautiful, and the unique layout with the three playfields is interesting, and in a world of fan layouts, different (and that is a good thing). The gameplay, at that early stage of development, however, left me (and my wife) feeling a little Meh, to be honest. In a tournament, my ball got stuck behind the drop target on the middle PF, and the ball search did not drop the target so the ball remained stuck and required a glass removal to retrieve. The call outs were ok, the video ok, and sound effects, well, just ok.

I believe the pins were rushed out, maybe to beat Stern's Godzilla release, with good reason. That said, I have watched the Ultraman threads, and since the version I played, there has been two code updates (Current version 1.05) with more promised, and I think just like Rick & Morty, each code release will continue to address many if not all of the issues brought up. Luke with Spooky is active on the owner's thread, and I fully believe there will be at least several other code updates. I am so encouraged that I bought a CE spot (at a very good price) and look forward to delivery soon enough, and will reevaluate my review at that time.

UPDATE: Code 1.07 just released with the Zetton wizard mode being revamped and a wizard mode startup from menu was added. A whole lot of of updates including lighting improvements and several bug fixes. Another wizard/expert mode in the works, as well as more content - this game is getting the software to match the terrific artwork and theme in steady and carefully planned updates.

UPDATE: On Code 1.13 now (and expecting code 1.14 soon). New mini mode, better use of spacium, lots of little bud fixes and enhancements - what a difference from day one, code is very mature and the game is infinitely better than the first code version.

I wish this was based on the Ryan Reynolds Movie pin, not the comic. Reynolds callouts would have matched the excellent game play so much better. Instead of that paying that licensing fee, it is clear Stern spent the money on the PF and this is a good trade off. The pin is packed with a lot of features. 3 banks of drop targets, 2 spinners, the Katana Sword, stand up targets Hell House scoop and more. The LE adds more drop banks instead of the stand-ups, an extra control gate, an up/down ramp in the shooter lane, the disco ball, some toys and premium sound over the pro.

I wish this was based on the Ryan Reynolds Movie pin, not the comic. Reynolds callouts would have matched the excellent game play so much better. Instead of that paying that licensing fee, it is clear Stern spent the money on the PF and this is a good trade off. The pin is packed with a lot of features. 3 banks of drop targets, 2 spinners, the Katana Sword, stand up targets Hell House scoop and more. The premium adds more drop banks instead of the stand-ups, an extra control gate, an up/down ramp in the shooter lane, the disco ball and some toys over the pro.

I wish this was based on the Ryan Reynolds Movie pin, not the comic. Reynolds callouts would have matched the excellent game play so much better. Instead of that paying that licensing fee, it is clear Stern spent the money on the PF and this is a good trade off. The pin is packed with a lot of features. 3 banks of drop targets, 2 spinners, the Katana Sword, stand up targets Hell House scoop and more. Bang for buck, this is one of the pro models that has a lot of game play with very little lost over the premium/LE models.

Its OK. No spinners, rollovers instead. Get the ball in one of the Gun Smoke Holes or Lanes and press the button on the front of the cabinet to maximize points. Has a ball saver too.

Super deep ruleset and fun to play. Theme won't appeal to some, but never annoying like I feel South Park gets. The garage shot is so good it ended up in R&M :)

This game is hard but very rewarding at the same time. It integrates it theme well, and put an Aurich BG on instead of the original, and it looks cool too. The Shadow is unrated because of the theme - game play, integration of the modes and overall fun factor are here. The game requires some maintenance to keep running (Phurbas, Battlefield) but a well tuned table is a treat.

For a third Elvira pin, EHOH did not rest on it laurels. This pin is beautiful, plays great and has enough depth to be a long term fixture in any gameroom. I get the free content of the old movies (that is why Elivera's Movie Macabre TV Show used them in the first place) but calling them cheesy is being kind. Not much criticism for an otherwise outstanding pin!

For a third Elvira pin, EHOH did not rest on it laurels. This pin is beautiful, plays great and has enough depth to be a long term fixture in any gameroom. I get the free content of the old movies (that is why Elivera's Movie Macabre TV Show used them in the first place) but calling them cheesy is being kind. Not much criticism for an otherwise outstanding pin!

My spouse doesn't like this game because she doesn't like Red and Ted (She doesn't like Rudy from Funhouse either). I like the theme having been in Civil Engineering consulting for much of my career, and this pin is definitely true to it's theme. Cities can be repetitive but I understand the new Soren mod makes some good changes in that area - would definitely like to play a version with the new code. Overall, this pin is probably under rated and maybe I did a little too.

This is a great game and a great mashup of Rock and Roll and Universal Monsters. It has some great art and that play it again feeling. Shallower than modern games, and not first on my list for my collection, but I will play on location every time. Solid George Gomez designed pin.

