Pinside rating

This game received 66 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.525 _/10

8.525

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 1st in the game group "AC/DC". The group itself ranks #24 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.405

Artwork: 7.845

Sounds/Music: 9.094

Other Aspects: 8.654

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 3 of us have rated this game.

9.073

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This title is part of group: "AC/DC"

AC/DC
(Pro)

AC/DC
(Premium)

AC/DC
(LE)

AC/DC
(Pro Vault Edition)

AC/DC
(Premium Vault Edition)

Found 59 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 59 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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9.780/10

70 days ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 158K 1,445 51 985 1

AC/DC is the best game to come from Stern in a long long time.

The Pros:
This is the best sounding pinball game... ever. The theme is incredibly well executed and the details of this game are well attended. Drops instead of standups are a welcome addition. The Bell diverter lane as well as the diverter from the left ramp. Oh yeah... the lower pf is a welcome return and addition to this game. Not too much time is spent down there and the scoring is not so significant that it is unbalancing. This table flows well and is a worthy successor to the T2 layout. Smooth flow and lots of different modes use the entire playfield and yet all the modes do not feel boring. 12 songs, 12 modes, 12 sets of rules within the same table. Stack you MB's, multiply your PF scoring and rock out! The Back in Black art package is the BEST!

The Cons:
I need more time with this game. I'd love to see what they do with the wizard mode. You had better like AC/DC songs because you are going to hear a lot of it. The inlane/outlane on the right is obstructed by the cannon. The bell seems to break a bit on location. I stay away from a few modes at all cost (Thunderstruck, agh!)

The Takeaway:
With software updates and more tweaking of the modes on the way... this game is a winner. It feels great, it looks good and the gameplay is fantastic. I have to play this game more, and that is ALWAYS a sign of a good pinball game. Congratulations Stern... I am more excited to play this game than any other pinball game I have seen in years.

Update:
This game has LOOOOOOONNNNG legs. I mean, it just keeps on giving and giving and giving. The game can be set up for easier play (If you absolutely need to make Encore), and can also be set up to be PAPA nasty and downright deadly as a player. There are some minor complaints about the cannon modes, but... these are such small matters as compared to the big picture that. They don't really matter at all. A true player in every sense of the term and quite possibly the only game that I don't have in my collection that I HAVE to own someday. When you really think about it, there are only 5 shots on the game.

Left Orbit
Left Ramp
Bell lane
Right Ramp
Right Orbit

and nothing of real note to the layout. This game is a true testament to the genius of Lyman Sheats and is one of the few games that Stern made that was not programmed by Keith Johnson to be a truly brilliant, deep game that is without exploits. This is a game that offers you many valid and earn-able choices as to how to play as your game progresses. If pinball was art (I do most sincerely believe that it is) This pinball deck is analagous to DaVinci's David, Michaelangelo's Mona Lisa. So there. Ritchie and Sheats's AC/DC.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

7.732/10

3 months ago

JAN

Pastor69

JPM

Hoofddorp

<1y 39,300 96 3 8

Its a good game with an okay flow, rating would probably be higher if i liked the music more.

8.100/10

3 months ago

CEC

JustEverett

Wichita Pinball (WPC)

Wichita, KS

5y 119K 1,283 12 62

Always enjoy playing ACDC, but I can't see how the LE is getting such higher marks than every other model. It's definitely not #2 on pinside good. Music and theme is a lot of fun, shots are fun, game is fast and brutal. But to me ACDC isn't even a top 10 game.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

7.848/10

4 months ago

CSF

JurassicPark

Pinside member

Springfield, VT

1y 27,300 16 3 36

Same as the others, great music pin, maybe the best. But not top 10 material.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

7.800/10

4 months ago

DAD

tampa12

Pinside+ Frequent

Tampa, FL

2y 46,050 113 4 12

Great pin with great music. I'm not a fan of the art on the playfield but Lucy looks cool. Call outs are fun and gameplay is smooth and fun to shoot. Code is just ok but shots make up for lack of exciting code. Overall a good pin.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

9.100/10

1 year ago

TKB

Brown_tk

Pinside member

Davidson, NC

2y 24,500 5 8

Arguably the most "fun" music pins I have played. Like all music pins, though, if you don't like the band then you're not going to enjoy the game. AC/DC, though, has so many amazing tunes that even casual fans gravitate towards this game.

