Super underrated game. Can be setup to be a ball buster. Capcom games are built like tanks. This can still be purchased for $2k or less, so in my opinion it is the best bang for buck pin out there.

Holy smokes, you guys. This game has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Now that I own one, it's safe to say it will likely never leave my collection. Buckle up, this will probably get wordy.

I first played this table at a time when I was all about the ramps and loops and crazy geometry of games like Lord of the Rings, Medieval Madness, Cirqus Voltaire, and the like. The EM bug hadn't bit me yet, and I found most single-level tables to be dull and lifeless, not seeing the beauty of games prior to the DMD era. I could not believe how wonderful the hybrid of "old" and "new" felt and spent basically the entire two-hour drive home gushing about its brilliance to my dad, who enjoyed it but didn't pick up on the nuances like I did. Fast forward about ten years later and we found a good deal on a really nice specimen somewhat nearby, and jumped on it.


For brevity's sake, I'll just linearly go through the basic things and then touch on why this one hits so hard for me.

Layout:
Great layout. Some symmetrical elements like the top lanes and the pop bumpers feel classic. There's a captive ball on the left and a half-size upper-right flipper that feeds a small horseshoe loop that you can keep hitting and hitting when you get in a groove. Scoop on the right, kickback in the bottom left, and the main attraction with a center post and three scoops side-by-side in the center, referred to in-game as "the breakshot". We'll get to why this is a great central feature in a bit. All in all, the layout feels good; easy to navigate, fun to shoot, and nothing too unexpected or frustrating about it. Drains all feel fair and warranted when they happen.

Rules, gameplay, and scoring:
There are definitely some shots and modes that are more valuable than others, but in reality the entirety of the game's modes are worth playing and are all engaging in their own right. The typical billiards rack-up-the-balls thing that's been done to death in pinball still works, and it's still fun. Callouts are nice and the good voiceover helps here a lot. Some modes don't have the shots all lit at once, some have a roving shot where unlit shots won't gain you that particular ball, etc.. It's well done. Scoring is balanced too, and when playing competitively, the person who inevitably runs away with a huge score will have definitely worked for it and didn't do it by capitalizing on just one feature or one particular reward.

Art and sound:
Art's great. Feels like a 90s game with its interesting (but appealing) color palette. Must be the lavender/purple hues but it gives me Rugrats/Nickelodeon vibes and that scores big points with the nostalgia gremlin in the back of my head. If I had to complain about anything in the aesthetics department, the cabinet feels kind of uninspired as it's basically all dark billiards-felt green, but it's pretty and is a nice throwback to older EM cabinets. The Breakshot emblems on the cab are attractive and tasteful for sure. Music is good, groovy, and doesn't wear on you. Nice set of original tunes and they all fit the theme nicely...not much to complain about here. The audio package also adds a nice level of tenseness in those countdown/hurry up moments and I'm all for it. Voiceover and callouts are genuinely really good.



So now I feel the need to gush a little bit. The center post in the middle of the table and its surrounding area, referred to in callouts as "the Breakshot", is downright GENIUS. I don't know how many other tables have done this sort of thing, but if I've played them, they haven't come close to cementing themselves in my brain like Breakshot does. You've got three pockets/saucers in the middle of the area, and the post is down by default. Shoot a ball in, and the post immediately comes up whether the ball lands in a saucer or not. If it does, it's ejected so that it sits against the post, on one side or the other. Once struck, the ball glides perfectly to the left or right of the three pockets. Repeat the process a second time, but when you do, both balls eject from the saucers and dribble down onto the post. One-way gates in the area ensure, without fail, that each ball lands on the left and right of the post. Striking the post dead on the center will pocket both balls in the left and right saucers. Multiball (Breakshot Frenzy) is started when you pocket the third ball in the center saucer, which also acts as your jackpot for multiball. You can also start Ball-O-Rama with only one ball locked, by shooting a second ball into the far-right 8-ball scoop. Playfield multiplier is equal to the number of balls in the multiball you're playing (3x on the Frenzy; 2x on Ball-O-Rama).

Couple things make the Breakshot mechanisms just so brilliant--the act of striking the post and sending a captive ball into a pocket feels so reminiscent of actually playing billiards, it's crazy. Folks these days like the Danesi locks and the Elwin kinetically satisfying stuff, and this is right up there. Wonderful mech. The way it distributes balls for subsequent locks is incredible. And oftentimes, if you have kickback lit, it (usually) fires the ball so nicely into the post that it locks captive balls for me almost every time. It's too effective to have not been planned by the designers. It's all so...thoughtful.

This machine is the reason I gave TNA a try and subsequently fell in love with it, and the reason I am contemplating a Pulp Fiction. This machine is also the reason that I went backward from my DMD youth and started really loving older EM games from the 70s, It's even a big reason why I pulled the trigger on my Gottlieb Big House (and adore it too).

