Blackout

Half of my collection is what people usually WTFs. JM, JD, SG, DW, SWEP1, TF, TX and soon Stranger Things.

Yeah, I owned one of those. I really liked certain shots, but agree the upper PF just sort of took me out of it. Really cool game otherwise.

I do definitely agree with BBH. That game is fun, and very much feels like Avatar/IM as described. I owned both of those other games for a while, they're really fun to bash around without too much deep thinking. WCS was another one I never really felt too 'drained' to play.

DM is great. I think it gets respect, but it's pretty underrated. It's super fun, except I'm the only person on the planet that hates those handles... so I give up some significant bonus every time.

Genesis

Airborne

Lights, Camera, Action

Elektra

I was just speaking to some friends about Cleopatra SS. The game is fast a furious, incredibly fun, looks nice, but has one of the lowest valuations, and ranks quite low.

Next I'd say T3, the game is amazing when you get to know it and have it set up well, but again, really low rank, and a really poor valuation for a 2k3 stern.

Volcano seems to be hard to find anywhere. I haven't seen one since it was new, and I've only seen one! Also a long time since I've played a Mars.

Johnny Mnemonic

I would go with Avengers LE. This is really a great game once all the bugs are worked out, and it definitely doesn't get the love it deserves.

HULK edition is one of the prettiest Sterns in recent memory. I've yet to play one where all the "issues" have been addressed. A turd through and through so far.

Williams Darling, when in good working order, it is actually a fairly fun table. Also, Maverick. I bought that one to flip... But I am having so much fun playing it, I can't bare to list it right now!

I would agree, T3 is a super, fast, fun pin and a great theme...needed Stern to update and finish the software and I believe it would have ranked much higher.

This could be said about almost all of their recent machines.

You need to come play the one I sold this week. Perfect and smooth!

I got to work on one about a year ago. I thought the playfield looked like the layout was boring. Tried it after I fixed it and found it was a fun and challenging game! The EM and Pyramid (two player EM version) are equally fun.

Bally Hotdoggin. Wide body with some great shots

What about the Rodney Dangerfield pin. I tell ya, it gets no respect at all - no respect!

What? They never made a Rodney Dangerfield pin? Well that proves it gets no respect.

World Cup Soccer 94.
Theme is not the best, but the game is a blast.

Breakshot, Torpedo Alley

Another vote for Breakshot. It's hard to find a sub $2k DMD that's as fun as breakshot is.

I don't think it was mentioned but I always thought Blackout was cool. Simple but fun to play, 50' space sci-fi theme is just awesome, and sounds/ speech are perfect for this theme and era .

I got lots of weird and wonderfuls that everyone hates. I like machines with a point of difference.

My latest is Street Fighter 2 and i'm enjoying it immensley.

I have a lead on an Orbiter 1 that should be my next buy and i'm on the lookout for a Bally Space Invaders.

Sega Baywatch

I was sceptic too but man this is areal nice game!

I thought i would fix mine up and then sell or trade it.
Just can't seem to part with her!
Love it

Me too ! And just about to install colour screen so it's gonna be even harder to let go

SHAQ!!

Pinball Magic. TOM always gets all the love and praise, and I'll admit its a prettier game to look at (not that PM is ugly at all) but PM is way way cooler. Some of the best, if not THE best toys in all of pinball, even today and it blows the dumb trunk in TOM out of the water.

Agree. PM is a great game, but it didn't last long in my collection simply due to it's repetitive nature. The game would be a 10/10 if every shot wasn't the same for every game. People LOVED that floating ball stage. They all thought it was a magnet. I'll admit, it even had me fooled for a bit of time.

Your doomed!
Bolted!

I don't play my pinball magic as much as the Houdini that's next to it because of the rules.

I just picked up a super nice dungeons and dragons and it’s a lot of fun. Challenging enough to keep you coming back for more and it’s very innovative for 1987. I honestly think the bad reviews are from people who have spent a very limited amount of time on it. Once you get the hang of magic saves you can really play some long, fun games.

