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(Topic ID: 30041)

Bottom 100 Pins?

By Craig

11 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

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170 posts
92 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 11 years ago by Craig
Topic is favorited by 4 Pinsiders

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There are 170 posts in this topic. You are on page 1 of 4.

#1 11 years ago

CRG

Craig

Pinside+ Frequent

Durham, NC

11y 70,900 4,543 11

Anyone who hangs out at Pinside learns pretty quickly that no single pin is universally appreciated. Start a thread about any top-100 machine, and someone will eventually say that it the best pin ever, while someone else will opine with equal confidence that it is ridiculously overrated.

l wonder if this same division exists on the opposite end of the spectrum. Are there any non-top-100 pins that you think would be disliked by every (or nearly every, to be realistic) pinball fan? Let's set set aside the top 100, because even the least of those has about a 7.5 rating, and I am not trying to start another debate about those ratings.

There is a practical point to this exercise. I am always trying to find and play the best pinball machines, but I would also like to play a few epic failures just to see for myself what makes them so bad.

So, which are the real stinkers?

#2 11 years ago

NAM

kwiKimart

Inactive member

San Diego, CA

12y 90,650 10,693 3 71

Hardbody, South Park, Popeye, TRS, Raven

#3 11 years ago

DIK

davewtf

Pinside member

Madison, WI

12y 84,400 9,740 1 114

I love south park

#4 11 years ago

JTS

sammiesguys

Pinside+ Addict

Los Angeles, CA

11y 79,800 2,468 11 9

I think the most hated machines will get you an 80-90% agreement on the overall dislike for them. I think IJ4 will get you 80%+.

-1

#5 11 years ago

JRD

Jimmyd044

Pinside+ Frequent

Allentown, PA

12y 73,050 1,200 3 16

Wheel of Fortune

#6 11 years ago

HI.

Slaymetender

Inactive member

Santa Ana, CA

12y 34,900 557 5

Wheel of fortune and monopoly for me. These do not translate well for pinball. Add one just cause, cftbl, hate it

#7 11 years ago

HAY

mikehay1

Pinside member

Antioch, IL

13y 51,800 129 11 23

Austin Powers

#8 11 years ago

CPB

Max_Badazz

Pinside+ Frequent

20y 132K 4,315 21 226 1

X-Files is awful

#9 11 years ago

JSB

Joshmx19

Pinside member

Dornsife, PA

11y 66,400 1,259 20

I like popeye but I dont think Id ever own it. South park and austin powers arent bad in my opinion. I think every pin has at least something worthwhile. I enjoy LW3 and I think that is in the bottom 100

#10 11 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Lodi, WI

12y 103K 7,269 21 10 1

Twister is pretty poor.

#11 11 years ago

CRG

Craig

Pinside+ Frequent

Durham, NC

11y 70,900 4,543 11

I've only ever seen about half of these. Keep 'em coming. I'm making a list!

#12 11 years ago

DIK

davewtf

Pinside member

Madison, WI

12y 84,400 9,740 1 114

Freddy is not so hot.

#13 11 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,038 19 30 1

Barb Wire

-1

#14 11 years ago

JLM

jlm33

Pinside member

Villejuif

11y 152K 5,892 7 169

For me:

Super mario bros
Caveman
South park

#15 11 years ago

ALX

donjagra

Pinside member

14y 72,100 3,402 10 34

Maverick

#16 11 years ago

CGE

too-many-pins

Pinside member

Carlisle, PA

11y 97,800 4,485

First to really reply I would need to know if you are talking pinball in general or just newer ramp machines I think most people have machines they like other people hate. Or machines they hate other people love. Since it was not specified in your original listing what era you are asking about I'll cover everything with my reply.

If we go back to the beginning of pinball - other than their historical value I think most pre flipper machines are a waste of time.

Then when you get to regular EM machines, wedge heads & wood rails I think most people would agree most Chicago Coin machines don't get much love.

Once you get into early SS machines I think most of the wide body and super wide body machines were a failure. From my experience they just seem to play much to slow.

As far as newer SS and DMD machines it seems most of the sport themed stuff gets very little love as well as Raven, Hardbody, Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly, and several of the newer Stern titles.

#17 11 years ago

CGE

too-many-pins

Pinside member

Carlisle, PA

11y 97,800 4,485

I forgot about Caveman Great machine to love to hate!

