(Topic ID: 121388)

Hardest EM you have played/owned?

By Shapeshifter

9 years ago


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There are 101 posts in this topic. You are on page 2 of 3.
#51 9 years ago
Quoted from SteveO:

Bowling Queen. Nearly impossible to get all 12 balls as you have to drain 4 of your balls in the right spot on the outlanes.

Playfield2.jpg

Well, racking all 12 balls may be nearly impossible on "BQ", but otherwise it's pretty easy to win a replay. The key is getting the white target first so that the slings are worth 10 points, then getting the blue and red targets to light the bumpers and the specials. I've done this very often on the first ball. But, I've never racked all 12 balls in the animation unit. I've done 11 once, and 10 a few times. I've gotten all four outlanes only once. I did play a game recently where I won a replay all four ways; score, special, racking enough balls, and a match.

#52 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

When I owned Big Casino it was too far gone to ever really get it working right. And it wasn't very pretty to look at. But I may have to revisit this title some day.
bigalbino.jpg

i'll play that one once you get it and i come visit...

those games with the flippers all the way to the sides are tough for me to like...

#53 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

^^^
one of the few games that came with a post from the factory...

There were several, actually. "Mibs" and "Rack A Ball" which have the same playfield layout as "BQ" also have a factory installed post. "North Star" does as well. There were others, but can't think of them off the top of my head.

#54 9 years ago
Quoted from Tuna_Delight:

My Ice Show has always been very challenging. With six outlanes, nudging skills are essential, but often not enough to keep the ball in play.

You gotta put the big juicy bouncy donut rubbers on the outlane posts of "Ice Show" to make it somewhat playable. Same with "Big Casino", and "Corral". If you soak the rings in RC-88 or even charcoal lighter (which RC-88 probably is anyway), they will swell up and get real bouncy (don't get any other ideas, ya knuckleheads!).

#55 9 years ago
Quoted from jrpinball:

There were several, actually. "Mibs" and "Rack A Ball" which have the same playfield layout as "BQ" also have a factory installed post. "North Star" does as well. There were others, but can't think of them off the top of my head.

yup, those come to mind...

"few" being relative to total number of titles issued... it wasn't a common feature...

#56 9 years ago
Quoted from EMsInKC:

Try the swing target on River Boat. If you miss it...SDTM

Yeah, I've got one of those on Magic Clock, but it is not quite the sucker shot this is. But you can't help but going for it. Don't shoot any where near the drop target when it is down though. On IPDB most of those pics are my machine! Before I got it though.

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=242

BD.jpgBD.jpg

#57 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Big Daddy is still the toughest one I have played or owned. The ball travels very fast. Usually to the gaping outlanes.

Yeah, Big Daddy was kicking my ass just trying to get to 1000. I think my highest score was in the 800s.

#58 9 years ago

We are gluttons for punishment.

#59 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Yeah, I've got one of those on Magic Clock, but it is not quite the sucker shot this is. But you can't help but going for it. Don't shoot any where near the drop target when it is down though. On IPDB most of those pics are my machine! Before I got it though.
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=242
BD.jpg (Click image to enlarge)

i'm gonna need that trailer for a few weeks... i will NOT be able to resist that shot...

Quoted from o-din:

We are gluttons for punishment.

it certainly appears that way...

when "we" played games on route, we wanted them to be reasonably easy to beat, to make the change last longer... now that we have them at home, we make them hard as hell to beat...

#60 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

went and looked on ipdb...
yup, that looks like a death shot to me...
something tells me if you hit the target relatively squarely when it is in the "middle" that it will be sdtm too... just like the "killer queen" on jacks open...

No, if you hit the target flush on the face, it doesn't cause a drain at all. It's only if you miss and hit the rubber behind it. It's not always a SDTM, but if your shot is anywhere near the center of that target area, it's dicey to say the least.