This is a great game and a great mashup of Rock and Roll and Universal Monsters. It has some great art and that play it again feeling. Shallower than modern games, and not first on my list for my collection, but I will play on location every time. Solid George Gomez designed pin.

This is a great game and a great mashup of Rock and Roll and Universal Monsters. It has some great art and that play it again feeling. Shallower than modern games, and not first on my list for my collection, but I will play on location every time. Solid George Gomez designed pin.

This is a great game and a great mashup of Rock and Roll and Universal Monsters. It has some great art and that play it again feeling. Shallower than modern games, and not first on my list for my collection, but I will play on location every time. Solid George Gomez designed pin.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

This is a game where entry level folks can play and have a great time, and more skilled players have defeating the King of Payne to shoot for. The theme is universal and the more you play, the more fun it is. Bashing the castle and the trolls never gets old for me. Can be a little unbalanced (hit the castle over and over), but along with AFM and the Shadow, this Brian Eddy pin still holds up as one of the GOAT.

Same as the Blood Sucker Edition, minus the trim:
So, I didn't even know about Rick & Morty before this pin came out. Once it did, I educated myself and if you like Rick & Morty, you will like this pin. The content from the show is terrific, and Spooky appears to be far from done with adding more. All the main characters and adventures are there, and don't forget the R rated version if you want to be berated about your pinball skills more colorfully. Yes, some clunky shots out of the factory, but for the most part these have been fixed or fixes have been posted. Also some potential issues with a few parts durability, but overall out of the gate this is a terrific effort for Spooky. Too bad it was limited to 750 pins, could have easily sold another 750 or more.

So, I didn't even know about Rick & Morty before this pin came out. Once it did, I educated myself and if you like Rick & Morty, you will like this pin. The content from the show is terrific, and Spooky appears to be far from done with adding more. All the main characters and adventures are there, and don't forget the R rated version if you want to be berated about your pinball skills more colorfully. Yes, some clunky shots out of the factory, but for the most part these have been fixed or fixes have been posted. Also some potential issues with a few parts durability, but overall out of the gate this is a terrific effort for Spooky. Too bad it was limited to 750 pins, could have easily sold another 750 or more.

Theme is well integrated with game play. The Path to Adventure seems hard to keep working as intended, there have been issues with 2 of the 3 I have played here. Great callouts, music, and balanced game play. Overall an excellent pin.

Surprising to me, this game is a lot of fun! It is not a theme I would ever think I would like, but it is very well integrated between game play, animations and art. Super easy to understand the rules and the wrecking ball really works well with the game. It may get old after a while in the game room, but I would have no problem put a few quarters in this on location.

For the first effort out of the gate, Haggis has made a pretty solid pin at a reasonable price. It is a single level playfield with an in-field screen, and a little bit of everything - 2 scoops, 8 standup targets, 4 drops and 3 flippers. I found the center horseshoe (Caber Toss) a just little hard to hit, but I played an early model at Expo. Otherwise, the flow was good, the rules were easy to understand and overall fun to play. The art is well done as well.

Great Art Work, Upper PF, super fast and super hard - what else do you want from a Pinball? Too bad the movie hasn't held up as well as the pin has over the years. If you only had one early Bally SS in your collection - this is a top contender. If you want to be reminded your pinball skills are not as good as you think - this is the game to play!

F-14 is definitely a fast game. It has a great multiball and killing General Yagov feels pretty darn good. The game theme is very well integrated with game play. It is not real deep, but IMO, doesn't need to be - it does what it needs to do (like a fighter pilot - get in, get the mission accomplished, get out). It can be repetitive, and the pop needs to be working well or game play suffers. Overall, it has a just one more game feeling for me!

I told myself I wouldn't start this review with "Gorgar Speaks!", but come on, the first talking pin gets a full six rating for sound and speech. The pin has a pretty good art package and is fun enough to play but it would not be my first choice in a small collection. A good spinner to rip, some drop banks, stand up targets, a saucer and a magnet in the pit. The art won't fit in everyone's game room but is tame enough if macabre is not your thing. If it is, you will want this classic next to EATPM or TWD.

Played this at Expo in 19. It is a fast game and fits the theme very well. I really liked the theme and it is carried throughout the game. It is a single level game with standup targets and four flippers, but the upper loop is fast and reminds me a little of the super charger in HSII when you use the upper flipper to keep the ball in the loop. It definitely has that one more game feel.

This is a classic pin, played as a kid at the local Tastee Freeze and have it in my collection now. Very iconic and fun to play but as an early SS, not much to the sound. It you owned one early Bally SS Pin, this is a good one. It won't compare playwise to a modern day pin, but it still makes me smile while playing it.