#18 11 years ago

CAL

Wickedquickss

Inactive member

Louisville, KY

12y 32,650 915 1 11

I know I will get alot of backlash but I feel the Shadow is a chore to play. Also not a big fan of TMNT, and DE DM. Mr and Mrs. Pacman is a real stinker also, but on the lighterside...me playing the worst pinball machine is better than a great day at work

#19 11 years ago

CRG

Craig

Pinside+ Frequent

Durham, NC

11y 70,900 4,543 11

Quoted from too-many-pins:
I would need to know if you are talking pinball in general

Good question. I was thinking of machines that I might reasonably be able to find. That tends to limit it to 1970s and later machines. It's rare that I ever get the chance to play anything older.

#20 11 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,038 19 30 1

Is Stern's Metallica out yet?

#21 11 years ago

Chrisbee

Pinside member

11y 66,150 3,054 8

OP
Quoted from Craig:
l wonder if this same division exists on the opposite end of the spectrum. Are there any non-top-100 pins that you think would be disliked by every (or nearly every, to be realistic) pinball fan?

Reading this thread so far it is obvious that the same can be said for the bottom 100 as the top 100 hundred (OP), everybody has an opinion and everyone is different

#22 11 years ago

ROB

RobKnapp

Pinside member

Colorado Springs, CO

13y 110K 3,116 13 183

Star Wars Episode 1

100_0014.JPG

#23 11 years ago

AEC

alleycat-pinball

Pinside member

Coloma, MI

12y 54,300 620 100

wipeout, one of the few i was glad to see leave

back to the future, great theme gameplay sucked

#24 11 years ago

RDR

RDReynolds

Pinside+ Frequent

Indianapolis, IN

15y 103K 2,340 7 20

Yeesh, I like Popeye, BTTF, and Wipeout. I must just be a weirdo.

-3

#25 11 years ago

BIL

badbilly27

Pinside+ Frequent

Prospect Heights, IL

12y 130K 4,573 38 19

+1 XFiles, Popeye, TRS, Sopranos, FT (but cool topper), and this one will get me a thumbs down but being honest FG/Shrek.

#26 11 years ago

JAC

jimster102

Inactive member

12y 15,650 343

x files and motordome could not wait for them to leave

#27 11 years ago

PBP

PopBumperPete

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 99,300 4,035 8

Maverick
Fource II

#28 11 years ago

DAN

goatdan

Pinside member

Wauwatosa, WI

20y 91,800 5,217 2 20

This is all up to everyone's individual taste. There are a lot of the games that have already been listed that I really like. I'd put FT, IJ (Williams), TOTAN, TOM, SC, TZ and GNR on the list of worst games above a lot of the other stuff named, most of which I own and wouldn't trade for any of those.

I have weird tastes.

#29 11 years ago

FAV

bemmett

Pinside+ Addict

12y 127K 3,967 126 2

Quoted from badbilly27:
FT (but cool topper)

Quoted from badbilly27:
FG/Shrek

Heck ya thumbs down, FT is an awesome game. I regret getting rid of mine, probably one of the games I miss the most that I have sold. Also FG is a cool game, guess maybe the theme isn't for everyone.

Avatar gets dogged pretty bad but I don't think it is worse than 115 other games that is for sure.

#30 11 years ago

TAM

tamoore

Pinside member

Grayling, MI

11y 123K 6,661 37 58

I can't think of 100 bad pinball games. Pinball is good. Lots of different kinds of good, but good none-the-less...

#31 11 years ago

DAN

dbeeson

Pinside member

Guelph, ON

12y 41,900 304 61 12

Quoted from Joshmx19:
I enjoy LW3 and I think that is in the bottom 100

LW3 is a fantastic game in my opinion. I had every intention of fixing it up and trading it when I bought it, but it won't be going anywhere for a while. I've said it before, I'll say it again. Hollywood Heat is the worst (SS) game I've ever played.

#32 11 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Lodi, WI

12y 103K 7,269 21 10 1

Quoted from donjagra:
Maverick

When the game is working properly, it's actually a decent game.

#33 11 years ago

JAM

Wolfmarsh

Pinside member

12y 134K 10,956

Quoted from TheLaw:
Barb Wire

Haha, I played Barb Wire and enjoyed it. It's not one I would buy for home, but worth dropping a few bucks into.

#34 11 years ago

SBC

castlesteve

CCA

Lexington, KY

11y 40,650 953 15 13

Quoted from Methos:
When the game is working properly, it's actually a decent game.

agreed. How is this a bad game? It has distinct shots. The only complaint is the slow wheel - but that's really splitting hairs.

#35 11 years ago

DRM

Honch

Pinside member

12y 79,300 5,073

Bugs Bunny's Birthday Bash. Great theme that has gone terribly wrong.

#36 11 years ago

NEO

CaptainNeo

Playfield restorations

Burlington, WI

11y 148K 22,438 37 77 1

Fish tales
SF2
Xfiles
Rolling stones

are horrible bottom of barrel pins for me.