Now, I own a Pinball Pool, where Gottlieb put a captive ball in the center to get the 8 ball (instead of the kickout hole like on Hot Shot and Big Shot). If you hit that ball flush, you see ridiculous English being put on the ball and boom, straight out it goes. You have to hit it to get an extra ball, and quite often that's exactly what you'll be doing-going right to the extra ball. It's kind of a necessary sucker shot.

On those old Gottliebs like Big Casino, no outlanes meant the ball had to drain somewhere so they put the flippers a football field length apart. That game comes up for sale a lot and not at a high price and there's a reason for that. It's a drain monster.

#61 9 years ago

My Williams 3 Coins and Gusher are my most difficult. Gusher, I just don't find fun. But 3 Coins is a fast and funky game play. I've never officially got all 3 coins to light the swing target for replays. Getting ace ~ 10 sequentially will light one coin. And getting over 1,000 is difficult but not too crazy.

3 coins.jpg3 coins.jpg
#62 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

i will NOT be able to resist that shot...

You can take that shot if you can save the ball after it rolls out of those side lanes.

#63 9 years ago
Quoted from pinballdork:

My Williams 3 Coins

I'd like that to be my 50 volt 3 Coins.

#64 9 years ago
Quoted from pinballdork:

My Williams 3 Coins and Gusher are my most difficult. Gusher, I just don't find fun. But 3 Coins is a fast and funky game play. I've never officially got all 3 coins to light the swing target for replays. Getting ace ~ 10 sequentially will light one coin. And getting over 1,000 is difficult but not too crazy.

3 coins.jpg (Click image to enlarge)

i kinda like the layout of 3 coins... it looks hard but fun...

Quoted from o-din:

You can take that shot if you can save the ball after it rolls out of those side lanes.

yea, like that's gonna happen.... TILT!!!! as i try to save...

#65 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

i kinda like the layout of 3 coins... it looks hard but fun...

yea, like that's gonna happen.... TILT!!!! as i try to save...

Similar to Heat Wave. Just great games.

#66 9 years ago

Spot-a-Card was featured in a side tournament at The Gentleperson's Pinball Society league final at PPM. It's so hilariously frustrating.

#67 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

yea, like that's gonna happen.... TILT!!!! as i try to save...

Well, if you can't get the knocker to fire, aim at those kickout holes and you can get a satisfying smack off the glass as it bounces over them.

#68 9 years ago

For me it would have to be Central Park. It is one of my favorite games, but very difficult to beat. Ironically I played it last night, 15 straight games no special.

#69 9 years ago
Quoted from EMsInKC:

Similar to Heat Wave. Just great games.

True. And I haven't even played this one yet. All the mechanics are done. I think I will go out in the garage and clean the playfield and put three coats of wax on it. Set it on three ball play, put it back together, and maybe by this weekend I can set sail and see how many months or years it takes me to get to Tahiti.

Tahiti.jpgTahiti.jpg

#70 9 years ago

Tradewinds is a classic EM
Very addictive
Tough to get to Tahiti,
but not impossible to score specials.

#71 9 years ago
Quoted from pinballdork:

My Williams 3 Coins and Gusher are my most difficult. Gusher, I just don't find fun. But 3 Coins is a fast and funky game play. I've never officially got all 3 coins to light the swing target for replays. Getting ace ~ 10 sequentially will light one coin. And getting over 1,000 is difficult but not too crazy.

3 coins.jpg (Click image to enlarge)

Curious why you don't like Gusher as never played it but always heard it is a classic? 3 Coins looks great!

#72 9 years ago

I spent the better part of 3 hours on Odin's Big Daddy machine. I think I scored 1005 and 1021 or something like that. Most games I was lucky to break 800.

#73 9 years ago
Quoted from Shapeshifter:

Curious why you don't like Gusher as never played it but always heard it is a classic? 3 Coins looks great!

I can't quite put my finger on what it is... Cool disappearing pop bumper, interesting art. To get playfield special (in gobble hole) you need a ball to drain out each out lane, i'm not a fan of that. A lot of balls will drain in the Gobble hole from the slings, seems a bit too often. I don't get the 'want' to push start button on this machine like my other stuff. I just don't feel the love I guess. ???