Its got an upper PF that isn't bad. Artwork is ok, BG has some nice elements but overall the art package isn't really tied together with the theme (is pinball champ really a theme?). There are a lot of things to shoot for including a spinner, drop targets and ramps to the upper PF. Uneven scoring and it should have been more fun to play than it was for me.

This is a nice effort by Quetzal Pinball. The artwork is really good, though I must admit I don't like the sailor in the yellow raincoat, I picture that as more of a fisherman thing. The play is ok, not real deep but engaging enough. I enjoyed playing it, though I doubt it would keep me coming back again and again. You can see the evolution of this company from this pin in 2015 to Tokyo Perfect Drift in 2018, which is much more polished all the way around.

I have Pinbot, and have played the Bride on location many times. The evolution from Pinbot's Eyes to the Brides whole face is obvious, and the mechanism works great. The artwork is great, especially the BG. Still, it does seem somewhat like a one trick pony, so I will stick with Pinbot for my home collection.

This is a great game, it's theming is excellent and there is a lot of playability. The remakes with larger, color DMDs are great, and this game benefits greatly from going color on the DMD. Looks good with the green powercoated rails and legs and the topper is totally awesome! Find it a lot of fun on location, but I would not call it a deep game and though I would like one in my collection, I keep pushing it back for other games. Still, a classic pin that defines an era.

This is a great game, it's theming is excellent and there is a lot of playability. The remakes with larger, color DMDs are great, and this game benefits greatly from going color on the DMD. Looks good with the green powercoated rails and legs. Find it a lot of fun on location, but I would not call it a deep game and though I would like one in my collection, I keep pushing it back for other games. Still, a classic pin that defines an era.

This is a great game, it's theming is excellent and there is a lot of playability. The remakes with larger, color DMDs are great, and this game benefits greatly from going color on the DMD. Find it a lot of fun on location, but I would not call it a deep game and though I would like one in my collection, I keep pushing it back for other games. Still, a classic pin that defines an era.

This is a great game, it's theming is excellent and there is a lot of playability. The remakes with larger, color DMDs are great, and this game benefits greatly from going color on the DMD. Find it a lot of fun on location, but I would not call it a deep game and though I would like one in my collection, I keep pushing it back for other games. Still, a classic pin that defines an era.

As others have mentioned, uneven scoring with the Million shot, and otherwise for me just an ok 80s game. I don't care for the skill shot (the pit) which takes up a lot of space.

Pinsiders seem to never be satisfied - A pin is too hard (Houdini) or too easy (Munsters). Maybe over time it will get old in a game room, but this pin meets the number one rule for me - my wife really likes it, it was her choice. And guess what I do too. The premium/LE both have Grandpa's laboratory, which I think was so important in the series that it adds a lot to the game, including some complexity. The shots are all good, the modes are good, and the topper, if you can snag one, adds a lot to the game with the Raven. This pin really does justice to the source material. Could it be better with additional content and a code update? Of course, most all pins can. Still when you want a quick and fast game, and one very approachable by causal pinball players, this is a great choice. Would rather have the B&W premium, but this is still a great looking pin.

Update 1/4/22 - A new code drop just makes this game that much better - some code fixes, new callouts, new flasher/lamp effects, new mode (coach potato), chattering teeth feature and several tweaks. Great Update to a great game!

Pinsiders seem to never be satisfied - A pin is too hard (Houdini) or too easy (Munsters). Maybe over time it will get old in a game room, but this pin meets the number one rule for me - my wife really likes it, it was her choice. And guess what I do too. The premium and LE both have Grandpa's laboratory, which I think was so important in the series that it adds a lot to the game, including some complexity. The shots are all good, the modes are good, and the topper, if you can snag one, adds a lot to the game with the Raven. This pin really does justice to the source material. Could it be better with additional content and a code update? Of course, most all pins can. Still when you want a quick and fast game, and one very approachable by causal pinball players, this is a great choice. The B&W premium is the best looking model, IMO, even better than the LE.

Update 1/4/22 - A new code drop just makes this game that much better - some code fixes, new callouts, new flasher/lamp effects, new mode (coach potato), chattering teeth feature and several tweaks. Great Update to a great game!

Pinsiders seem to never be satisfied - A pin is too hard (Houdini) or too easy (Munsters). Maybe over time it will get old in a game room, but this pin meets the number one rule for me - my wife really likes it, it was her choice. And guess what I do too. The pro is missing Grandpa's laboratory, and it is still a pretty good game, but the lab was so important in the series, and I think it adds something to the game, including some complexity. The shots are all good, the modes are good, and the topper, if you can snag one, adds a lot to the game with the Raven. This pin really does justice to the source material. Could it be better with additional content and a code update? Of course, most all pins can. Still when you want a quick and fast game, and one very approachable by causal pinball players, this is a great choice.