PLEASE go and play a Breakshot. Or if you're able, I'd recommend any pinhead to buy one. As of the time of this review they still run less than $3,000 US, which is insanely cheap for a game that has this much soul.

Still a great bang for the buck even in 2022.Capcom has some real nice touches that are top notch.Set up properly and a little on the hard side and you have sweet shooting machine that will bring you back for more gameplay.

My favorite pool table themed game. The way that you have to bank captured balls into pockets comes closer than any other pinball to replicating the feel and challenge of shooting pool. Great animations, great artwork all packaged in a street level. One of those games I could play for hours. Capcom hardly ever goes wrong

After 6 months of ownership, I still find Breakshot to be a lightning fast fun machine. Build quality is top notch. Being a collector who has a mix of DMD's and EM's, Breakshot is the perfect blend of both eras. Just ordered a Color DMD, because it will maintain a permanent spot in my collection. Fortunate to have an exceptionally nice example.

I love this machine! As other reviews have pointed out, the layout of the machine is reminiscent of the EM era, but this only adds to the fun and uniqueness IMO. There's always something to shoot at at any point in the table, and the captive ball shot in the middle of the playfield is extremely satisfying. I love the backglass art and the animations. Very light-hearted, sexy and fun. Rules keep the game fun and interesting. I first played it at the Museum of Pinball in Banning, CA. It was this game, along with Whirlwind, Slick Chick and Travel Time that I played again and again and again!

*Edit June 14th, 2020*
I finally bought a Breakshot, setup to be a real kick in the ass!
Hard as possible, no ball save, no extra ball, all punishment. This game is so damn good, it’s just unfathomable why it’s not in the top 100. One of the best single level games out there. A PERFECT game for anyone who finds “flat games” boring. They will love it and change their tune.
It has all the challenge and appeal of a simplistic, street-level layout, but the perks of Solid State programming and a SWEET DMD!
I have this setup right next to Seawitch and they make a perfect pair.

I played a handful of games on Breakshot and I kept coming back. It looks deceivingly simple but is challenging and plays well. There are some airballs which made me cringe, but with some protectors this game would be perfect. It plays FAST and mean, the punishment brings you back again and again for that "one more game!" factor.
Playing the game a handful of times makes me want one!

This is an EM lay-out with modern technique. You gotta be a pinhead to appreciate it and love it. The theme and realisation can only be done by someone with deep love for the game and historical understanding. I bought 2 almost brand new as in the arcades and bars they were never played on much......no ramps or toys etc. There is a lot of humor in it (from the era when humor was just humor and not filtered by every idiot with an adverse opinion...). Great to play with other pinball enthousiasts who can appreciate the fine art and history of the game...an aquired taste so to say.

I really, really like Breakshot. I think the concept of it is just brilliant its basically an modern take on an EM machine(modern for its time its 20 years old now). With the exception of the use of sound/voices/music/sfx and the dmd, you really get the feeling that this is something that could have been designed during the late 60s or early 70s. Its a simple game and doesn't have any toys in it, except for the middle breakshot ball target/ball lock. That is just a really cool gimmick and trapping balls in it, and then hitting them into the ball lock pockets is really fun. And it more than makes up for the fact that the machine doesn't have any toys. There are only really a handful of shots in teh game. The super loop, then the bankshot that you need to usse the upper right flipper for, you can shot for the 8 ball which gives you a one time bonus collect per ball, the captive ball, and then the two rows of drop targets. But, I really like the simplicity and on the playfield its pretty wide open, so I feel the game rewards the player for being accurate and its really fun to get into a nice flow for the game. And while I do love the game I will admit after about 20-30 minutes of playing I do feel the game starts to feel a bit repetitious. Just a tad bit... But, its still fun. Love the voice of the woman and her call outs, and it has a lot of voice work in the game. I also like the cartoony pinup art both on the playfield, the backglass and the cabinet. I do wish the main body would have something besides just breakshot written on it, as its a bit boring, but I love the pinup girl on the top cabinet. And lastly getting multiball is a blast in this game, and if you play 2 player or more you can steal your opponents multiball which is always fun. And I really think the DMD adds just so much to the experience of this game, and while the animations are not long so you can enjoy them and still focus on the game. Also I found them to be cheeky and fun. The game has a whole flirty vibe and I for one find it fun. Also I really like the skill shot. I think Breakshot is an under rated game and also very unique. I personally love the simplicity of it and the whole EM vibe. I think they took the best bits of the 90s DMD era and of the 70s EM and smashed them together into this cool fun game.