#74 9 years ago
Quoted from pinballdork:

I can't quite put my finger on what it is... I just don't feel the love I guess. ???

That has happened to me plenty of times with games that are highly regarded. I think when you get a game with a strong reputation your expectations are very high. For me this often ends with wondering what all the fuss was about. The good news is if you decided to let it go there should be buyers lined up.

#75 9 years ago
Quoted from Rat_Tomago:

I spent the better part of 3 hours on Odin's Big Daddy machine. I think I scored 1005 and 1021 or something like that. Most games I was lucky to break 800.

Rat was determined. It is amazing how long people can stand in front of that machine and keep pushing the start button oblivious to everything else that is going on in the world. I have never seen another machine that casts that kind of spell over people once given the Big Daddy challenge. Except for Hoov that walked away after a couple of games.

#76 9 years ago
Quoted from AlexF:

That has happened to me plenty of times with games that are highly regarded. I think when you get a game with a strong reputation your expectations are very high. For me this often ends with wondering what all the fuss was about. The good news is if you decided to let it go there should be buyers lined up.

When I was first looking to get some EMs, I was on the hunt to get an Atlantis based on all the feedback and reviews that I had seen. One of my collector friends (you know him) had a gorgeous Atlantis that was even featured in Game Room Magazine. I played the game many, many times. It was dialed in, played correctly, yet it didn't captivate me. So I moved on, found a Slick Chick, and that moved up rapidly and still sits in my top favorites category. I asked my collector friend why he never obtained a SC and he said it "didn't do anything for him."

Obviously, to each his own, but in retrospect, I'm glad that I didn't get the same game as my friend. No two games will play or look the same and that would create a scenario where we would be constantly comparing to one another than enjoying them.

#77 9 years ago

I've had the opportunity to pick up an Atlantis. The idea of owning one makes me nervous. It's almost so universally loved and highly regarded I am almost sure it wouldn't be as good as I expected it to be.

I've played Slick Chick a little and really enjoyed it. I'd certainly revisit that title if the opportunity arose. Seems like a tough game, in a good way...

#78 9 years ago

Jet Spin is fairly hard to beat, I think that's why a lot of people don't like the game. But over here, it is one of the most popular titles and is developing a real following among these pinball players.

And Heat Wave isn't the easiest machine that I have ever played either, Kordek put quite a lot of defense in the design. And you had better have that skill shot 'down' too if you ever want to light the specials.

And like Jet Spin... seems to have an answer for all the finesse moves you try to throw at it.

#79 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Rat was determined. It is amazing how long people can stand in front of that machine and keep pushing the start button oblivious to everything else that is going on in the world. I have never seen another machine that casts that kind of spell over people once given the Big Daddy challenge. Except for Hoov that walked away after a couple of games.

sounds like hoov was the smart one....

#80 9 years ago
Quoted from AlexF:

I've had the opportunity to pick up an Atlantis. The idea of owning one makes me nervous. It's almost so universally loved and highly regarded I am almost sure it wouldn't be as good as I expected it to be.
I've played Slick Chick a little and really enjoyed it. I'd certainly revisit that title if the opportunity arose. Seems like a tough game, in a good way...

you have a fair point there... i think that it's easy to overestimate how much fun a machine might be strictly based on others love for it... not that you venture over to the "other side" of pinside very often, but you'd see that happen a lot over there... there is more than one case of (very expensive) buyers remorse...

re: slick chick... HATED it the first couple times i played it... played it a bit more, liked it a bit more... i could see me having one, it grows on you...

#81 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

you have a fair point there... i think that it's easy to overestimate how much fun a machine might be strictly based on others love for it... not that you venture over to the "other side" of pinside very often, but you'd see that happen a lot over there... there is more than one case of (very expensive) buyers remorse...

Yeah, sometimes it's hard to scrape up $300-$500 for a game I know I'll like, I can't imagine spending thousands to order a new release based on a couple of press photos.

