Get frontier or quicksilver for the stern title

Mostly disagree. The backglass is cool... good gameplay--> I personally do not think so.

Meteor is a decent choice but I fear eventually you will grow weary and tired of it.

I have a restored Fathom, mint centaur, and HUO Medusa in my collection and I will say Fathom is absolutely worth it if you are into the early 80's games. I love all 3 games and can't imagine not having all 3.. they are that good and compliment each other very nicely.

If you play the living crap out of any of these old games, they will become "old" lol... I'm not surprised some have said that.. but I also have 8 other modern games (another wall) and I spend more time playing them and everything balances out.

Since we're focused on Fathom, I'll add my $.02- It's super fun if it's dialed in, and mine is dialed in (I have upgraded flippers/coils and is one of the best playing Fathoms ever in my opinion). I've owned it and the 3 for many years and I never look at them like it's time to go... I look at it more like it took me a decade to get 3 amazing samples of these titles and there is no way I'm letting them go now.

Get one and you'll love it! The art, speech, third flipper shot, locks, multi-balls, etc., are just pure gold.

Good luck with your search!

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Dunno about vehicular manslaughter.... that's the starter standing in between the cars at the starting line...but.... a lot of good stuff goes on in the background of NGS. There is a couple having sex in the tower, while another dude watches etc. Another great Dave C. backglass with lots of easter eggs.

I got tired of Meteor very quickly. There's really nothing to do on this one but shoot the spinner, I find this game a lot less satisfying than stuff like Stars or Ali.

Gameplay will be the most subjective in any discussion - but I think Xenon has a fun layout and multiball objective. I would probably say Fathom/EBD has a slight edge on gameplay, Centaur is too floaty for me, Flash Gordon is almost too fast/brutal...and the Frontier theme does nothing for me so who cares how it plays. But NONE of them are as good as Xenon on sounds/voice. Suzanne Ciani knocked it out of the park. I always thought Fathom/EBD/Centaur voices were too monotone robotic. Fathom really missed a huge opportunity to have female mermaid voices instead of the male.

That’s often the narrative for Meteor.

But there’s a heap more to it than that.

Meteor target completions is bonus x - I wail on those.

The 1-2-3 banks light your bonus rockets .. those counting down with a big X is worth big points.

So you got the spinner to wail on, when lit .. then the 3 banks of drops, then the Meteor drops.

Meteor and Ali would be my favourite Sterns I reckon. Both cheap, both great pins.

rd

The spinner is almost always lit! Unless you do something dumb like shoot those upper drop targets.

To get the bonus X.

Also - depends on the game. If the spinner is lubed and spinning like hell, yeah, you do that all day.

If not, go the other way.

Personally - I do all three things. Bonus X, rockets, spinner.

rd

So the spinner is lit unless you lite the spinner; got it!

Reading about Centaur on Pinside in recent times, I've come to the conclusion that many examples are just not set up right.

Set it with a high pitch and set to "conservative" settings.

Also folks who say the save gates make it too easy need to reinstall/adjust their tilt bob. It's not fun if it's all reward and no risk.

Thanks a lot, assholes. Just bought a Fathom.

Well don't murder us.

Ha, no murdering. I've been eyeing early Bally SS games for a while, and I finally pulled the trigger. I'd love to snag a Medusa, Centaur, Flash Gordon, Xenon, etc. down the road.

I know, I have been playing mine almost every morning before work since this thread started.

Ballys are the best.

All this Fathom talk I'm trying to resist.

Especially since I pulled the trigger on a heavily mentioned game in this thread.

You will not regret that Nine Ball

I've got a Fireball II that I'd be willing to sell

Ditto

Fathom real beauty and worth owning . If space challenged and you have blue tile bathroom a good way add extra gamespace . That being said my wife said no to this decorating suggestion . True story .

Enjoy your new titles
Shane

Did you suggest using a rug as well? I heard they can really tie a room together.

Flash Gordon was my next one

Not yet. Soon.

You better have beer in the garage fridge, because I’m coming over when it arrives.

Worth it!!!

It’s such a unique game. I really enjoy bankshottin’ it around.

Playfields are usually worn badly in the center. Took me a decade to find a nice one.

I disagree. I think he's praising the nymphs for a great time they had.

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We can call it sexual asphyxiation then. Still a murder.
LOL

I’m in way over my head...

We really enjoy our fathom does not play that great, but looks good

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