SDanowski2000's ratings

One of the most difficult pinball machines I can ever remember playing, and the reason I had to have it in my collection. The outlanes are brutal, and the upper set of flippers often get in the way of what you're trying to do. Great theme.

Dennis Nordman's first game is very underrated with a great ruleset for the era. The only real knock I have with this machine is a few of the cost cutting measures that Bally took on the 6803 series like particle board construction and a single light for the backglass.

The strategy on this game is somewhat deep though simple, and can be played several ways. Easiest is just work on the multiball and let the rest happen randomly. But the better and way to score more points is to use the ruleset to work on three sub-objectives. The three sub-objectives are 1. Build the bonus multiplier, 2. Increase the weapons bonus, and 3. Increase the pop bumper hut value. After building these, the primary objective of multiball can then be sought. Lock the ball "hostages" and obtain multiball and score the very difficult and very satisfying escape bonus. There is also an extra ball that can be earned, though odd in that you can only achieve it once during a game.

One other great feature is the outlane save gate. When the ball goes down the outlane, there's a bumper post that often deflects the ball back into an inlane gate. Bottom line is that both outlanes are only outlanes some of the time, adding an element of luck and skill. Guessing that Bally must've done some research at the time with respect to arcade machine lastability and popularity. Not as good as Black Knight's Magnasave or Hardbody's Flex-save, but nevertheless way better than a normal outlane.

Special Force is highly underrated, well underpriced, and so highly recommended.

Perhaps the cost cutting cabinetry and non-themed backglass turn so many away, but Hardbody is a very underrated game. I raised the one I have from the dead, with water damage, no ramps, no displays, and no CPU on the cheap and wasn't really expecting anything great. When I finally got the project completed, I was amazed at how good this pinball was.

Its actually a workout trying to manage the 2 extra sidebuttons, which is what is eluded to in the brochure. Two playfields, 2 extra sidebuttons for the outlane "flex save," and a perfectly designed ruleset do not disappoint. Build your muscles at each station to increase bonus and circuit, with many other scoring options to distract one away from this main goal.

The upper playfield plays nice and slow, and one can take their time with ball control. The lower playfield is much faster and trickier, and one has to be careful with traps and holds, the main goal pretty much just trying to get the ball back to the upper playfield, which isn't an easy shot by any means.

I enjoy this game more than even the best of the newer games, and recommend this as great value if you can find one!

I played this machine for about a half hour in Gatlinburg this summer. A half hour only because it was the only pinball in the arcade, else Id've only played it once. The constant 2-ball multiball is probably ok for the truly walking dead, though maybe you become the walking dead if you play this long enough. The ruleset became ruined by the fact that your turn is over when you lose just one of the 2 balls.

I played this machine for about a half hour in Gatlinburg this summer. A half hour only because it was the only pinball in the arcade, else Id've only played it once. The constant 2-ball multiball is probably ok for the truly walking dead, though maybe you become the walking dead if you play this long enough.

I was surprised to see this game rated so low that I had to rate it. The artwork and theme on this one player wedgehead are incredible, and the ruleset is so simple that is addicting: Light up all targets from 2 through Ace to then light the specials. One with skills can conceivably control the ball and hit all of the targets but the Ace. The Ace resides in a place above the pop bumper where you can't really hit it, so you have to rely on chance. My number 1 ranked EM of all time!

This game is identical to Big Brave with the lone exception being this a 4 player game vs, 2, so I copied my review of Big Brave: A classic Krynski/Morison Gottlieb Game. Great artwork everywhere, a classic. But wait... There really is no right flipper shot at the left roto target because the left roto is aligned with the left flipper. There really isn't a shot with the left flipper unless you are getting a rebound slapshot left. I am a fan of Ed Krynski and though he was definitely an influence in my childhood, this game makes me wonder. Would Ed do this? I don't think so.

A classic Krynski/Morison Gottlieb Game. Great artwork everywhere, a classic. But wait... There really is no right flipper shot at the left roto target because the left roto is aligned with the left flipper. There really isn't a shot with the left flipper unless you are getting a rebound slapshot left. I am a fan of Ed Krynski and though he was definitely an influence in my childhood, this game makes me wonder. Would Ed do this? I don't think so.

This game was designed to have dual ramps and an added level, but it is obvious that these were all taken out very late in the development process to save money. This is very sad, as this cost-cutting venture took away from us a game that could've been special. The color, artwork, and theme are all very good. The sounds on this game are very addicting and just enough to save this game: "You're hot! C'mon sevens! Wiiiinnnner!," as well as sirens, zonks, and other Vegas themed sounds.

A great EM game from the mid 70's with a Christian Marche backglass that will never go out of style. Ruleset is pretty simple: Keep going through the spinner to light up A-B-C-D to get a free ball. The dual flippers on the right side keeps things interesting.

A great 2-player EM game to usher out the EM era. The Gordon Morison artwork is outstanding and captures a surreal look at what american football was like in the 70's. Though much louder, the touchdown bell is also reminiscent of many of the sixties EM's. The play is made difficult because it allows almost no ball control with the dual flippers, and takes some getting used to. The only real knock on this is that the two roto targets are basically out of play as they align to the empty space between the flippers.