#37 11 years ago

CRG

Craig

Pinside+ Frequent

Durham, NC

11y 70,900 4,543 11

Quoted from Honch:
Bugs Bunny's Birthday Bash. Great theme that has gone terribly wrong.

I have to agree. I got to play it fairly recently. A classic missed opportunity. I've also played XFiles, mentioned more than once above. Just okay; certainly not something I'd buy. 'Never had the chance to play most of these, but I'll be on the lookout.

#38 11 years ago

robertmee

Pinside member

Raleigh, NC

12y 82,800 6,430 15 9

Vacation America....I dare anyone to like that pin

The home version games were genuinely awful (Elvis Alive is another one)

#39 11 years ago

BKC

pinster68

Pinside+ Frequent

Asbury Park, NJ

13y 114K 4,338 10 33

Hurricane (my first pin) sure drummed up a lot of aggression on RGP over the years. I liked it, but man did it bring out the worst in some people.

#40 11 years ago

YAY

jitneystand1

Pinside member

Valley, NE

15y 95,850 1,536 16 40 1

Quoted from donjagra:
Maverick

Boooooooo!

#41 11 years ago

NRP

sparkup

Pinside member

11y 42,650 244

wipe out
shaq attaq
Maverick

#42 11 years ago

JJZ

janus

Pinside member

11y 51,600 545 12 10

Are we hating the pin or just the theme? I love my Maverick

#43 11 years ago

???

soren

Dots and Loops

Copenhagen

13y 80,050 1,377

The only game I remember walking up to for the first time, starting a game, and half way through already thinking 'What a heap of s***' is Rescue 911. Very odd and unbalanced playfield layout, sloooooow ball interacting toy and ugly looking.

Maybe Popeye also. Same issues. Odd layout, odd toys, ugly looking - and nasty outlanes.

I have yet to play many many titles from all era. For the 90's especially non-Williams games. I'm sure there is more unplayable.

#44 11 years ago

MJN

mickthepin

Inactive member

Brisbane

12y 64,400 2,333 2 25

RT and DM are two of the worst games I have ever played, but I think any game can be fun if you get into a comp with someone. It forces you to find out the hart of the game.

#45 11 years ago

NRP

sparkup

Pinside member

11y 42,650 244

Quoted from janus:
Are we hating the pin or just the theme? I love my Maverick

I just don't like having to wait for the paddle boat to release the ball, kills the game for me.

#46 11 years ago

JRH

Decat

Pinside member

Houston, TX

12y 28,900 278 5

Haha, I love how many people hate on Popeye for being too slow. They must have played an old one with worn out flippers/rubber. My Popeye plays very fast. One of the only pins in which every shot can be made both fore hand and back hand consistently (if you are good), that is the definition of a good layout to me. And of course I have fixed all know problems with the machine and it is absolutely a blast to play, but I also have made a lot of upgrades to make it more enjoyable. LEDs are a must for Popeye, or I agree it does not look great, but with LEDs throughout it looks great! Also with a subwoofer added you can feel many audio clips as if there was a shaker, very cool that the audio was that good. I also have added some small Popeye action figures around the playfield and a large topper of Popeye hooked directly up to the GI and 5 flashers matched to the flashers on the playfield are also in the topper. No matter what pins I play out in the wild whether it be Cactus Canyon, MM, AFM, or TZ I always look forward to coming home to play a few rounds on Popeye to call it a night, very enjoyable pin when setup correctly and maintained.

#47 11 years ago

HEY

indypinhead

Pinside member

12y 119K 6,376

hurricane
southpark

#48 11 years ago

JRH

Decat

Pinside member

Houston, TX

12y 28,900 278 5

Here is a photo of my Popeye:

image.jpg

#49 11 years ago

SEF

practicalsteve

GoldenStatePin

El Cerrito, CA

12y 104K 7,623 5

Quoted from pinster68:
Hurricane (my first pin) sure drummed up a lot of aggression on RGP over the years. I liked it, but man did it bring out the worst in some people.

My first pin as well, also don't know why people hate on it so much, really not a bad pin.

#50 11 years ago

JRH

Decat

Pinside member

Houston, TX

12y 28,900 278 5

I played a Very nicely maintained Hurricane a few weeks ago at the Houston Area Pinball Expo and I loved it! Very enjoyable. But once again it was very nicely maintained and had LEDs throughout, looked and played great!

The first CFTBL and SimpsonsPP I played were poorly maintained and it was a terrible experience to play and I ended up hating the pins because of this, until I played a well maintained CFTBL and SimpsonsPP at the last Expo and wow did I enjoy those! Great games when well maintained! I think a lot of perceived value, playability, and enjoyment has to do with how well the games are cared for.

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