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Centaur (Bally, 1981)

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Centaur

Pinside rating

This game received 223 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.909 /10

7.909

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #58 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game design: 7.823

Artwork: 8.614

Sounds/Music: 7.123

Other Aspects: 7.871


Rating comments

There are 101 rating comments for this game.


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 6 of us have rated this game.

7.734

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Ranking history

An overview of this machine's ranking over the last years. Lower is better.


Rating history

An overview of this machine's rating over the last years. Higher is better.


Found 101 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 101 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 5.

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8.535/10
19 days ago
 
DEF

DefaultGen

Pinside member

US Morrisville, NC

5y 119K 2,804 10 165

Can someone tell me what happened to shooting drop target banks in order? What a great gimmick that is.

Oh also this table is a god damn work of art.
9.642/10
83 days ago
 
???

tomdrum

Pinside member

US Port Matilda, PA

1y 44,800 461 7 7 1

One of the best if not the best early Bally solid state game. Artwork, sound and game play are top notch.

tomdrum currently owns this game.

4.628/10
3 months ago
 
MLP

tabascoman77

Pinside member

1y 29,400 2 64

I get why "Centaur" might be "underrated" or even in somebody's "Top 10"...I simply don't agree. When you play this bad boy, you think "Gottlieb did this". You'd be wrong. It's a Bally table. The artwork is what drew me to it. It looks like Mad Max by way of H.R. Giger. Unfortunately, it's just pretty to look at and not much else. it's another "Gorgar" where you listen to some guy telling you to "destroy Centaur" and a couple other things as you make attempts to hit targets that aren't entirely aligned with the flippers. So, you spend game after game attempting to make shots into little side tunnels. The rule set isn't entirely clear here without instructions and even when you do figure it out, it's a bit convoluted. The left tunnel rule alone is very involved. In order to complete anything, you need pinpoint accuracy at all times, hitting drop targets the size of a thumbnail in order. Doing so gives you a multi-ball reward which is fine but this isn't anything we haven't seen before. It's dated. Additionally, as beautiful as the art and design is, it feels tacked on to a generic drop-target fest. The audio is also terrible. I get the table is nearly 40 years old (Jesus, I'm old...) but the repetition of it is what grates. Not for me.
10.000/10
3 months ago
 
???

drfrightner

Pinside member

US Saint Charles, MO

<1y 33,650 3 20 33

This is by far one of the most underrated games ever. This game is amazing and probably inspired games today like TNA and many others. This is a true classic.

drfrightner has this game on the wishlist.

7.952/10
6 months ago
 
BLK

anubisswift

Pinside member

US Rohnert Park, CA

1y 10,250 1 1 8

no ramps or kickback holes or multiball, but you came for the eyecandy. music is pretty drone and lack luster, but its so beautiful it makes up for most of its drawbacks, more of a piece of h.r. giger art history than anything else. its fuckin heavy metal dude

anubisswift has this game on the wishlist.

5.683/10
7 months ago
 
JAY

Phat_Jay

Pinside member

US Oshkosh, WI

1y 64,050 776 3 42

I don’t get this title. I know a lot of people rate it 9+, but i think it’s mediocre game for gameplay. To each his own. I love 80’s titles but this is one I don’t like. I try it every show, and every show I walk away even more disappointed.
7.307/10
7 months ago
 
BC

fodorfolde

Pinside member

CA Waterloo, ON

<1y 21,900 1 15

Another pinsider said it best, "If you don't want to own this game, you shouldn't be on pinside." While it is dated, perhaps in some ways, it is the perfect product of a Heavy Metal theme and a solid pinball platform. Art is fantastic, but the sound is, probably the "best" I've come across. It is in my Top Five for sure. Simply cool as hell.

fodorfolde edited previous rating on January 17, 2018.

6.638/10
9 months ago
 
REW

woody76

Pinside member

US Nashville, TN

3y 97,550 2,090 67

typical top 5 Bally
7.309/10
10 months ago
 
B16

Billy16

Pinside member

5y 68,150 2,492 37

Some of the best artwork ever placed on a backglass or playfield--just beautiful! Great sounds as well. I wish the game played as good as it looks. I was really expecting to like this one, was disappointed initially and came back to it later. It still didn't impress me, nor has it any of the subsequent times I've played it. If I had a big collection I'd buy a Centaur just so I could look and marvel at the art.
8.214/10
11 months ago
 
MOD

modfather

ModFather Pinball Mods

US Sunrise, FL

4y 88,150 1,537 8 83 2

CenTaur couldn't be any Cooler than other game..
8.644/10
1 year ago
 
DEF

yyyyyikes

Pinside member

4y 22,400 68 18 11

If you don't want to own a Centaur, you should not be allowed on this site.

I have one criticism...the queen's chamber is never aimed for (it can at least score good points though).

It is awesome and there should be more games like this being made, not ones based on Dominos, Monopoly or Aerosmith. Quite like the look of that Spooky Total Nuclear Annihilation though.

yyyyyikes currently owns this game.