Thoughts...
Music all the way is amaze-balls... Back in Black, Thunderstruck, Highway to Hell, etc. You find yourself rocking while playing. Only negative is it's missing a few hits that I for one would prefer to add (like Dirty Deeds) over some others like War Machine. This is personal preference of course.
Fun Factor is a given... this game 100% has that fun factor where you just want to keep playing.
Rules... pretty good rule set that allows you to cycle through songs with different objectives. Only downside is inconsistent scoring, especially in the lower playfield. Every song has a champion, though, so if you love Hell Aien't a Bad Place then you can focus on holding that over GC.
Playfield cons ... I've played a few of these in the wild, and including my own, the only infuriating thing is the cannon shot not always registering the hit against the AC/DC lightning standup. It also partially blocks visibility of the right outlane.
Lower Playfield longevity concern... fun additional gimmick to the game, but I wish you could take it out and replace the see-thru cover. This is a longevity issue for the game because of 'clouding' over time and no way to address it without replacing the entire board.

All in all, absolutely fantastic pin that everyone in my home, including kids & guests, are thrilled to play.

7 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.484/10

5 years ago

MLP

tabascoman77

Pinside member

6y 46,150 4 105

This is the game that knocked "Tales of the Arabian Nights" out of my personal Top 10. "AC/DC: LE" is a fantastic game on nearly every single level. As with most of Stern's rock tables, I'm not a huge fan of AC/DC but I'd listen to their stuff probably before any of the other bands Stern has signed. The game is smooth as hell, giving you the option to listen to about a dozen of their best songs -- and each one gives the table its own unique "personality". For "Thunderstruck", there's thunder and lightning when you hit ramps and targets while "T.N.T." gives you explosions. The ramps are smooth and fairly easy to hit and each one is rewarding. The toys include a heavy requiem bell and a concert stage where the guys "play" during certain modes. The only downside to the game is the DMD which doesn't have a lot to offer in the way of animations and, while the music is there to compensate, the sounds are fairly generic. The biggest gripe I have with it is that the rules aren't abundantly clear and I have no idea how to activate a "wizard mode" despite seemingly going through each song in the game's repertoire. Overall, however, this machine is a blast to play and probably the best of Stern's rock tables.

tabascoman77 edited previous rating on December 18, 2020.

8 Pinsiders flagged this.

10.000/10

7 years ago

MAC

Macca101010

Pinside member

Newcastle

7y 97,050 469 4 16

Awesome game especially if you love AC/DC. My first pin that i wanted to buy (ACDC LE) and love it. There's plenty of rules to keep you entertained for ages and lots of toys to keep the whole family wanting a go :)

Macca101010 edited previous rating on February 02, 2023.

4 Pinsiders flagged this.

6.848/10

7 years ago

MOF

mof

Pinside member

San Francisco, CA

10y 148K 11,808 27 94

AC/DC LE is an average overall package.

Originality: low.

Art/Lights/Theme: So bad I could barely look at the playfield.
This is the typical weak art package from Stern with photoshopped pics of band members all over the playfield. (Unlike what Dirty Donny did with Metallica)

Sound/Callouts: Can't hear since I was in an arcade… I did hear a bell.
Flow: weak. But there was a nice orbit shot in one direction only.

1. no orbits / orbit shots get trapped to pops
2. pop pen is a mindless waste of time ...zzz...
3. the way the ball dribbles out of the pop pen is insulting

Toys: There's a bell. If you miss this shot, wait a while and you may have a ball SDTM. (but not too often)

Ball Control/Hazards: weak. The stand ups might as well just be solid walls. The ball ricochets off them at full speed -- sometimes straight to the outlane, without giving the player a millisecond of any ball control to help avoid disaster. It's another fast "vertical" game from Stern that doesn't allow for much nudging. Most of their games are configured like this now.

Balanced Scoring: (unknown) I haven't played enough games to know how the scoring works

Fun/Lastability: 1 game was enough for me. No desire to play AC/DC again. I never finish it. I keep trying.

Symmetry: good. I’m rather sure its an asymmetrical design.

Use of pops: POOR. They only have scoring opportunities. They cannot hurt the player. I still have no idea why manufacturers continue to hide pops in the upper corner of the playfield in a spot where the cannot harm the player. The way the ball dribble out, when the game is busy keeping you from playing adds insult to injury.

PF Visibility: POOR: I didn't like the use of the cannon over the right sling, and some junk over the left sling, which makes playing a ball off the outlanes impossible (a la STTNG) -- this REALLY kills the game for me. It's like playing with blinders on. Steve Ritchie hasn't had much respect for outlanes in a long time. First the gaping kickback hole on left in the early days, and now putting toys on top of them, so you can't see what you are nudging/saving.

All I can say is, thank goodness that Stern got pinball right with Metallica.
-mof

4 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.029/10

8 years ago

MCC

cooked71

Pinside member

Sydney

9y 152K 8,838 17 38

This game is tough and unforgiving - but is so satisfying when you are making shots that you want to come back for more and more punishment. The BIBLE i am rating feels really solid and polished and the overall package is great.

cooked71 edited previous rating on November 17, 2014.