I can play wipeout for hours, such a fun game, can't wait to get one!

Pocket pool....amirite?!

Doctor Who. The hitting of the ramps to keep your playfield multiplier up, spelling "who" with those three shots, and multiball are so simple and addicting. Perfect example of shallow games being super "one more game" addictive.

DE SW

Stern Kiss

I agree 100% I didn't like Victory the first time I played it either, but after I was taught to shoot the checkpoints I was hooked. I finally found one after a couple years of looking around. Definitely one of my favorites in my small row.

Lately, Demolition man. Great game for the price. It's crazy.

Mr. Ms. Pac-Man gets no respect. No one understands it just playing it a few times. The playfield and score cards are almost completely useless in helping to understand how to play it.

It has so many unique rules, I honestly love it for that very reason. Don’t tilt ball 3!

Right, but it’s held in high regard as a great tournament game and a fun machine to casually play…. It gets lots of respect in my pinball circles. Only bad thing about it is the hideous translite and cabinet artwork.

A Williams widebody should not be selling for 3300 in this market. lol

demo (resized).JPG

I almost didn't pick up my Transformers LE recently because of all the hate. We've had it for about 6 months now and it's still one of the ones I can't wait to play. I'm not even a real fan of the movies, but man, it's a really fun game to play, and between an external sub and shaker it really gets your blood pumping!

Virtual pinball gets no respect, and yet it's playing a vital role in generating new interest in the hobby. Most of the planet is working pay check to pay check, so it's important not to dismiss those who love pinball, but don't have the money to buy real machines.

Yuk.

“In this market”. I don’t even know what that means. The market is whatever it is. “Game respect” and the market price a game is selling at don’t have much in common. 3300 seems about right for that game to me. Are you suggesting somehow that it should sell for the price of a new Stern? Demo man has always been a good game for the money, even back when it was 1200-1500 and AFM was 3500.

I’ve been patient and have always been able to find exactly what I wanted for either fair market price or below. Not sure why everyone is always so uptight about finding what they want for a fair price. The hobby changes, prices change, and the desire for certain games changes. The only thing that is certain is that these things will always change and you can’t do anything about it.

Ya, prices are really going down..lol Order a new Stern today....

There are a lot of low-rated games that I've played once or twice and liked. But maybe I would start to hate them if I played them more.
Escape from the Lost World
Stern Playboy
WWE
Wheel of Fortune
Big Hurt

Two games come to mind for me. They aren’t as underrated as some of the games being mentioned, but are overshadowed by other Bally/Williams games of the time. Those games are No Fear, and Dirty Harry.

No Fear keeps me coming back with the speed and the addicting jump shot. Idk why more people don’t talk about this shot, it may just be one of the best in pinball. Also the triple wizard mode at the end is pretty cool.

Dirty Harry is just a super solid game overall that seems to take a backseat to other very similar games. The side ramp on this game is super smooth and satisfying, and the modes are engaging enough. Fun multiball mode too.

Judge dredd and fastbreak

Its funny, I never stopped in on this thread before. Post 2, from Levi, mentioning 2 years ago, that the boat was missed
2 years ago for cheap prices, is ironic today! We would all love pricing now from 2 years ago!

I wanted to share my Passion for Blackwater 100. Yes the theme is motor cross, the music sucks, but becomes invisible when you play long enough, but the game in some ways reminds me of Dracula meets Whitewater.
The objective with a 3 ball launch, is to lock the 3 balls. I have only done this once.
There are targets on Side ramps, that many never notice, the flipper on the Apron with targets, is a blast, and the whole game is a unique challenge that doesnt exist elsewhere.
The World under glass, as a preview from Greg and Dennis, is a sight in itself.

Production Numbers have been debated, with either the number being off, or many that went overseas.
Usually still found at a good price, but almost zero playfield replacement pieces.
Around 2K, its an Amazing game, and a hidden challenge, many overlook.