Update 1/4/22 - A new code drop just makes this game that much better - some code fixes, new callouts, new flasher/lamp effects, new mode (coach potato), chattering teeth feature and several tweaks. Great Update to a great game!

This game is very deep with a lot of modes and things to explore. It is all in on the theme, I always enjoy playing it. I think it would be more fun at home in a quieter environment, and if $$ was no object... But it is and you have to trade off between a deep pin with an unlicensed them, or a licensed theme that is recognizable and fast playing. Build quality is great, and American Pinball is engaged with its customer base with good support and frequent code (and hardware) updates. Will probably end up with this pin at sometime, maybe after I master Houdini...

The CE, like the LE, has the Wonkavator and the Cabinet Artwork is the best of the three. I like WOZ but my wife is drawn to this game, for good reason - it is very well integrated into the theme and has some good features. I think the Wonkavator/Superball lock makes this or the LE the version to have over the Standard. A great family game, based on the 1971 movie, not the 2005 Johnny Depp one. This is a wise choice. I don't find the value in the CE over the LE though.

The LE has the Wonkavator and the Cabinet Artwork is better than the Standard. I like WOZ but my wife is drawn to this game, for good reason - it is very well integrated into the theme and has some good features. I think the Wonkavator/Superball lock makes this the version to have over the Standard. A great family game, based on the 1971 movie, not the 2005 Johnny Depp one. This is a wise choice.

The Pro is missing the Wonkavator and the Cabinet Artwork is plainer, but otherwise this is a solid game. I like WOZ but my wife is drawn to this game, for good reason - it is very well integrated into the theme and has some good features. It would be the limited for me however because of the missing Wonkavator/Superball lock.

Having played the Pro and the premium/LE, I believe this game needs the upper deck. It does not feel like Black Knight without it. The bash Knight is cool and the artwork is terrific. The animation is pretty good. The topper is excellent, maybe the best topper out there, too bad you can't get it and the cost is ridiculous even if you could.

Having played the Pro and the premium/LE, I believe this game needs the upper deck. It does not feel like Black Knight without it. The bash Knight is cool and the artwork is terrific. The animation is pretty good. The topper is excellent, maybe the best topper out there, too bad you can't get it and the cost is ridiculous even if you could.

Having played the Pro and the premium/LE, I believe this game needs the upper deck. It does not feel like Black Knight without it. The bash Knight is cool and the artwork is terrific. The animation is pretty good. The topper is excellent, maybe the best topper out there, too bad you can't get it and the cost is ridiculous even if you could.

Great Art, song choices and a cool toy (toybox) make this a great pin in a collection. Not the best music pin, but overall well done - it definitely feels like an Aerosmith Pin, not something else with a skin job. As with all Spike system pins, I wonder how much work will be needed to keep it running through the years.

Great callouts, art and gameplay. There is a reason this sold so many - ground breaking and set the agenda for modern pins.

One of the best music pins that really integrates the pin with the music. Love the Cannon and the Bell. Prefer the Luci Premium art but overall, a great pin that is fun to play with great song choices.

Pinbot is a favorite in the family and for good reason. The background music, the call outs and theme, along with the integrated topper, all combine for a pretty classic pinball experience. Only three drops but a great mech with the visor. Tough out lanes make it hard to keep the ball in play. If not dialed end, may drain down the middle when multi ball starts. The bagatelle doesn’t really add much to the pin IMO, but it doesn’t distract from the overall game. A homage to pinball’s beginnings that will be lost on most. Overall, Robot themed pins seem like a natural. Get the new CPR back glass replacement for the translite – it looks awesome. Now I see you …

Dr. Who is a pretty fun pin to play. Even though it doesn’t include any of the more modern doctors due to its release date, the daleks are timeless and the time expander still seems fresh to me. Ramps are good, and the call outs and music of course work. The Dalek topper is cool, and the cabinet art is pretty good, as is the playfield art. The translite is terrible, however.

Overall, Dirty Harry is a pin that is fun to play. Clint’s call outs are good and of course you have to have a 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world that would blow your head clean off. It plays well if maintained. The art is a letdown, with a strange color palette and not much to look at in the translite other that Clint and the 44. DMD animations are just ok. Game rules are good. A good Ousler pin (but I like Dr. Who better)

Star Trek: TNG is excellent, all around. Rare pin where the licensing got all the actors’ likenesses, their voices and just about everything from the series. Would have preferred a Borg Cube vs the use of the Renegade Borg ship, but understand it was either a licensing issue or the fact that a cube didn’t fit as well at a large enough size to look formidable. STTNG is a wide body Superpin that uses the entire playfield and a full integration with the series including The Borg, Romulans, Klingons and Ferengi.
Great modes, humor, toys, call outs, etc.. Plenty to do keeps this fresh. Love the Borg integration. The cannons are ok, but they should be called photon torpedo launchers (ha!).

