system11's ratings
Pinsider system11 has rated 54 machines.
This page shows all all these ratings, and forms system11's personal top 54.
Rating comments
9.060/10
7 years ago
I can see how people will love or loathe this, after spending a few hours with one it's a totally different feel to the high speed raw games Stern have been perfecting. I really like the layout even though there's not much in the way of flow - reminds me of TZ a bit. Really love the outlane toys and the curved RAINBOW target bank. Expected the music to get repetitive but it really doesn't because it's frequently broken up by other audio. Outlanes on the one I played were standard setting and not as greedy as I've seen people say. While the BALL targets aren't directly flippable (use the slings!), the RAINBOW targets can all be hit from the left flipper if you aim well and the targets are adjusted correctly. Very high quality feel, but I noticed the pink standup target between guard and ramp entrances can take a total beating, cracked on the otherwise perfect one I played.
7.644/10
11 years ago
Wheel of Fortune Stern, 2007
The unusual (for modern times) flipper layout really makes this play differently to other games, ball times can be long due to generous extra spins, main tune is a bit grating after a while.
8.312/10
11 years ago
Apollo 13 Sega, 1995
Ignoring the 13 ball gimmick, I really like this game - the theme is certainly part of it. Without the 13 ball there's still plenty of stuff to be doing including several standard multiballs. Really the only thing I don't like too much about the game is because they've crammed so much on there, the lanes are mostly precision shots, and during multiballs you're going to be hitting a lot of stand up posts and targets. The whole rocket takeoff sequence is just awesome, especially when you see the astronaut shaking around and the shaker motor kicks in.
8.376/10
11 years ago
Who Dunnit Bally, 1995
Finally put together the Who Dunnit I'd bought 8 months ago, driver board is hacked to hell but it does work. Wow, what a game - every shot feels just right aside from autoplunges just shooting the ball randomly into a metal wall. Music is absolutely brilliant too, scoring is a little suspect being able to get 75m for hitting nearly anything in one of the multiball modes, but then maybe that doesn't matter when you can roulette 750m. Looking out for a mint example now.
8.200/10
11 years ago
Sorcerer Williams, 1985
Vastly underrated game in my opinion from this era - the layout just *works*, spent more time on one of these at a UK pinball show than all the other machines put together. Owner wouldn't sell it to me :(
6.830/10
12 years ago
Gold Wings Gottlieb, 1986
If the flippers are strong and if the playfield is at the right angle, waxed and everything adjusted well, this isn't a bad game - the layout is very different but unfortunately it kind of forces a particular order to the things you're shooting for. If anything is not up to scratch there are playfield shots that simply don't work - like the 270 degree spin lanes not sending the ball where they should on exit. Has an insanely loud air siren inside the cabinet, you'll want to disconnect that for home use, or wear ear defenders.
8.696/10
12 years ago
TRON: Legacy (LE) Stern, 2011
Rating is for the LE version. NOTE: my playfield is slightly modified, I would have awarded it a 6 based on my machine but that's not representative. On mine the ZUSE target on the right side of the left ramp has been moved back and angled a few millimetres, it makes the GEM shot something you can aim for instead of getting lucky with. Randomizer looked pretty pointless in the promo shots of the playfield but it really does do some cool things - I had an ejected ball make the right ramp this evening. Really considering putting down the mylar proto games had... Not sure about Stern build quality - mine has two playfield art flaws and one of the slingshots was self activating due to the closeness of the connections underneath.
8.688/10
12 years ago
Mystery Castle Alvin G. & Co, 1993
If only the original 2 level game had ended up being produced! This was supposed to have a top playfield, which was turned into the dual upper ramp, which had the side effect of taking away the feed for the upper flipper. This does compromise the gameplay but the machine is very pretty and sounds incredible. Shooting for all the items is enjoyable, they all do something when collected, be it a mode or some timed scoring tweaks so there's more to do than it might seem at a glance.
8.836/10
12 years ago
The Sopranos Stern, 2005
I played this at an Earl's Court coin-op show just before it started to ship. I liked it then, and I like it more now that I've had a chance to play it more in a home setting. Very underrated game and a lot of fun despite being a straight fan layout. Audio is very funny (in adult mode, if you're playing it in family mode you're missing the point), safe is a brilliant toy, boat lock is cool and satisfying to shoot from the right flipper, fish is always entertaining, and the pole dancers look good when the strobed flasher lights them. Hard to find one that isn't a bit tired as they did well on location despite a low production number, so be prepared to put some work in bringing it back up to scratch. Can't see myself ever selling this one. One of only two games every that my girlfriend will switch on and play when I'm not at home.