Great value pin. I enjoy how the rules make use of every shot on the machine. Can be fun and fast when set up right.

Capcom breakshot is severely underrated (ranked 130 at the tie of my review) while I wont say its in my top 5 or maybe 10 I definitely say this is a top 20 game. The best dmd game for under 2K

I like this idea of a retro playfield with a modern DMD and chip-based multimode and multiple goal machine, and it's largely successful. Clearly quite a bit of thought went into getting the old playfield feel just right, and there are lots of different kinds of skills and shots to make compared to the modern ramp-and-habitrail designs. It plays deep as a result, and although it's not the kinetic overload of machines of recent vintage, neither is it the snoozer on repeated play that some old-school EMs can become. A hidden classic.

I wanted to

A simplistic yet effective game! I did not hear the sounds when I played this pin so I had to remove it from my ratings.

Basic game play but it has a neat theme and a lot of fun .

Build quality is not up to part with other manufacturers

After owning it for a few months, the callouts started to get on my nerves. Due to the repetition the game doesn't serve well in a small collection which is ultimately why I had to let it go.

The best of all billiard-themed games we've played. Good example of retro design and nostalgic play. Great kinetics, especially center post ball lock.

Great game and hate the you scratched but. fun but hard game to get high scores. Play daily.

Simplistic and fun. Seems the longer you play a game the more it becomes enjoyable. Becomes fast-paced with the music as you're challenged to hit the correct shots and trick shots. Overall, I find the game very easy.

Although considered by many as an "old school game" with modern technology, and not entirely innovative, it is one of the few later model solid state machines that remains considerably affordable in the current "market craze insanity".
It does NOT play like an EM (which I have no idea where this concept is contrived) and contrary to less inclined knowledgeable players, but does have similarities.
When produced in 1996 by Capcom it was moderately successful along the same level of sales as AGBGoaWT from AGC in 1992/1993.
You have to remember that many games starting in 1996 were beginning to downslide due to loss of operator sales.
The game play design is a good player shooter game with very good rules.
The playfield, cabinet, and backglass art is average.
Sound and music is EXCELLENT.
The mechanics of the game are simple to maintain with its single level playfield design reminiscent of games like T2 without the ramps.
The quality of manufacture was solid, but watch the power supply / solenoid control board for trace lifting due to heat and large capacitors from being cold solder cracked due to vibration.
Very bad things happen if the capacitors short, and severe damage can result to the main logic board and solenoid driver board.
For new players, this is a reminder that not every game needs massive ramps and ruleset that is deeper than the depths of the bottom of the Mariana Trench, making single games last 2 hours each.
Most owners that may become eventual long term collectors will be able to distinguish differences in quality.
It is not a Titanic boat anchor either to keep it grounded in such as position in pinball history.
In simple terms, it works in terms of theme to keep the player interested for the short time it was designed.
If you have the opportunity to play this game in good condition, you may fall into its simple charms.

Who knows, maybe I will buy another to go with my Pinball Magic or that elusive "drop a stack of Ben Franklins" on Big Bang Bar?
EDIT: Found one...sprinted to the purchase.

It has the look, feel, and basic playfield layout of old school EM titles. It's far from the greatest game I've ever played, but I enjoyed it and would play again.

This game has no ramps, but despite this it has amazing playability. The center ball lock apparatus actually mimics the idea of playing pool, you might get it all ready to go with two balls locked but if your turn ends (Scratch!) the next player can take advantage of your position. There are some really fun multipliers where skill and knowing the game can improve your score drastically. Finally, this game is just "tight". It has great playability that keeps you coming back again and again.

Great game that is easy to get into. Great use of the pool theme, nice ball lock, and a bright and beautiful playfield. Music is very reminiscent of the 90's, but in a good way. Call outs and DMD animation are very well done. Not a very fast game, but it doesn't need to be. Plays well, and a very strong effort from Capcom. This one gets played alot.

Love the theme and flow of Breakshot. At first Glace this game can be easily overlooked. Looks naustalgic and simple. The game is surprisingly fun to play and is very fluid. Multi ball is fun to obtain and great to play. Easily one of my favorite pins. This is one of those games you must play a couple of times to appreciate it and once you get the feel for it, it completely grows on you. Excellent game in my opinion.

This is a decent pinball machine, a mechanical feeling at DMD era.
Not my taste but if you want to try something different this one could be surprising.

Breakshot is a very fun game. When I first saw it at the local pool hall I was skeptical. I did not play it right away, but once I did I was hooked. It is a great introduction to the EM play style. It is an EM/DMD crossover. Think of a vintage EM updated with modern technology, which allows for things like stacking and multiball. Please note that the machine is not for everyone. There are no ramps or rocking soundtrack. But, if you are looking for some solid play, you will not be disappointed.