Not much here except theme. Even then, it’s the 1979 movie, not the 1960’s series. The alternate back glass and plastics with the 60’s uniform are better. Game play is strange with some odd lane configurations and not even a spinner to rip. Also, I cannot figure out why we are spelling BALLY instead of STAR TREK or WARP – because of 5 spaces (2 lanes and 3 stand up targets)? How about WARP5 or PHASER or BONES or something …

Nevertheless, it’s Star Trek and a Bally SS. So I have one.

Houdini is a very satisfying and a very frustrating pin at the same time. A lot of the criticism leveled at it is related to the ramp shots being too tight. This is a valid comment, and, yet, we see many complaints about how easy some of the more open fan layout pins are.
The bottom line is it is tough, but extremely satisfying when you are in the zone. It usually takes me a warmup game or two (and sometimes more) to be able to start hitting the ramps reliably, so I found location play was less fun than having one at home has been.
The 10 stage modes, secret mission modes, jail escape hurry-ups, 5 movie modes and trunk and séance multi-ball, combined with the ball launch in the trunk, the stage, the magic shop (and magnets), the handcuffs pop bumpers, spotlights, lcd screen on the playfield gives you a LOT of pinball in one game. The straight-jacket reverse flipper mode is fun – impossible to do well without crossing your arms. Add a shaker, it really enhances the gameplay.
The artwork is gorgeous, including the playfield, back glass and cabinet. The call outs and the music are also top-notch. As far as the theme goes, it is not a dream theme by any means for me. That said, it is a great theme and very, very well executed. I found myself educating myself on Houdini and his life, and this pin represents it very well.

With over 800 commented ratings, this pin doesn’t need one more, so I will keep it short. Twilight Zone is consistently at the top of every ranking list for good reason. It’s a widebody and it needs to be with everything that is stuffed in it. It’s a great theme with great artwork and great execution. A Pat Lawlor masterpiece.

Earthshaker, a Williams disaster pin, is not as good Whirlwind but is still fun to play. Of course, the shaker motor is a prerequisite. The center ramp shot is too easy to rack up the points. Music is better than Whirlwind but not that great.

Waterworld the movie that is better than its reputation. Waterworld the pinball is also better than its reputation. The best feature is the Deez/Atoll spinning toy. It also includes a swinging ramp and a jet ski toy. The Dennis Hopper call outs are good, but not much to the background music. Overall, I find it fun to play. Certainly not at the very top but also not at the bottom.

Looks like rain! One of the disaster theme pins, with a fan topper that turns on when you starts the storm. Start with the skill shot for up to 300,000 points, then use the lit compass directions to help identify what targets to hit to start the storm. The three spinning disks randomize ball trajectories.
The callouts are ok but a little repetitive, the music is a little annoying IMO. Overall, it’s a solid Pat Lawlor System 11 game that is a lot of fun to play.

This is a fast table and, overall, a very fun game. The shifter and supercharger are great, and the multi-ball lock sequence is very good even though the animations are weak. Love the ZZ Top LaGrange soundtrack. Yes, there is buggy code and the video mode is not too hard, but Red Line Mania and Super Jackpot gets everyone’s attention in the game room – the topper is awesome!

White water is a fun game with a very well-integrated theme. Key features: diverter, whirlpool, boulder pop bumpers and ramps. And a Bigfoot toy. A topper apparently made with a lost technology that cannot be reproduced

I love the classic Bally early SS pins, and this pin is second only to the much later 1992 Addams Family in total production. The 20,230 of these produced means you can find one pretty reasonably. Put the CPR mirrored back glass on it and this is a great looking classic Bally SS pin that looks great! How does it play? It is a fun multi player game with a simple objective shooting the classic solids or stripes pool game. Spinner is awesome, and so is the horseshoe, but completing all the target shots includes some risky ones on the lower playing field.
This pin is fully theme integrated from BG to cabinet to play field. It is a simple, quick game and a lot of fun.

Liberty Bell is one of the bi-centennial pins (Freedom for Bally, Spirit of 76 for Gottlieb). It came out a little late in 1977, however. It’s a pretty basic EM with two spinners, 4 targets and 3 saucers including the one at the top. Spell B-E-L-L but be careful on the lower targets (L-L) as the outlanes are big and easy to drain. Is it fun? Yes! If you like the patriotic theme (I do), you will like it, but both Spirit of 76 and Freedom are better tables with better art IMO. As other’s mention, forbearer to Grand Prix.