8.103/10
12 years ago
Breakshot Capcom, 1996
Sound is a weak point on this one, the quality isn't brilliant and the music is a bit bland. The fake chime would have been much better with a proper backbox chime instead, but these were built to a budget. Trick shot with plunger is awesome, you can score a trick shot from the kickback on a well maintained machine. Real shooters game, flailing randomly just isn't going to score the points. Switch it over to white rubber for a better game, and drop the flipper power in the menus a couple of notches to suit unless you like infinite airballs.
8.460/10
12 years ago
Twilight Zone Bally, 1993
So it has a great layout, good rules, great art and music.
Why is it I don't ever want to play it? Pat is known for his start/stop games and I like many of them, but I think this one takes control from the player too often leading to an experience that just isn't engaging.
Why is it I don't ever want to play it? Pat is known for his start/stop games and I like many of them, but I think this one takes control from the player too often leading to an experience that just isn't engaging.
8.397/10
12 years ago
Playboy Stern, 2002
Underrated effort from Stern. Not a very family friendly theme and some of the artwork is low quality, but the playfield layout (a classic Gomez fan) is tuned to perfection, there's not a clunky shot on it and combos are a blast to put together. The toys are great and put newer Sterns to shame.
8.668/10
12 years ago
Theatre of Magic Bally, 1995
One of the best looking games ever made, shame about the unbalanced scoring from raping the tiger saw ramp over and over, but if you can resist that you'll have a good time. Audio could have done with a little more variety. Seems a bit fragile at the trap door and trunk.
5.911/10
12 years ago
Cirqus Voltaire Bally, 1997
Pros: worth a lot of money so you can sell it and buy something with more variety.
Cons: shooting the ringmaster toy with a 12 guage seen as unsportsmanlike.
This one to me is the epitome of a trophy game. It's all well drawn, but purple and green is ugly and should never be mixed. The playfield layout is boring (what's with the wasted real estate top left on ball locks?), the ringmaster toy, shot and speech is irritating and repetitive. One of the few games I disliked enough that I've never played it again after walking away during my third game. TOM is significantly better.
Cons: shooting the ringmaster toy with a 12 guage seen as unsportsmanlike.
This one to me is the epitome of a trophy game. It's all well drawn, but purple and green is ugly and should never be mixed. The playfield layout is boring (what's with the wasted real estate top left on ball locks?), the ringmaster toy, shot and speech is irritating and repetitive. One of the few games I disliked enough that I've never played it again after walking away during my third game. TOM is significantly better.
8.415/10
12 years ago
Torpedo Alley Data East, 1988
Just got my machine back after being owned by other people for a few years, wish I hadn't sold it - needs a lot of work :( Sadly these machines are now very rare, the audio and lightshow (including alphanumeric animations) are just brilliant and the multiple ball locks are very clever.
7.827/10
12 years ago
Radical! Bally, 1990
The selling feature of this game (ramp overload) is also what lets it down a bit in play - sometimes it feels like the shots are following a script with little in the way of choices. Audio is just awesome though, the lead of the tune is actually made with sound effects from shots so it always sounds slightly different.
8.484/10
12 years ago
Big Hurt Gottlieb, 1995
In my opinion this one is massively underrated. In my constantly changing collection it's lasted a lot longer than most have. Loses a few points on rules because of the non-tournament mode assists for new players - in a two player game it can see one player being fed extra ball after extra ball at the end. The spotlight rows at the back are awesome but the rest of the lighting isn't very exciting. Unlike the announcer on Shaq, the one in this game isn't annoying at all and the music is nice and catchy. Watch out for flipper area wear as on nearly all modern Gottliebs (due to stupid mylar placement).
7.935/10
19 years ago
Tales of the Arabian Nights Williams, 1996
Incredibly pretty but too many of the modes involve shooting the same flashing symbols, and in the end I got bored of it in a couple of months.
9.133/10
19 years ago
Fire! Williams, 1987
Being nearly symmetrical actually worked on this one (usually it doesn't). The rules are very simple and mostly involve going for the multiball, but the combined art and sound package is superb and the smoothness of all the shots is spectacular. Bring ear defenders if the backbox bell is connected.
9.301/10
19 years ago
The Machine: Bride of Pinbot Williams, 1991
Best audio in a Williams pin from the post-System 11 era by far - nothing else is even in the same ball park. The only thing that lets this one down is the rules are a little shallow, but what's there is immaculately presented and it's a very easy game to love.