5 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.058/10

8 years ago

JLH

Hougie

Pinside member

Marysville, IN

11y 103K 3,102 12 34

I love the rules, theme, and flow of AC/DC.

I have played quite a bit on the pro and LE. I think that the Prem/LE is a bit overrated. The lower PF is boring and the diverter slows things down a bit. I would own AC/DC but would just spring for the pro.

8.506/10

8 years ago

RAP

RyanStl

Pinside member

Fenton, MO

8y 119K 6,523 1 93

AC/DC was a surprise for me. It had a lot going on and was very fun to play. I like the be and the designers rally did an excellent job with the them. I was never a big fan of AC/DC music, but after playing the pin I wanted to get the music. I played the LE.

RyanStl edited previous rating on July 14, 2015.

9.552/10

8 years ago

DRT

pins4life33

Pinside member

Sherwood Park, AB

10y 87,550 2,126 86 18

My rating is for ACDC LE "Black in Black", the machine is amazing just keeps me coming back for more. It is simply stunning and the centrepiece of my collection. The gameplay is true awesome and keep you coming back for more. The only real drawback is the machine is drany for the average player and the artwork package on the playfield is average, but really a top 3 machine IMO...

8 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.825/10

9 years ago

DAB

Pinfidel

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 99,800 3,909 9 50

Another great Stern game. If you love AC/DC, you'll love this game even more. There's a lot going on in this pin and it is all fun. The lighting is great and the sound is awesome. I will say that I love their songs, but there's no doubt that it will get boring after awhile. Hec, I've got almost 3000 songs on my I-Pod and I'm sick of that! LOL So, after awhile, the thrill wears off and you're gonna get tired of listening to it. That's what I think anyway. It'd nice that people have figured out change and add songs. That a big plus.

I admit I don't like the devil horns/theme in the game, but that is "their" thing so to speak, so I understand it being in the game. Now, Angus' face on the Pro...Ughhh, I wouldn't want to look at that for too long. BUT, that is the Pro, and not this game the LE. So I didn't take that into my consideration in my vote.

As for the back glass and cabinet artwork, how much can you really do with any music group? The cabinet is well done for a group theme. The back glass, not so much. LOL

I'm also not crazy on the lower playfield. I don't like the sealed over hazey plastic and the whole thing seems kind of cheesy. Maybe that's just me, I don't know. But I feel it takes away from the great flow of this game. At least the times I played it.

Regardless of a few issues, this is one heck of an awesome machine that will always be well sought after and thus rated accordingly. ;)

Pinfidel edited previous rating on June 24, 2014.

8.198/10

9 years ago

ALG

frznpixel

Pinside member

San Francisco, CA

10y 22,150 10 22

I played the "Let There Be Rock" edition of AC/DC and I thought it was a blast! Lots of different toys and features. The bell is really fun and looks great. I especially like the little cut outs of the band members that dance in the background. The mini game underneath the table surface is neat but doesn't add that much to the game, especially since it's very plain and quite difficult to play well.

7.704/10

9 years ago

DOG

Pindog

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 38,800 128 3 27

Wish the pro had the features the LE has.

8.775/10

9 years ago

DUG

Ogie191

Inactive member

Bannockburn, IL

9y 12,150 9 2 13

I like the LE version SOOOOO much more than the AC/DC "pro" version. From the moving bell to the band in the upper right corner, and mainly to NOT being required to stare at Angus Young's "selfie" face in the middle of the playfield. Although the haze in the mini-playfield is a bit of a bummer. This is one of the few Stern LE's where the LE version is much more than just a "blinged-out" pin versus the pro model.
There is not a specific rating for best machine for parties, or best pin to drink beer while playing, but the AC/DC LE would win hands-down! The only complaint I have is the "brightness" of this machine; you had better like LEDs or this pin may give you headaches after a marathon playing session.

10.000/10

9 years ago

KLA

Tastysirloin

Pinside+ Addict

Brisbane

11y 56,300 105 9 8

Steve Ritchie Classic one of Sterns best .Will never let my BIBLE go from my collection.

8 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.200/10

9 years ago

???

nicegirl672

Inactive member

Unknown

9y 4,150 5 19

Just bought this game way better than the pro i now have the le it is a super game never selling it it is a keeper for sure . i did not like the pro at all.

nicegirl672 edited previous rating on September 08, 2013.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.392/10

9 years ago

GRV

GravitaR

Pinside member

Saginaw, MI

11y 129K 2,918 31 71

Game uses the most confusing rule set ever. No way to know what is lit for what and how it stacks its scoring with other features. The placement of the cannon over the right side inlane/outlane is a big blind spot in a very important area. While the sounds/music are great the notion that they aren't in stereo is a downer.