I am glad I got a chance to play this rare pin. The artwork is unique and well integrated throughout. That said, I was not all that impressed with gameplay, the light shown, sound or the rule set. It’s got a video display in the back glass but otherwise plays like a SS with a single level playfield. The spinner in the middle is an ok shot with a sound effect. Somehow, Old Chicago (or Sopranos) does a better job with the theme, though.

This pin is about the theme, and the theme is well integrated all around. BG is excellent, Cabinet art is excellent, playfield is excellent. It is a great early SS for that reason alone and looks great in any game room. Light the spinner, shoot the spinner. Much prefer Mata Hari gameplay over this, but this pin says 1970s Pinball, at the height of Pinball. Great use of the license, and highly collectable because of it. A keeper for me, thrilled to have one in my collection.

Space Mission/Space Odyssey is a two pop bumper game with some good features including a pretty good spinner to rip while returning the ball to the top of the field, a swinging target that will often lead to a drain if not careful, kick outs behind each flipper and an advance bonus horseshoe. The art is pretty nice though the playfield has more of a 1950s science fiction vibe that the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission the pin is designed around. BG is quite nice and integrates the theme well, as does the cabinet.

Space Mission/Space Odyssey is a two pop bumper game with some good features including a pretty good spinner to rip while returning the ball to the top of the field, a swinging target that will often lead to a drain if not careful, kickouts behind each flipper and an advance bonus horseshoe. The art is pretty nice though the playfield has more of a 1950s science fiction vibe that the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission the pin is designed around. BG is quite nice and integrates the theme well, as does the cabinet.

Card Whiz (and four-player Royal Flush) is/are one of the last EMs before solid state and Gottlieb made a lot of them. This is a great pin for both a small collection and a large collection. It has a classic playing card theme which is ideal for a drop target game. A shooter game in which you increase your bonus if you get a good “hand” by selective shooting the drops. A very refined design with simple rules and great geometry, the biggest let down is the playfield art which is nothing to write home about. The backglass looks nice, though the magician theme isn’t really carried throughout the pin except on one plastic. The rest of the pin is purely card based. A missed opportunity with theme for sure. Overall, it’s a fun, very well designed Ed Krynski pin. If you only have room for one EM in your collection, this one would be a good choice.

If you like the original Fireball, you should like Fireball Classic. It does not have zipper flippers, but pretty much plays like Fireball with memory features. This is a fairly simple game, but it is very satisfying I think largely to the sounds which are unique. Don’t miss the skill shot, especially the top ramp which scores 50k, advances the bonus 3 steps and lights the top bumpers to 3,000 pts each. The sounds are unique to the game, and IMO, standout in a crowded game room. It’s simple and anyone can play it, games are quick but fun. A good game to run 5 balls on.
This title fades pretty badly, especially the reds. CPR has a remake BG that is awesome – if you have a really faded or flaking BG, the CPR version will really knock your socks off. The cabinet is mdf, so watch for water damage.

It’s a 1960s Wedgehead. Not the best example IMO. Nice spinners, that is about it. Theme is screaming for a moving target which would have been better. Not sure I get the motorcycles, but they went all in with that.

Old Chicago is a great themed game. The back glass, playing field and cabinet are truly beautiful, though I would have liked a little less pink, maybe some richer colors. Still, it’s one of the classic themes that still looks good today. Game play is ok, some drops but otherwise a spinner and saucer. Lower pops can be a problem, as most lower pops are. Not much of a ball launch “skill” shot, just two lanes to aim for.

So, although the theme is not one that is a must have for me, I feel like it really integrates very well from backglass to playfield and to the cabinet art. It’s a fun pin and instead of drop targets, it has the fans that flip/flop. It is pretty simple to understand, but pop bumper placement and the out lanes makes for short games. As others have mentioned, the bonus count cadence is pleasing. Overall, a fun well-integrated theme and game.

Royal Flush (and two-player Card Whiz) is/are one of the last EMs before solid state and Gottlieb made a lot of them. This is a great pin for both a small collection and a large collection. It has a classic playing card theme which is ideal for a drop target game. A shooter game in which you increase your bonus if you get a good “hand” by selective shooting the drops. A very refined design with simple rules and great geometry, the biggest let down is the playfield art which is nothing to write home about. The backglass looks nice, though the magician theme isn’t really carried throughout the pin except on one plastic. The rest of the pin is purely card based. A missed opportunity with theme for sure. Overall, it’s a fun, very well designed Ed Krynski pin. If you only have room for one EM in your collection, this one would be a good choice.