#82 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

True. And I haven't even played this one yet. All the mechanics are done. I think I will go out in the garage and clean the playfield and put three coats of wax on it. Set it on three ball play, put it back together, and maybe by this weekend I can set sail and see how many months or years it takes me to get to Tahiti.
Tahiti.jpg

man, i like that more and more every time i see it...

#83 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

sounds like hoov was the smart one....

Hoov was short on time. Maybe he figured he might not make it out to the garage if he let Big Daddy take over.

#84 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Hoov was short on time. Maybe he figured he might not make it out to the garage if he let Big Daddy take over.

ah, he went in the wrong order... garage and jack FIRST, then big daddy...

#85 9 years ago
Quoted from ccotenj:

ah, he went in the wrong order... garage and jack FIRST, then big daddy...

You REALLY know how things work around here, don't you?

#86 9 years ago

1939's Davy Jones.

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out where the flippers were.

It drained every time.

image-3.jpgimage-3.jpg

#87 9 years ago

Central Park for me. Very challenging game, but keeps me coming back for more abuse.

#88 9 years ago

This thread has got me thinking for another thread maybe. The hardest em's to complete/finish. ie. getting 5 advances on Gigi - now that is super super hard!

#89 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

You REALLY know how things work around here, don't you?

i'm a careful observer...

#90 9 years ago

Gottlieb Flying Carpet. Played it back in the day and hated it because I could never win on it. Have owned one for a few years now and it is still pretty tough to beat.

#91 9 years ago

The hardest EM I have never played has to be Williams Rancho. The cabinet was made out of solid steel.

#92 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

The hardest EM I have never played has to be Williams Rancho. The cabinet was made out of solid steel.

I've heard about those, but I've never seen one. How many did they make with the steel cabinet?

#93 9 years ago
Quoted from jrpinball:

How many did they make with the steel cabinet?

Around 1200 from what I gather. And I hear they are HEAVY.

#94 9 years ago

Damn, the Williams games from that era were heavy enough already!

#95 9 years ago

I have a Williams metal cabinet Rancho, and it is the hardest game I've ever had to move. Weighs more than a bingo game. Great player, though.

#96 9 years ago
Quoted from atpcfiaim:

I have a Williams metal cabinet Rancho, and it is the hardest game I've ever had to move.

Hardest game I ever moved was that EM Joker Poker. Not that it was heavy, but I did get my arm twisted.

#97 9 years ago
Quoted from o-din:

Rat was determined. It is amazing how long people can stand in front of that machine and keep pushing the start button oblivious to everything else that is going on in the world. I have never seen another machine that casts that kind of spell over people once given the Big Daddy challenge. Except for Hoov that walked away after a couple of games.

It doesn't halp that you have it set on 3 ball! LOL! You gave me the Kings and Queens 3 ball challenge and I womped a huge score of 2200 something on 3 ball K and Q!

#98 9 years ago
Quoted from Rat_Tomago:

You gave me the Kings and Queens 3 ball challenge and I womped a huge score of 2200 something on 3 ball K and Q!

I'll admit I haven't done that yet. But it is a lot easier to keep the ball in play. It doesn't have the big point shots like Big Daddy though.

1 week later
#99 9 years ago
Quoted from AtomRest:

Gottlieb's Central Park.....

Agree - just played... Wow.

#100 9 years ago

I'd have to say the hardest are the earliest from late 40ies/50ies, probably most woodrails.

I've played a lot of old em's at the Paris pinball museum.
They're all restored and play well so it's not that a specific type of game was set up wrong and therefor hard to play.. what I discovered there was how difficult these first generation of games was (Gottlieb fairytail series and other woodrails).

Playing the rooms with the wedgeheads was fun.. but the older woodrails just left me frustrated. The games seems no fun - but I realised they are, but are just more difficult to control the ball. It's a different type of gameplay, more nudging, less flipper control.
Probably they're more fun if you really get used to them but that takes a while.

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