Chicago Gaming Co.

Attack From Mars (Remake - Special)

Pinside Rating

This game received 176 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.783 _/10

8.783

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 3rd in the game group "Attack from Mars". The group itself ranks #4 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.909

Artwork: 8.562

Sounds/Music: 8.334

Other Aspects: 9.029

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.

8.927

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This title is part of group: "Attack from Mars"

Attack from Mars

Attack From Mars
(Remake - Classic)

Attack From Mars
(Remake - Special)

Attack From Mars
(Remake - LE)

Found 74 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 74 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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8.884/10

49 days ago

TF

alagash

Pinside+ Frequent

Fairfax Station, VA

2y 25,400 2 3 6

AFM shines in pinball for its thrilling gameplay, especially with the alien ship target at its heart. I've been a fan since the '90s, spending a lot of time on it. The remake worried me at first, but it didn't disappoint. It keeps what made AFM great, adding some nice updates. The machine feels sturdy and the graphics and sound are improved making the game even more enjoyable.

AFM stands out, making anyone want to play at least once. The gameplay is straightforward and fun, with clear objectives and smooth flow. Destroying the alien ship feels great. It's a game that remains popular for good reason.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

9.220/10

3 months ago

DJA

wastedthelight

Pinbald Mods

Bartlett, IL

2y 56,300 341 8 6 1

Absolutely love this game. It's simple but really satisfying to play. I wish I got into pinball sooner to have been able to pick one up new at a fraction of the prices today. The remake is far better than the original.

wastedthelight has this game on the wishlist.

8.820/10

7 months ago

???

euphjay

Pinside member

Oklahoma City, OK

1y 14,900 2 3 6

Just love playing this game on location. The shots, the call outs, the lights all just work so well together to make an absolutely enjoyable playing experience.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

7.332/10

7 months ago

???

jakeyjakesurfing

Pinside member

Santa Cruz, CA

3y 24,900 13 7

I wanted to like it, but I guess I never was a soldier. The battlefield is not where I want to be to have fun, sorry. The light show is cool but the strobe-mode kinda gave me a headache. I did like the dancing aliens that you have to pick off and blowing up the spaceship was always fun, it’s not in my top 10.

5.250/10

10 months ago

???

LTNJ

Pinside apprentice

南京市

2y 17,250 2 5 17

Although I have only played it a few times, I completely cannot understand how this game can rank in the top 10

5 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.960/10

10 months ago

JJP

Pomz

Pinside member

Buffalo, MN

5y 35,150 36 3 39

This is a top 5 pin and the best pin that was made in the 90’s. The callouts are the most legendary and funny in pinball. The alien theme is awesome and the shots are fun. I’d say the thing that keeps this pin from being #1 is the depth of it and that the main shot is in the center of the playfield which comes straight down the middle. The art is perfect and iconic but the age of the pin does hold it back but it’s maybe the funniest pinball machine.

Update: most iconic artwork with MM, best sounds and dialogue, straight forward to anyone, balanced scoring, always Fun.

Cons: really easy and not very deep.

I’d say this is a top 5 game. Way better than MM.

Pomz edited previous rating on March 31, 2024.

9.364/10

1 year ago

???

PantherCityPins

Pinside member

5y 102K 2,656 21

Great pin! I have a remake SE in my collection and it’s a go to pin for me. Excellent fan layout machine, shots are fun and flow well. Theming is great, love the campy callouts. This is a fast, classic Williams game. I’ve heard other complain about the CGC flipper feel, I do notice a difference but it’s not a problem for me personally.

9.084/10

1 year ago

ARF

WestCoastAussie

Pinside member

1y 34,550 136 13

AFM has one of the best risk/reward core gameplay elements in pinball. The alien ship up the middle is the ultimate bash toy, with a compelling reason as to why you need to hit it so much. I loved this machine in the '90's and spent way more on it than I probably should have.
I was anxious to play the remake, because I didn't want my nostalgia bubble burst. I really shouldn't have worried. Everything I knew and loved about AFM had faithfully been recreated, with a few excellent cosmetic upgrades. The cabinet looks, feels and plays solid. Even when I tilt it. The colour DMD really works with the animations. The lights have had a new tech positive tweak. And it sounds about as good as you could hope for audio wise. Nice, crisp and clear.
AFM is one of those games that when you see it you have to play it. Even if only once. Because it has satisfying shots with great flow. Because you can see what you need to do immediately. Because blowing up an alien ship is just fun. A pinball that is standing the test of time because it deserves to.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

9.940/10

1 year ago

JKW

ambulologist

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 27,400 1 22

The first pinball table I've owned. I don't think I'll ever part with it. A fast, challenging game with fun and understandable rules.

I love the play, theme, callouts, modes... pretty much everything. To me, its only flaw is a lack of deeper, more complicated rules for variety. The obvious solution being to have another machine to meet those needs :-)

ambulologist edited previous rating on April 02, 2023.

3 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.796/10

1 year ago

LHS

Malevolayntz

Pinside apprentice

Bowling Green, OH

1y 11,750 3 6

Chicago Gaming has it locked down on remakes. They certainly know how to take a great game and make it better. This is an easier machine to play. Great for beginners, yet challenging enough for old hats. This is a real winner and top notch pin.

8.700/10

1 year ago

???

Kabball

Pinside+ Frequent

North Vancouver, BC

1y 34,650 327 10

Awesome game that only drops a little for me for what could be considered more simple rules and code compared to the newest games out there. Still love it.

8.840/10

1 year ago

SRB

Bucoholic

Pinside member

Seminole, FL

2y 27,650 12 3 17

Played the Remake Special and LE and have so much fun playing. When you destroy the ship the shakers vibrate everything. Fun game. Some shots you pay for if you miss but more than not a fun flowing game.

