Williams
Black Knight 2000 Pinside Rating
This game received 364 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.896 /10
Black Knight 2000
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.609
Artwork: 8.142
Sounds/Music: 7.983
Other Aspects: 7.833
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 5 of us have rated this game.
Found 178 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 178 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 3 of 8.
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8.027/10
5 years ago
Warren, PA
Very fun and brutal game. Kings Ransom is awesome if you can get to it. Can’t believe a game of its time has that good of a wizard mode. Great music, and great shots. May get stale in a small collection like every other 80s game though.
7.807/10
5 years ago
Very right flipper dependent but who could go wrong with the soundtrack. The game is super fast on the lower playfield, I just wish there was more incorporated into the game to use the left flipper. Very nice flow is what makes this game one of the better System 11 games.
6.247/10
5 years ago
Just couldn’t get into it. The shots weren’t that fun. I really didn’t like the huge upper field...and I like upper fields usually. Made the lower field feel cramped, and boring. Half the shots disappeared under the upper playfield, and the other half bounced off the targets so fast they drained. Just not impressed.
9.240/10
5 years ago
The music, the lights, and the black night taunting you while you frantically try to “beat the black knight.” What a great machine. It’s not a deep rule set by any means, but it’s just pure fun the whole time.
8.989/10
5 years ago
An excellent game. Music and sounds fantastic. Only thing missing from the game is use of an autoplunger, which is definitely needed during 3 ball multiball.
6.481/10
5 years ago
Bologna
A great alphanumeric pinball machine, with 3 different multiballs including the first ever wizard mode. I love the music and the sounds. Really great artwork for a 1989 pin. The only bad thing is that it's too easy to catch the ball with the right flipper when it falls from the upper playfield, making it too easy to get back up, and that ruins the game. If going to upper playfield & catching the ball with the right flipper was much much harder and there was something more to do on the lower playfield it would be a greater game
8.666/10
6 years ago
I know this machine has mixed reviews and while this machine can be very brutal and unforgiving, the high of having a good game is unbelievable. Keeping the ball on the upper play field is key and safer but you have to work below too. The left flipper is a little undervalued. I love the art, the light show, and above all, the sound and music. This game is hard to get a handle on, but once you find the groove, it’s intense and exhilarating. GIVE ME YOUR MONEY! Ha ha ha ha!!!
8.023/10
6 years ago
this was the first pinball i remember. its catchy and very fun if you only have a few quarters to spend. but would not want to own because as cool as the features are of magnasave and drop wall etc i always felt it didnt flow well, as though there wasnt enough playfeild and it was always about getting the ball up to the next tier, maybe needed a clear deck. i can see it getting annoying after a while. i didnt really get the story but its a future? knight on horseback holding a lightning bolt so maybe that all you need to know... overall its a fantastic spectacle to behold at least for a little while
7.172/10
6 years ago
Black knight 2000 is a very fun alphanumeric era table. Is plays very fast and has super awesome music during gameplay. The ball lock shot it tough and super satisfying and hitting the loop on the upper playfield is a blast. Overall a fun and fast game with good sound and music. Only downfall is there isn’t too much to do cause of the era but it’s still a fun shooter.
La Pocatière, QC
8.979/10
6 years ago
The Black Knight is a medieval knight living in a future where some battles are fought with the sword and others are fought with lightning bolts. He wants to fight you and he wants your money. An unseen choir of angels cheer you on. What more can you ask for in a pinball machine?
There's probably too much that I love about this game to cover it all. First, I'll say that themes make a big difference for me in how much I enjoy a game. I can still appreciate a good game for what it is but when the theme clicks with me and the gameplay is great, it makes for an awesome experience - and that's exactly what this game does for me.
BK2K has been high up on my wishlist since I first played it. I was definitely drawn in by the music, as I think many others are. I soon saw how perfectly the music complimented the gameplay, theme, and feel of the game.
The biggest highlight of this game for me is the drawbridge multiball. I have it set so the drawbridge goes back up after each lock, making it a little more challenging to get all three locked. I love the buildup, lights, and fanfare when its finally complete. I think its one of the best in all of pinball. I also love that there is an easier multiball, the double knights challenge, that's simple and fun for any level player to complete.