The Ritchie taunts are awesome even though they are in the "NO FEAR" voice pattern. The BIBLE edition artwork really stands out on its cabinet and back glass. The game is a fun one to play and is still getting its software updated. Lyman has done this game great justice.

GravitaR edited previous rating on December 16, 2013.

9.120/10

10 years ago

DMF

dtown

Pinside member

10y 76,900 1,292 2 20

I like AC/DC so the music and theme is a plus for me. Great lighting on the LE's. Not crazy about the lower playfield but I guess it's better than big head. Swinging bell is a great toy and the major thing missing from the pro for me. Deep rules and a ton of fun to play keeps me coming back for more. My favorite Stern.

10.000/10

10 years ago

NEM

Nemesis

Pinside member

Maple Shade, NJ

11y 41,950 643 6 11

Unquestionably the greatest pin I have EVER played. Move over cookie cutter top 10 Williams classics, this game has you checkmated. I played a BIB.LE and it was a flawless action packed entertaining time!

10 Pinsiders flagged this.

10.000/10

10 years ago

AWL

Lamboo27

Pinside member

10y 41,300 68 1 18

Love the LE better then the pro both are very good games Though but the LE is a 10 out of 10 for sure I played this at pin a go go 2012 for the first time and really enjoyed hell on the bottom great game that Steve Ritchie has designed here

9 Pinsiders flagged this.

1.330/10

10 years ago

COK

Riffbear

Pinside member

11y 56,550 839 25

Owned the BIB LE found it boring after 3 weeks, eventually sold it. Great theme for sure! But such a shallow boring game.

Riffbear edited previous rating on May 07, 2013.

6 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.652/10

10 years ago

ZEN

Nighomnipotus

Inactive member

Parts Unknown, UN

10y 17,650 7 1 6

I am talking about a Back In Black LE for this rating. ACDC is an awesome game. It has great sound and music, it is always nice to have Steve Ritchie's devil voice yell at you when you drain too fast saying, "PLAY BETTER!" or "AAHAHHHAHAHAA." The backglass and cabinet artwork and design on the BIB LE is quite something to look at, with the cool black and blue coloring going very well together. The playfield artwork is decent. The thing that makes ACDC a rewardingly deep, challenging, and overall super fun game is the incredibly intricate rule set (thanks to the hard work of LFS). I have played this game copious amounts of times and since not actually owning one and I feel I still haven't seen or done everything, nor heard all the call-outs nor other rare features. And I am not just talking about the wizard mode either. It is just pure fun to try and get everything working together for that all important jackpot payout. From getting the bell multiplier value up to matching the songs, albums, and tours to actually keeping concentration on the balls while figuring out all these other things, on the fly. It keeps me coming back over and over. Now, while I thoroughly enjoy the game possibly more than any other pin I've played, there are of course minor faults or things that get in the way of this being a near perfect game. The biggest complaint I usually hear of and see for myself is the location of the cannon. It obscures the whole right side of the sling shot area making it difficult to nudge or save the ball from draining out the right without significantly changing stance and position. Not impossible to deal with but quite annoying especially when on a good ball and the ball could have been saved otherwise. The other thing that some might actually judge to be a saving grace instead of a shortcoming, and probably the coolest toy on the game is the bell. The bad is sometimes the ball strikes it so hard that the bell will swing for what seems like an inordinately long amount of time, making it difficult to advance the multiplier which is necessary for those huge jackpots and value increases. As I stated previously though is also sometimes a good thing preventing a "rape" on the bell and getting instant 3x values. Other minor issues are just tangible, mechanical and quality issues that Stern is famous for. I am lucky to be able to play a couple different versions of the game in my area Premium and BIB LE, and the targets can act up. Not resetting or resetting and giving advancement of the Album mutlitball, which I have seen on all the machines I have played. This can of course be dealt with and tweaked by the owner/operator. Also sometimes the lower playfield stand-up targets can have trouble registering without some adjustment after some hours of being played. Another minor annoyance happens during multiball, especially Jam Multiball, where the goal is to shot the ramps consecutively over and over for jackpots and good scoring. When balls are flowing there tends to be "trailing" or "following" of balls where two balls will follow up the ramp very close. When the cannon is lit for a shot this becomes a problem as the diverter will divert both balls into the cannon instead of just one, jamming it up and not allowing a shot until a ball-search happens. This can waste valuable time and scoring multiplier opportunities and usually results in one ball being auto-kicked into the right drain.
Despite these minor flaws, overall ACDC is a terrific game with many thousands of hours of play and replayability. I would suggest it for young and old, advanced and beginner. But beware you will be sucked in and probably have ACDC songs in your head when not playing even if not an ACDC fan. So get out there and find one to play and enjoy your adventure on the pinball Highway to Hell.

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