Sega
Baywatch Pinside Rating
This game received 199 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.803 /10
Baywatch
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.217
Artwork: 7.46
Sounds/Music: 6.869
Other Aspects: 7.998
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.
Found 106 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 106 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 4 of 5.
List options
Colorado Springs, CO
Melbourne
9.400/10
10 years ago
Baywatch is awesome all around in my opinion. So much going on with it. Great shots, great sounds, never thought I would be into the theme but the game is just so good. Glad I picked this up when it was a $1400 sleeper title. Perfect for the beach house and won’t be leaving my collection.
7.078/10
10 years ago
Baywatch.. don't know who designed this game, doesn't matter. Even when SEGA created a good game, it was ruined by one element.
Pros:
- I like the original mode / shot idea. Each shot does one of three objectives: advances Guard Millions, advances Tourist Season, and starts a unique mode. I wish other pins could do this, it was a lot of fun to play.
- Dot-matrix displays look well-made (probably due to the huge size of it on this machine)
- Awesome playfield design + rules - crazy ramps, and lots of flow all around.
Cons:
- Unanimously, the huge con with this game is the weak flippers that are seen with people who have had this game since the start and never changed them. You see, SEGA machines from Baywatch on used the worst flippers ever - they practically turned into limp noodles before your very eyes. This is terrible on Baywatch, as the left ramp that locks balls for Swimmer Multiball is extremely tough to hit with noodle flippers - the chances of winning the lottery are higher than the chances of making this shot. With better flipper design and a much less steep left ramp, I would ignore this altogether.
- The Shark flipper is an exact replica of the much more renowned Thing Flips from "The Addams Family". It aims exactly where the TAF flipper would, no less.
- A gigantic David Hasselhoff head. Ahnold might have some rivalry amirite?
Pros:
- I like the original mode / shot idea. Each shot does one of three objectives: advances Guard Millions, advances Tourist Season, and starts a unique mode. I wish other pins could do this, it was a lot of fun to play.
- Dot-matrix displays look well-made (probably due to the huge size of it on this machine)
- Awesome playfield design + rules - crazy ramps, and lots of flow all around.
Cons:
- Unanimously, the huge con with this game is the weak flippers that are seen with people who have had this game since the start and never changed them. You see, SEGA machines from Baywatch on used the worst flippers ever - they practically turned into limp noodles before your very eyes. This is terrible on Baywatch, as the left ramp that locks balls for Swimmer Multiball is extremely tough to hit with noodle flippers - the chances of winning the lottery are higher than the chances of making this shot. With better flipper design and a much less steep left ramp, I would ignore this altogether.
- The Shark flipper is an exact replica of the much more renowned Thing Flips from "The Addams Family". It aims exactly where the TAF flipper would, no less.
- A gigantic David Hasselhoff head. Ahnold might have some rivalry amirite?
7.820/10
10 years ago
Québec, QC
Underrated game!!! Have full animation and a lot of stock on it. Very complet game. Just the theme is so so.
8.113/10
10 years ago
Having a number of top ten pins its Baywatch that keeps on drawing me in! Certainly one of the most underrated games on the market. Essential that your flippers are strong and firm otherwise impossible to reach the ultimate target, which by the way is quite disappointing. I have had mine for nearly two years and it is a keeper.
8.277/10
10 years ago
Random thoughts from a new owner.
The theme that kills. Cheeseball looking, but fun as hell to play. If it were any other theme, this thing would demand a lot higher price.
The translight makes me want to choke kittens, but all the alternates I've seen out there actually are more cheesy than the original. How is that possible?
It seems to be a really deep game with lots of stuff to do with habitrails and ramps galore. It flows pretty well, but the left orbit could be smoother.
The machine gives the illusion of being a widebody, but within a standard width pin.
Pretty great light show.
Looks like every shot has a mode associated with it, and there are five other modes which are started via the shark hole in a linear fashion.
The trap door ball lock is pretty cool.
I've heard this title referred to as 'a guilty pleasure'. As of now, I just think of it as a pleasure, no guilt involved. ;)
I might refine my review once I've had a chance to play it a few weeks.
The theme that kills. Cheeseball looking, but fun as hell to play. If it were any other theme, this thing would demand a lot higher price.
The translight makes me want to choke kittens, but all the alternates I've seen out there actually are more cheesy than the original. How is that possible?
It seems to be a really deep game with lots of stuff to do with habitrails and ramps galore. It flows pretty well, but the left orbit could be smoother.
The machine gives the illusion of being a widebody, but within a standard width pin.
Pretty great light show.
Looks like every shot has a mode associated with it, and there are five other modes which are started via the shark hole in a linear fashion.
The trap door ball lock is pretty cool.
I've heard this title referred to as 'a guilty pleasure'. As of now, I just think of it as a pleasure, no guilt involved. ;)
I might refine my review once I've had a chance to play it a few weeks.
8.372/10
11 years ago
A real surprise. Great playfield layout with great use of real estate. There's so much going on it feels like a widebody to me. Decent sound with great dots too. If you can appreciate the cheesiness of the theme you will likely love this game.
7.422/10
11 years ago
Solid pinball game and always worth a few quarters. The playfield has some easy shoots, and some crazy tight ones. The music is boring, never a fan of the sound on this one. Rules are a little deeper than what it seems off the bat. Starting modes isn’t all that straight forward.
Love the call outs. Music gets so annoying you start liking it...
Love the call outs. Music gets so annoying you start liking it...