Pointy People! Its different with the doodlebug feature, but you cannot trap the ball since you could run up the score indefinitely while the doodlebug captive ball travels back and forth. I would not have in a small collection, but it is something different in a larger EM collection.

The big feature is the six player displays, but the game itself is pretty basic. It was a must have for me because of the theme, but if you had to have a 1978 Bally SS for game play, Mata Hari is the better choice. As has been pointed out, this is very similar to Evel Knievel, which has the better art package and integration. The art is still pretty good, and though the theme doesn't relate really well to the show that much (Steve Austin was a test pilot but the show is really about what happens after him crashing).

Its an early SS Bally. They play the same, especially the symmetrical ones like this. With four pops, this differs from others slightly. The KISS animation on the BG, the gorgeous PF are wonderful to look at - truly works of art. For gameplay, not too much to write home about, but you can't play a Van Gogh.

The artwork and theme are very well done. If you are a fan of the show, or have even seen the show, you will appreciate the effort here, especially the hat trip on the BG. The callouts can get annoying as others have mentioned. Rules are a little weak. Fun on location, not on my must have list.

Pool Sharks described in one word: Meh

Picking 8 or 9 ball at the start is not bad, but it is pretty much downhill from there. Its pretty easy, too easy, and the art package is nothing to look at.

Talking shark on the PF is actually a pretty cheesy 2d plastic.

Not a South Park hater or a big fan. I guess in moderation would be the operative word. With this pin, moderation is not really its strong suit. It can be obnoxious and repetitive, probably because the theme is really well integrated. The shots are easy enough, so its ok to kill some time with if you see one on location. Don't see one in my home collection anytime soon, but if you are a mega South Park fan I think you would be satisfied with this pin.

The artwork is beautiful, both on the backglass and the playing field. Nothing special about the game play.

This game has a lot going for it. The ramps are great, the Cryo-Claw is cool and the overall flow is very good. I like the car crash captive ball but find it to be a bit of a drain shot if not careful. The theme is well integrated with the movie, the call outs and animation are good. Don't like the guns so much, but they are unique.

Robocop could have been a much better pin than it is. Its has some cool features like the ramp jump, and the call outs and theme integration are pretty good. Overall the sound is weak though and the enforcement droid (ED-209) could have been a cool toy but instead is a pretty lame cutout plastic. That said, Robocop shoots ok, the spinner is good and it is fun to play. I wish the code was a little deeper, the sound a little better, and the artwork much better.

Its a Ramp game with a talking skull!
It plays fast and the artwork is great, fits the theme. Scoring can be unbalanced, but overall, fun to play.

The theme is carried well throughout the pin, and the "chips/buttons" rollovers also go well with the theme. It takes multiple trips back to the top to get all the rollover buttons. I also like the mushrooms for opening the gates. Overall, this is an enjoyable EM and I look forward to playing it again.

The run feature is cool as is the animation of the runners on the backglass. The mini flippers though - tough to get use to!

This game has a wide disparity in reviews that I think partly reflects how much time you have spent with it. Even simple games can keep you coming back if the really big scores are harder to obtain (in this case, hitting the ACE requires either really really good shooting or a bit of luck). This rates very high on IPDB (currently #4 EM). As a casual player, I am not sure why it rates that high.

From a visual aspect the backglass is extremely nice and reflects the theme beautifully. The playfield is more basic but still maintains the card theme. Overall, I think there are much better card themed EMs (Royal Flush/Card Whiz comes to mind of course), and the lack of drop targets doesn't help. I might feel differently if I lit the rotating specials in gameplay which I did not!

Star Race is a widebody game that has some good things going for it. It has a nice backglass and lots of targets to shoot at. The soundtrack is terrible and I found it to be a detraction. Also, even with all the targets including drops and Vari-targets, the lack of ramps gives it a wide open feeling (as in too wide open). Gotlteib's Volcano, produced just one year later, did a much better job with all that widebody space.

For whatever reason I don't like the theme or the artwork on this pin, it reminds me of Gameshow, another 1990 pin (totally different design team).

I played a not well maintained version, and as Caucasian2Step points out, the Mixmaster must be properly maintained to work with the Jackpot as it should. The one I played wasn't.

Overall, not anything to write home about.

I am not a big magic fan, but this theme is done very well and the pin is a lot of fun to play. Not in my personal collection but I tend to play it on location whenever I see it. It flows very well and has a very well integrated multi-ball lock.

This machine has several things going for it, the first being the art package, which is awesome. It also has great callouts and pretty good animation. Dead World was a great idea but requires the mod package to make it functional. Ramp shots are generally good. Overall, a fun pin, with one of the best if not the best topper. Not at the top of my list, but overall solid. Not a fan of supergame, seems like you are buying your way to multiball, so seldom play it. I have been known to "buy" the extended play multiball on the regular game, though.

