Williams

Big Ben

Pinside Rating

This game received 12 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 5.865 _/10

5.865

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #304 in the Pinside EM Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 5.301

Artwork: 6.377

Sounds/Music: 2.192

Other Aspects: 5.974

Pinside staff rating

None of the Pinside.com staff have rated this game. Sorry, no rating from us.

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Found 10 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 10 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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6.543/10

65 days ago

WIL

gopernoper

Pinside apprentice

Salem, WI

<1y 15,500 1 3 8

Much like others have said here, big ben is a very open and sparsely populated game. The large drop targets are satisfying to hit and the top left rollovers are fun, but other than that there really isn't much going on here. I'd argue the game isn't "slow" depending on how it's set up - just not a lot to shoot at. The outlanes are massive and it's not uncommon to lose the ball after one flip. It's a machine that punishes random shots not by nature of an engaging design, rather there just isn't anything to hit unless you're shooting accurately. A fun game to play once in a while but not one that I would likely own.

6.473/10

2 years ago

JIM

somenerd

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 47,400 106 2 6

I bought this as part of a pair; my first-ever home pinball machine purchase. I love the chimes- far and away more pleasant than the "cash register dings" found in a lot of other EMs. Gameplay is basic, and not super-difficult or complex. It was great to get my young kid into pinball without having her feel overwhelmed. The loop along the top is pretty satisfying to hit. Also worth noting, in the ~18 months I've owned it, I've had literally zero things go wrong with it. The machine is built solid as a freakin' tank and has been as reliable as a Nokia 3200.
The artwork and color scheme couldn't get any more 1974 if it tried. Yellow, orange and green all over the place. Not very pleasant to look at these days but is a product of its era for sure.

somenerd edited previous rating on July 26, 2022.
somenerd has owned this game in the past.

6.429/10

3 years ago

JJB

Tubtub

Pinside member

3y 27,800 7 2 6

I own this game and personally love it. It is a drain monster at all times if you don't watch yourself. But when you get it right and turn on the red star and get special lit it makes it worth it to me. Judging on the game is a little out of wack. If the slingshots are set up right this game can be fast and really change the feel. No possible way a ball smacker like jubilee beats this game period! And bested by Rogo? Come on now that is just silly. Am I going to say it is upper tier no way. But it got my 5 year old kid into pinball and away from a tablet while also teaching him a simple rule set. Just my thoughts.

Tubtub edited previous rating on January 07, 2022.
Tubtub has owned this game in the past.

6.085/10

3 years ago

EJH

ehex9

Pinside member

Saint Albans Town, VT

3y 46,650 5 7 179

Not great! Good beginner game. Sold mine quickly.

ehex9 has owned this game in the past.

2.804/10

4 years ago

XQZ

douggalecawitz

Pinside member

Naperville, IL

11y 62,900 45 85

Typically empty mid 70s snooze-a-roo playfield, but this one does move the action along at a brisk pace. Nice backglass sandsout against possibly the most boring playfield art anyone could come up with. I can think of worse games, but I can also think of a lot of games which are a lot better.

1.988/10

4 years ago

RJC

pinflip_

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 43,400 64 14 9

The playfield is wide open with very few ways to rack up points. The gameplay is very slow and can become boring quite easily as there are no challenging spots. Overall it is a very basic game.

pinflip_ currently owns this game.

5.329/10

5 years ago

???

Elmerstinkkeman

Pinside member

Unknown

5y 17,400 2 7 23

If you believe there can be beauty in simplicity then this game is gorgeous. The back glass is whacky and probably drug induced, nicely capturing the period, and the pf, though sparce, gives the game an airy challenge. You need to be accurate to score well. Random hits won't get you anywhere. A fun oddball to have.

Elmerstinkkeman edited previous rating on April 11, 2019.

1.703/10

5 years ago

CLY

Yesh23

Pinside+ Frequent

Indian Land, SC

9y 129K 2,514 10 32 6

Worst game I've ever owned. I'm just glad I was able to sell it

Yesh23 has owned this game in the past.

6.087/10

6 years ago

GTX

gdonovan

Pinside member

7y 185K 13,206 70

Owned this one a few weeks and here are my thoughts after installing new elastics, scoring motor and buff and wax on the playfield.

Pro's: The art on the cabinet, backglass and playfield all ties together and is a cool looking pin! The Williams chimes are ok, if somewhat sparse on this title. The pops and slingshots are pretty potent getting the ball around the playfield in a hurry.

Con's: The lower section of the PF is a tad bare with a fair amount of open space to cross before getting something to score on. I'm not a huge fan of drop targets so this pin just not be suitable for me to review as there is 3 drop targets as your primary targets in the lower half. The outlanes are vicious ball magnets.

This pin just doesn't jell for me, I'm sure it has its fans but can't count myself as one of them aside from the artwork.

gdonovan edited previous rating on January 15, 2021.

5.777/10

11 years ago

JJM

J-ride

Inactive member

Colbert, WA

11y 15,900 18 4 11

This game was just to slow and to open for me

1

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