Oh, Addams Family. What a cautionary tale you have become. You were too successful, too popular, too iconic . . . The heavy price for success. I remember back in the day when it was just you and your friends MM, TZ and Indiana Jones sitting high and mighty in the top 5 of Pinside ratings. And look at you now - with each new release falling further and further down the list. What happened? When did it become trendy to knock you? I hear it on location and at festivals all the time “Meh - what is the big deal? My Mando shoots better than this.”
I do not have an answer. But I want you to know I was there in the beginning. And there was pinball before Addams Family and there was pinball after Addams Family. Anyone who looks back fondly on the machines of the 90s and thinks “that was the golden age” owes you a debt of gratitude. You showed the world how to take a licensed theme and turn it into a gold mine. Every movie or TV themed pinball machine owes you. Including your more respected cousin Twilight Zone. Twenty thousand units did not ship because Addams Family was a cultural phenomenon. It was a moderately successful movie that was soon forgotten before the sequel was even released. This game sold because it blew everyone's mind. Now, I know you have to rate things not based on how they were but how things are. I am not one of those guys that is going to tell you Citizen Kane is the greatest movie of all time. I understand why it is significant and how influential it is - but if you say do you want to watch Avengers: Infinity War, Raiders of the lost Ark or Citizen Kane - I am not picking Citizen Kane. But let us give credit where credit is due - this game opened the door and set the blue print for all that was to come after.
But let us get to a review . . . Cabinet, playfield and back glass are all solid. It is real art based on the film. The cabinet and play field - while certainly serviceable - do not stop you in your tracks. Sound for the time is good and the call outs by Raul Julia and Angelica Houston are memorable and set the bar for licensed based games in the future. I remember the 1st time I heard “out to the cemetery” I looked at the playfield saw tomb stones on the plastics and knew to shoot for that area. As opposed to someone saying “shoot the upper left scoop”. It was simple and made sense without taking you out of the theme. I heard someone say “there is no flow” about this game. All I can think is that there must be two definitions of “flow” in the cosmos. This game set the standard for flow. I have also heard people say the rule set is shallow and I guess if we’re going to compare it to Jersey Jack POTC you are right. But on the other hand – “are you freaking kidding me?!” I have owned the game for years and still have not completed Tour the Mansion (and yes, I know I suck).
Look, all I ask is this . . . Look around - see this pinball community. Believe me - this game played a big role in where we are now. Sure, it is no Godzilla - but join me and raise a glass of your favorite beverage and toast this iconic, popular and best selling game and say “Thank You!” for without it you would be playing Diablo IV and reading reviews of the next Zelda game.
Luton
Marseille
Dunlap, TN