Many say Goldeneye is one of the best games by Sega. I agree. The rules are easy to understand, and many of the modes/missions are not too difficult. A couple (Q's Pen, Shoot the Guards) can be very hard and lead to a drain if not careful. More than once it has been Q's Pen between me and Wizards Mode.

What I really like about this pin, though, is how closely it follows the Movie. If you get this pin, watch the movie and it will make it that much funner. Eject or Die is an awesome feature, and of course the satellite shoot is among the best in pinball IMO. Call outs are good (Shaken not stirred martini tilt warnings, "James must you really drive that fast", "A license to kill is also a license to die", etc - pure gold)

If your a bond fan, you will love this pin. If not, or even if they dislike Bond (how could they) most will enjoy it, especially after hitting a satellite shot or spelling Goldeneye.

CFTBL got everything right about what a great theme for a pin is. It is so simple in its rules that it can be explained to anyone in just a few minutes. You are at the theater, visiting the snack bar, getting blocked from the screen (Move Your Car!), and trying to get the movie started (Multi-ball). If you do that, you are immersed in the film, trying to save Julie Adams. The shots are satisfying, the theme universal (no pun intended), and overall, this is a plain fun pin.

Looks great with LEDs, Swinks Snack Bar, light up Speaker Panel Mods.

Yes, Move Your Car can get annoying at times. Got a good laugh though the first time I heard this same callout (with the same character) in Judge Dredd!

Mata Hari is a family favorite. It follows it theme well with the double agent Mata Hari and the A and B sides of the game. Its very satisfying to "shoot the loop" and send the ball up and around and back down in a clean shot. The artwork is complete from BG to PF to the cabinet design. A true Bally at the height of its production runs. As a transitional SS with a few EMs released before the SS, the sound is the weak point, really the only one.

Fire Queen, the two player version of Vulcan, is superior to its four player brother for two reasons - one of the most gorgeous backglasses in pinball, and with only two score windows, more of it to see. The game plays fast, and an extra ball is just four drop targets and a stand-up target away, but hitting the stand-up target takes good aim to avoid a drain. The game is simple but moves fast. Only 970 units compared to over 3,500 for Vulcan, but get the Fire Queen, especially is you only have room for one or two EMs. A 1977 pin that Gottlieb should have been making into a SS instead of Cleopatra.

Flash has a fun layout and the staggered upper lanes make getting the 1-2-3-4 a little harder to hit for the 2X and 3X. The flow is pretty good, and the "flash" lighting is awesome. Yes, the artwork is a not as nice as some, but it lights up well from behind the BG and the theme from BG to PF to Cabinet is consistent. It's a pin that looks and feels like the late 70s.

The pin with the first dynamic background sound is a tonal scale, not music, that is both annoying and also tension building - you can tell when you have played a long ball when the tones rise up through the scale and return to the bottom and start over. It is annoying - and yet, while you can turn it off, I still have it on as it feels like an integral part of the Flash experience. As Pinside attests, with all its licensed versions, it may actually have outsold The Adams Family. Had to have it in my collection, and glad I do.

I played Aladdin's Castle in Myrtle Beach, SC in the summer of 1977. For a young boy the female genie on the backglass was all that and a bag of chips! With Aladdin's Alley to send the ball up and around, the maddening double flipper that somehow lets balls slip right between them, the otherwise simple pin provides some nice playability. Shooting the spinner to return the ball to the top of the pf and lighting the green rollovers to build the progressives is great. Had to have this as my first pin, and will always have it. And did I mention the genie on the BG?

Space Shuttle has a simple layout and a simple rule set. And yet it is a pin that I am drawn to and play often. It is satisfying to build the multiplier by returning the ball to the top of the pf over and over, and activating the space lock on the right out lane is a also simple but crucial to do if you want to keep the ball in play. Multi Ball with two or three balls, the astronaut scream on an out lane drain, the bell instead of a knocker - all are part of the unique experience of the pin that saved pinball. On the project list - LEDs for the Toy Space Shuttle engine (oh yeah, forgot the first toy on a solid state production pin ...)

Buck Rogers with the Pascal Janin PI-1/X4 is a fun game with great sound for a 1980 pin. This is a favorite of guests because it is easy to understand the rules but reaching the top of the PF requires good aim. Targeting the captive ball can lead to a quick drain down the center.

The look of this game is very stylish, with the gorgeous two-piece backglass and great PF art. Even the cabinet is done very well with the theme. This is an early 80’s game where colored (especially red) or flashing LEDs really seem to fit naturally. The rules are easy to understand and its fun to play.