Wahnsinniger's ratings

It has Jar-Jar, get over it. You eventually stop noticing he is there, and months later barely remember to mutter derisive comments towards him after his major sound bites. His presence is not overly prominent in the game, he just is the focus of criticism because he exists in it at all.

This is actually a good game to own in any size of collection. While the playfield layout is not the most inspiring, the modes are deep enough that even after owning it for nearly a year and playing hundreds of times, my wife and I have never reached the 3rd out of 5 (or is it 4?) Jedi battles. Our interest in it wanes and waxes, but its a solid one to go back to at any time.

Its biggest problem is that playing it is a commitment: it can be too easy to keep the ball in play, resulting in play sessions much longer than from any other machine in our collection.

Pro-Football is great because of one very specific reason ... CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG! CLANG!

Many of its shots are very mundane points-scoring shots, and indeed the game lacks virtually any features to increase the rate of normal point scoring. Instead, it has a second (American) Football score, increased slowly by a handful of 'Field Goal' targets, and more dramatically, by pushing the football to the endzone to score a 6-point touchdown. Each of these Football points result in a strike on a large bell in the front of the cabinet, directly next to the player. Thus touchdowns cause a very gratifying 5-1 clang sequence that gives this game all of its charm.

This game stands head-and-shoulders above the 'chime' sound package on most or all other EM's. In a small collection, it lacks sufficient depth to have long-term appeal. Indeed, this is why I initially sold mine... but now I want it back. In a large-collection, or for American Football fans, it would be a great addition.

With artwork not exactly categorized as "cool", it still puts off a warm, country vibe that is, if anything, refreshing. Additionally, it can be considered a family-friendly fall/autumn/Halloween theme without any semblance of a horror-movie.

It is simply not a deep game, and thus in a small collection is not recommended, nor as the sole EM amongst any number SS and DMD games. But with the 10-pumpkin carryover feature (leading to mildly amusing jeering as someone in a household collects the accumulated pumpkins, thereby stealing the hypothetical award from everyone else), and the four slingshots in the lower playfield area, it holds its own in a bank of contemporary EMs.

Space Invaders is a very cool game, and is fun for a moderate amount of time. But its rule set is pretty shallow, with the only real large goal to be to ramp up the cool-factor, getting the lights and background music to maximal speed by advancing a handful of features.

So its a great pin to have in a large collection due to its cool factor (heavily due to the artwork, lighting, and sound), but not great to have in a small collection (due to its shallowness).

It is a simple, but fun game. It has just enough features that, compare to various other EMs, it does not seem boring. Instead, there are several shots to make, often at different times (features tied to match unit) so that you're always challenged with a risky shot to make. Shows itself a worthy predecessor to some of the very popular Bally EM's of the mid 70's.

I personally like the backglass art stye. The cabinet artwork is a bit too simple, but the castle theme still looks cool from a distance. Playfield art is only sufficient, but not bad.

At first, the three separate playfield sections (lower playfield with non-centered full-size flippers, upper playfield with small flippers, and top-left bagatelle) are part of the allure of this machine. But long-term those separate sections mean at any given time, you have very little to shoot for and thus the game gets old too fast.

Overall, a fine machine to have in a large collection, due to its theme and unique layout, but in a small collection (it was one of two machines we had for a year; the other, Eight Ball, never got old) that unique playfield is its undoing.

Had this game a couple years, and it does not get old. It has no specific toys/gimmicks, but its fast speed and challenge, combined with the charm of a chime unit, makes it perpetually great. Getting the spinner lit for 1000 points, and then hitting it full force to blast out 20+ hits, all ringing out with chimes, is great.

Also a beautiful art package of that era, and has striking cabinet artwork when seen from a distance.

Had for half a year now. Does not get old, but we're suckers for a lowish-gore horror theme.

Had it since March now; still great to play.

Cabinet side art is excellent (the blue swirling ghosts), harking back to older art packages that looked great from across the room, beckoning you to come over and see it closer. (Versus muddy photo-realistic decals).

Small details are what set this apart. GI lights flickering out after thunder, audio variations and mocking the player, and depth of rules show how well programmed and designed this is.

As a fan of the most prominent paranormal show on TV at the moment (which if you are a fan, you know which one I'm talking about), the ghost-hunting-parody theme is executed very well.