7.945/10
11 years ago
A surprisingly good game. Plenty of tight shots and four flippers keep you busy. Tons of modes, too. During my first few games I hated the pin, but once I learned how to activate modes and how to get balls to the upper left flipper, it really got me hooked. People bash the theme and artwork but I like it. I mean the entire art package, including DMD animations, has busty women in skimpy bikinis. My two gripes are, first, feeding a ball to the upper left flipper is really clunky and slow and, second, the speech quality on the pin is grainy (seems to be the usual case with Sega and DE pins).
7.568/10
11 years ago
São Paulo
Very cost effective game. Fun and nice for a low cost. Nice to starters: easy rules and game play, ball lasts a lot. In my gameroom I have it next to my MM and TZ, and I still play a lot with it!
7.952/10
11 years ago
great game..crappy theme. If this was a halfways decent theme, it would be a top ranked game.
9.700/10
11 years ago
I absolutely love this game. The theme fits well with me and my family and who does not like to stare at Pamela Anderson? This game is extremely challenging yet also rewarding if you can nail some of the video modes and multiballs. There are a lot of various modes to try and reach and fun factor is enduring. I think that this machine is way underrated because it is a Sega. If you were to slap a Bally or WIlliams tag to it, then it would be way up there IMHO.
8.136/10
11 years ago
Heard a lot of bad things, but really enjoyed playing it. Makes use of the extra large DMD with great animations. Biggest detractor is David Hasselhoff's big mug smrking at you. The playfield is great with a lot of shots and a really good flow. Not complicated, but lots of fun.
9.560/10
12 years ago
Great game. So many ramps to shoot for. Some ramps are easy to hit and add to a good flow for the game and some are more difficult. Back glass isn't the best but the beach theme plays well throughout the game. Makes you feel like you are at the beach and hearing the whistle blow adds to that affect. Large lifeguard tower serves two purposes. One is to allow the ball to pass up through the tower and go down a ramp, or if ball lock is lit, a secret hidden trap door opens in the tower which sends the ball under the playfield in a hidden trough which returns the ball back to the outhole. There is a second upper shooter which allows you to attempt some of the skill shots and locks the ball for some modes for 10 seconds. Nice Baywatch yellow topper for the head.
Multi ball is fantastic with this game as it gives you 5 balls at once. Thats right 5 balls. Things get pretty crazy during multi ball and your heart really starts to race when you lock that 3rd ball. All balls are auto launched onto the field which only adds to the madness.
There is a shark flipper which is in the shape of a shark fin. It can also make the shot for you. When the shark flips light is lit, the shark flipper flips for you trying to get the ball into the shark hole. Kinda like the Addams family Thing flips for the swamp.
Many different modes to play and things to shoot for. Several different video mode games. There is a laser kick ball saver on the left outlane so even people new to pinball can have a lengthy game and feel like they accomplished something after playing. Huge DMD is also nice. Sound is great as well. They actually got the Hoff's voice for the game so he barks out commands throughout the game which adds a nice touch.
Only downsides for me is the backglass artwork. Pamela is obviously not the same one from the show and I am not sure about the others. Looks kinda cartoonish. Also as the game features women in bikini's and thongs on the side, this game may not be suitable for some young children. There is an option to turn off some of the skin that gets displayed on the DMD but you can't turn off the skin on the cabinet and backglass. One final downside is because of all the ramps, it is a pain to shop this game. Removing everything from the field takes several hours and it takes even longer to put it all back together.
All in all I feel as if this game has a very high replay value and has many shots and ramps to keep players interested. The wire form ramps are endless and it takes awhile to figure out where they all go, but that kinda adds to the mystic of the game. Multi ball is 5 ball crazed action. Lots of different modes and shots to make. Awesome functioning life guard tower. Sounds from the show and the hoff are there. Theme music from the show is also there and sounds great. Artwork is somewhat racy and may not be suitable for children. Many people don't like Baywatch because it's a Sega or because of the Licensing, however if you give this game a chance you will be very surprised and more than likely hooked.
Multi ball is fantastic with this game as it gives you 5 balls at once. Thats right 5 balls. Things get pretty crazy during multi ball and your heart really starts to race when you lock that 3rd ball. All balls are auto launched onto the field which only adds to the madness.
There is a shark flipper which is in the shape of a shark fin. It can also make the shot for you. When the shark flips light is lit, the shark flipper flips for you trying to get the ball into the shark hole. Kinda like the Addams family Thing flips for the swamp.
Many different modes to play and things to shoot for. Several different video mode games. There is a laser kick ball saver on the left outlane so even people new to pinball can have a lengthy game and feel like they accomplished something after playing. Huge DMD is also nice. Sound is great as well. They actually got the Hoff's voice for the game so he barks out commands throughout the game which adds a nice touch.
Only downsides for me is the backglass artwork. Pamela is obviously not the same one from the show and I am not sure about the others. Looks kinda cartoonish. Also as the game features women in bikini's and thongs on the side, this game may not be suitable for some young children. There is an option to turn off some of the skin that gets displayed on the DMD but you can't turn off the skin on the cabinet and backglass. One final downside is because of all the ramps, it is a pain to shop this game. Removing everything from the field takes several hours and it takes even longer to put it all back together.
All in all I feel as if this game has a very high replay value and has many shots and ramps to keep players interested. The wire form ramps are endless and it takes awhile to figure out where they all go, but that kinda adds to the mystic of the game. Multi ball is 5 ball crazed action. Lots of different modes and shots to make. Awesome functioning life guard tower. Sounds from the show and the hoff are there. Theme music from the show is also there and sounds great. Artwork is somewhat racy and may not be suitable for children. Many people don't like Baywatch because it's a Sega or because of the Licensing, however if you give this game a chance you will be very surprised and more than likely hooked.
You too can add your own comment by rating this game! Click here to rate this game!
Over the years
Visualizing this game's rating and rank over the years
Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!
Donate to PinsideGreat to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
