What do you consider to be the best playfield(s) ever?
I tend to gravitate towards the hand-drawn style of the late 70s and early 80s. Paragon, List world, space invaders, centaur, fathom, time warp, etc
There is something to be said for some later ones as well. Sorcerer, big guns, and the shadow come to mind.
What era and style do you like?
Quoted from Daditude:hand-drawn style of the late 70s and early 80s
+1
I know DE is not popular but I think Phantom of the Opera at least deserves an honorable mention. There is so much detail, that Gothic style and it has the whole world under glass thing down. It has a a little sexual gratification but its not too blatant like a lot of pinball art. The gold paint looks awesome on it but so few have survived.
Quoted from Darscot:I know DE is not popular but I think Phantom of the Opera at least deserves an honorable mention. There is so much detail, that Gothic style and it has the whole world under glass thing down. It has a a little sexual gratification but its not too blatant like a lot of pinball art. The gold paint looks awesome on it but so few have survived.
Agreed....One of the best art packages in my collection. Also like CFTBL too, but much of it hidden.
Quoted from PtownPin:My TZ and LOTR play fields don't have one dimple and looked brand new.....post 2015 I'd say CGC makes the best play fields.
I think the purpose of the post was to discuss art, not "quality".
Anyway my picks for best playfields
Cyclone
Xenon
Centaur
Fathom
Space Invaders
Silverball
I hated the game part of it, but Hurricane is low key one of the most detailed art packages of all time. You can stare at that playfield for hours and not see every little hidden detail.
Kind of tough considering the subjectivity of “art”. While I love detailed PFs there is also something to be said about simplicity within its form. I guess it’s also in how you view the PF art in retrospect to the gameplay or if you are looking at the art on it’s own accord. Personally, I agree with the hand drawn 80s art like paragon, embryon, Flash, etc. but not necessarily machines I would own. However, I think Rocky and Bullwinkle would be the only one I would purchase to hang on my wall 
Well it’s not really drawn art... but the details of Orbitor 1 really amaze me. I love the double-stacked plastic over vaccuformed moonscape. When lit properly that game looks incredible regardless of your opinion on play.
(Photos from Ballen Van Staal)
94E62281-6F6D-4EEF-AD17-0B995DF5CA5E.jpegF747B8F2-AD24-47D1-BB8B-16549FD2E387.jpegStar God, Robot, Farfalla, Spooky (love the ZZZ artwork!)
(and, of course, all that good stuff like Centaur, Fathom, Medusa, Paragon, Sorcerer, Andromeda, Laser Cue, Future Spa, Spectrum, BK2000, etc.).
Quoted from ezelljon:Star God, Robot, Farfalla, Spooky (love the ZZZ artwork!)
(and, of course, all that good stuff like Centaur, Fathom, Medusa, Paragon, Sorcerer, Andromeda, Laser Cue, Future Spa, Spectrum, BK2000, etc.).
Great list
There are so many great looking games it’s hard to pick just one... I always really liked the PF art on Sorcerer, and I think as a whole package Creature from the Black Lagoon might be the best looking game ever. TOTAN also has a really gorgeous PF, it’s a shame the cab and translite can’t keep up.
Quoted from razorsedge:I like Swords of Fury artwork alot, and Whitewater is up there too. Earlier games like Woods Queen, not sure about the blue monkey though? Lol
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Whoops sorry that's a backglass, but it beats the pf I rekon
I can't talk about playfields of modern titles without mentioning Alien!
I have never seen an alen pin, much less played it. I will have to google search that PF.
Quoted from razorsedge:[quoted image]
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That is pretty cool. Thank you for the pics!
Quoted from Darscot:I know DE is not popular but I think Phantom of the Opera at least deserves an honorable mention. There is so much detail, that Gothic style and it has the whole world under glass thing down. It has a a little sexual gratification but its not too blatant like a lot of pinball art. The gold paint looks awesome on it but so few have survived.
The art on barb wire is freaking amazing IMO.
There are so many. I'm not sure my favorite has even been created yet...
Centaur, in my opinion is probably the most daring of all playfield art packages: Completely black and white, with the only color coming from the inserts.
But lets all take a moment to appreciate Zaccaria playfields. I've read someplace that they had an inking process that used more colors than any of the domestic manufacturers.
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I may be a bit biased but my vote goes to Paragon. It's beautifully detailed without being too busy plus it's a widebody for extra art. Definitely a classic game from the golden era.
Here's my NOS playfield clearcoated by HEP. It's waiting on me to get off my butt and finished my amateur restoration...
IMG_20190903_165054838_HDR (resized).jpgpersonally my favorite is a terrible pinball. The Amazing Spider Man. I love the comic style artwork of that playfield.
Quoted from Daditude:I don't believe anyone has mentioned it, but judge dread is pretty incredible
Absolutely! .... how could I neglect that one, own it, and is an overall great game to boot! . Gotta love the pins that give you something to laugh about! 
For me, its a toss-up between Xenon and Barracora which is my all-time favorite playfield art.
Backglass? Viper, hands down.
-Hans
Quoted from Reality_Studio:Kinda like Asteroid Annie And The Aliens...[quoted image]
When it comes to ALIENs playing POKER themed games from 1980, Annie wins out in the artwork category.
Not the best playfield ever in terms of artwork, but I really like how Black Pyramid's upper half of the playfield is built up to look like a scary smiley Idol face staring at you.
And, with that, how the game's main shot is a yellow booger dangling out of its nose.
Once seen, it can't be unseen.
Quoted from oldskool1969:RADICAL
Pic for future reference:
Screenshot_2019-09-14-08-40-47 (resized).pngQuoted from TheLaw:You'd have to search for long time to find a modern game as ugly as Barb Wire. BRUTAL
The artwork is quite detailed on barb wire. You downvoted me for my opinion.
How unfortunate.
Quoted from jorro:Paragon
Hobbit
Batman 66
Ghostbusters
Munsters
Hobbit does look damn good! One of the best playfields with photoshop style artwork, maybe the best.
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