I've heard some complain the game is all upper playfield and to some extent it is because it is safer to keep the ball up there. Having said that, it is challenging to maneuver the ball on the upper PF and to get successive loop shots and RANSOM letters. If you spend the time on the lower PF, it provides its own unique challenges (though maybe not as rewarding) - keeping kickback and magna-save lit are difficult (but necessary since outlane drains are hard to prevent) and spelling BLACK is a tough one to complete as well.
Having said that, there are some aspects which I would love to change. When you do spell BLACK, I feel like the reward is not commensurate with the effort (one timed 1m skyway shot). I'll also say that I don't care for the sound when the drops are hit - it reminds me of a cartoon character getting hit on the head. Were they trying to go for armor/sword clashing?
The other minor gripe I have is on RANSOM mode. I think it is awesome to have a feature like that which carries over from game to game and I love that you can make it quite difficult to get each letter. The buildup to it - music, lights ("Everything is lit!") is amazing - and I like that it's timed. I only wish there was a setting to make it not carry over so it would be more of a true wizard mode. I feel like it is more challenging and rewarding (especially in a home setting) to have to spell RANSOM in a single game.
This is definitely a game that I cannot imagine parting with. It is one that keeps me wanting more and makes me smile every time I play.
There's probably too much that I love about this game to cover it all. First, I'll say that themes make a big difference for me in how much I enjoy a game. I can still appreciate a good game for what it is but when the theme clicks with me and the gameplay is great, it makes for an awesome experience - and that's exactly what this game does for me.
BK2K has been high up on my wishlist since I first played it. I was definitely drawn in by the music, as I think many others are. I soon saw how perfectly the music complimented the gameplay, theme, and feel of the game.
The biggest highlight of this game for me is the drawbridge multiball. I have it set so the drawbridge goes back up after each lock, making it a little more challenging to get all three locked. I love the buildup, lights, and fanfare when its finally complete. I think its one of the best in all of pinball. I also love that there is an easier multiball, the double knights challenge, that's simple and fun for any level player to complete.
I've heard some complain the game is all upper playfield and to some extent it is because it is safer to keep the ball up there. Having said that, it is challenging to maneuver the ball on the upper PF and to get successive loop shots and RANSOM letters. If you spend the time on the lower PF, it provides its own unique challenges (though maybe not as rewarding) - keeping kickback and magna-save lit are difficult (but necessary since outlane drains are hard to prevent) and spelling BLACK is a tough one to complete as well.
Having said that, there are some aspects which I would love to change. When you do spell BLACK, I feel like the reward is not commensurate with the effort (one timed 1m skyway shot). I'll also say that I don't care for the sound when the drops are hit - it reminds me of a cartoon character getting hit on the head. Were they trying to go for armor/sword clashing?
The other minor gripe I have is on RANSOM mode. I think it is awesome to have a feature like that which carries over from game to game and I love that you can make it quite difficult to get each letter. The buildup to it - music, lights ("Everything is lit!") is amazing - and I like that it's timed. I only wish there was a setting to make it not carry over so it would be more of a true wizard mode. I feel like it is more challenging and rewarding (especially in a home setting) to have to spell RANSOM in a single game.
This is definitely a game that I cannot imagine parting with. It is one that keeps me wanting more and makes me smile every time I play.
7.204/10
6 years ago
This game is a strong improvement over the original Black Knight. Although the playfield lacks depth, it doesn't lack enjoyment. The upper field seems to have a distinct purpose in play and creates a unique fun gaming experience. I recommend it.
3.111/10
6 years ago
I hate doing negative reviews, especially on pins which some consider "classics". BUt I played this game over the weekend and I just don't get how its rated higher than many of the classic games I grew up playing in the late 80's early 90's...
6.896/10
6 years ago
I understand that this pin was ahead of it's time but after playing it and comparing with newer pins it just does not stack up.
5.421/10
7 years ago
Black Knight 2000 is a flashy, crappy reboot of one of the best early SS's ever made. It doesn't shoot or feel like Black Knight - it feels like something worse. Concept beat to death - thanks for trying, Williams.
I don't understand the hype or the appeal, and I'm no purist when it comes to sequels, redo's, and what have you. If BK2K didn't say "Black Knight" on it, I would still think it was a dull game. I don't know how WMS managed to ruin a great idea, but they pulled it off. My advice: play Black Knight instead.
I don't understand the hype or the appeal, and I'm no purist when it comes to sequels, redo's, and what have you. If BK2K didn't say "Black Knight" on it, I would still think it was a dull game. I don't know how WMS managed to ruin a great idea, but they pulled it off. My advice: play Black Knight instead.
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