8.132/10

1 year ago

Thuillier

Pinside member

Santiago

1y 18,150 10 6

I had the original version from the 90s and I liked the machine so much that I went for the remake without thinking about it, I think it was the best decision I made, what can be said about AFM that hasn't already been said, we all know what it is an incredible machine my top 1 of the 90s without a doubt, all the lighting and screen improvements I think make the experience 100%, the quality of the machine is incredible, I hope that Chicago Gaming continues with this line of great classics remastered to current times

9.500/10

1 year ago

FRE

PinWiL

Pinside apprentice

Kissimmee, FL

3y 17,750 5 15

Is one of my top 3 games of all time. I own one myself. So much fun and bolted to the ground in my personal collection.

PinWiL currently owns this game.

9.624/10

1 year ago

CSF

JurassicPark

Pinside member

Springfield, VT

2y 27,300 33 3 46

I have said it once and now I say it again. This is a top 3 Pinball of all time. I actually put it ahead of the Likes of Medieval Madness and Godzilla in Fun Factor and originality. Deep Rule set no, But Fun and replay abilty like no other. A++++ gAME !

JurassicPark edited previous rating on March 30, 2023.

8.269/10

1 year ago

APP

aaron6920

Pinside+ Frequent

Dorchester, IA

3y 62,050 492 18 12

I play the heck out of this game when we stay at a hotel in the WI Dells and it is an all time classic. Super fun and simple layout from Brian Eddy that has enough risk/reward with saucers or if you are going to go for multiball, etc..... I really enjoy playing it and for me it has the "one for game" factor that many games don't have from this era. The quirky theme is something that I don't know would sell today but is neat looking back at the early 90s. Overall very strong code from Lyman and I always drop quarters in it when I see one.

8.354/10

1 year ago

BEN

OuterLanes

PBA

1y 30,900 2 22 6

If I’m going to be playing all night, I typically like either fast shooters (Led Zeplin, Iron Man), or long ball times with lots of objectives (the hobbit, Simpsons Pinball party).

This game is simple, but because of its pure charm, I love this game.

Cons:
after I beat this game, I’m over it for a while. Not exactly a brain buster for rules/code. Fun to flip, don’t feel like I’m accomplishing much by walking up to this machine a second time in the same evening.
-lackluster longevity of gameplay
-gameplay value compared current used market in 2022

Pros:
the soul of this game attracts anyone and everyone! It’s just pure fun to play with others. This is a game that I can get anyone to play to convince them to play more games.
+saucer bash toy
+shaky aliens
+callouts
+the animations
+approachability

Overall:
I wouldn’t recommend this if your game room only has 1 pin. However, This absolutely kills on location. Not just arcades, but anywhere, even as an only pin (movie theater/bar/bowling alley/restaurants/hotel lobby). If I found this for under MSRP, I’d add it to the collection, with the anticipation it wouldn’t last longer than 6 months to a year in my home.

8.564/10

1 year ago

CBM

nerdkiller

Pinside member

Hampstead, NC

1y 32,050 44 8 14

Great game to teach about risk and reward. The call outs are excellent and the lights are beautiful. Love to hit that saucer and the jiggly martians always put a smile on my face.

nerdkiller edited previous rating on March 10, 2023.
nerdkiller has this game on the wishlist.

9.067/10

2 years ago

JEF

bossk4hire

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 70,800 704 33

Top of my want list! What a fun game! For those deep game people this will bore you after a few games. But for me it's great! Kids love it! The call outs are hilarious! The shots are fun! CgC really added to the game with they color dmd and better graphics. Crazy high scoring game. Crazy hard to find one for sale as folks keep em once they have em.

9.760/10

2 years ago

SA

Optimumsam

Pinside member

Sydney

3y 29,550 45 7 6 1

Absolutely the best pinball game ever. Fun factor Hard to beat.

Optimumsam currently owns this game.

3 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.320/10

2 years ago

SNS

MrsStrimple911

Inactive member

Seattle, WA

2y 8,500 7

I think this machine will always be in my top 5, I caught on quick to the gameplay, the shots are doable, they build, and I just always enjoy playing this machine.

9.225/10

2 years ago

AMS

Salty

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 36,150 28 5 13

I love AFM, sometimes I love it more than MM. Idk, just that saucer as the bash toy, its so satifying. Its just a fun game nothing else to say really. Its not one of those games were you go up and are blown away by anything but everytime you get on it you're having a blast and cant get enough. Just a great family pin, funny too. I think this one is good if you have a few other complex layouts in your collection and you need a break from them, just go over to AFM and have a great time no matter what.

Salty currently owns this game.

9.720/10

2 years ago

CAG

jumpyg1258

Pinside member

2y 19,900 33 6

One of those classic all time best games which is why Chicago Game Co decided to remake it. This SE edition kicks up the game a notch in my opinion as I would love to have one in my collection!

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.760/10

2 years ago

MAT

Matt68061

Pinside+ Frequent

Omaha, NE

5y 62,050 552 4 17

This game has recently reinforced its place at the top of my list. So much so that I FINALLY purchased one. Once the “new” factor wears of some of the more recent releases that are in our collection (JP, Deadpool, Stranger Things) I always find myself going back to AFM. Luckily, our local barcade has had one for years.

The larger color DMD puts this one over the top. Its a classic and truly deserves its GOAT status on so many lists.

Matt68061 edited previous rating on September 14, 2021.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.156/10

2 years ago

JBG

MacGruber

Pinside member

Kiel, WI

2y 76,300 1,104 8 22

"OH NO, SPARKY!"

MacGruber edited previous rating on March 18, 2024.

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