8.955/10
1 year ago
 
DJB

brenna98

Pinside member

US Austin, MN

4y 103K 1,588 46 50 1

I had 3 Centaurs and my house at one time. At first I didn’t know much about the game but became interested when a friend explained the objectives. I ended up borrowing my friend’s game for a short time to decide if it was worth spending the high dollar this title commands. I found out quickly that this game is the top dog of early Ballys! So, I searched for my own game and came across 2 within a week of each other. (one being shipped and one picked up locally) I figured I’ll keep whichever is better.
Such a cool game with unique artwork, awesome sound and great game play; no wonder they made it a 2nd time.

brenna98 currently owns this game.

2.103/10
1 year ago
 
CMW

chriswhitey

Pinside member

US Shenandoah, PA

1y 25,650 26 3 35

Sorry I just don't get how this game is rated so high. Better than Guns n Roses, Taxi, Tommy, etc etc etc?
you gotta be kidding me! To me its another TERRIBLE game from the 80's. NOt much going on. No great payability, shots and gameplay variation are lacking. Overall theme isn't for me. Sorry to offend anyone who holds this game in high regard but Its almost as bad as flash Gordon imo

2 Pinsiders flagged this rating/review.

4.728/10
1 year ago
 
PPD

Boat

Pinside member

CA Calgary, AB

1y 65,050 434 3 74

Nope. Not sure why this is rated so high. Pass.

4 Pinsiders flagged this rating/review.

9.773/10
1 year ago
 
CMD

porkbone

Inactive member

US Kansas City, MO

1y 18,650 6 2 6

This was my first machine and I love it. The artwork and color scheme are unique and the sounds are sort of creepy and cool with the reverb.. great game

porkbone currently owns this game.

5.428/10
1 year ago
 
APD

twinankhs

Twinankhs

US San Jose, CA

1y 16,250 8 4 15

This is my #11. Slightly unfair rating.I had a very creepy paranormal experience with the unit I played, it was possessed by a murder victim who was killed in front of that particular machine. (According to my Girlfriend who had nightmares about the game) The Spirit came home and creeped me out. We had to use sage and Florida water to get rid of it. Nothing to do with the game, but this game's symbols are runic, and latin and all sorts of dead languages which make this thing a reliquary. I Broke the machine by accident apparently releasing the spirit of the person who died in front of it. It is very enticing music and creepy sound effects. Reminds me of something out of hellraiser or bad porn (Heavy Metal) from the 70's artwork. One of the best game play games though...very straight forward. Do not have arguments in front of this...it is designed to store negative energy...by accident???????? Played it the next day -- NO issues, both in person and on PS4 Pinball Arcade. The most paranormal pinball game.
8.271/10
1 year ago
 
CRN

DefDumBlindKid

Pinside member

US Alameda, CA

1y 57,550 99 24 20

Blacker than black. The most metal pinball game ever. The most antisocial metal kid in your 80s High School class has nothing on Centaur.

DefDumBlindKid edited previous rating on March 21, 2018.
DefDumBlindKid currently owns this game.

9.537/10
1 year ago
 
AND

nicknack66

Pinside member

US Huntington, NY

2y 30,150 242 4 7

I don't own this game in my collection, but when I have played it, I always things it is great, for the time period and even today! 5 ball multi-ball, inline drop targets, cool sounds/voice, and I love the creepy feel/visuals.

nicknack66 has this game on the wishlist.

9.438/10
1 year ago
 
BAD

Badfingers

Pinside member

1y 19,250 1 23

Great sound and interesting layout with the divided targets.

If I owned one, I would definitely swap the balls out for colored, the B&W playfield drives my eyes nuts, but still love it.

Badfingers edited previous rating on March 13, 2017.

8.312/10
1 year ago
 
MJH

TimeBandit

redshiftLED.com.au

AU Sydney, Oz

5y 150K 5,145 9 65

I am a sucker for in line drops. This machine is not a classic for nothing. Very challenging set of rules if done right. Order is everything.

TimeBandit edited previous rating on January 11, 2017.
TimeBandit has this game on the wishlist.

9.103/10
1 year ago
 
PIS

crosbyjack

Pinside member

US Greenville, SC

2y 26,650 16 4 8

Brutal. Reminds me of Lemi. Art and Theme are unparalleled. Weird as ***. Soundtrack, eerie, creepy, and the way it narrates to you is like you were playing against a demon in a chapter strait out of Enter Player One. Would take the layout of shots and complexity of scoring rules over new tables any day.
8.141/10
1 year ago
 
RD

rotordave

Pinside member

NZ Pukekohe

8y 150K 9,951 126 105 3

What a sweet game. Classic looker and player.

rotordave currently owns this game.

7.727/10
1 year ago
 
AJR

guymontag451

WedgeHead

US Vancouver, WA

7y 55,550 874 5 113

Classic bally pin with iconic monochronistic art package.

guymontag451 has this game on the wishlist.

8.839/10
2 years ago
 
JW

Sticky

Pinside member

US Ladera Ranch, CA

10y 55,900 636 3 9

I didn't give this much of a chance initially as I figured it was old and boring. Once I gave it a chance though it blew me away.

It's all about multiball. There isn't really much to shoot for though beyond ORBS but it's a cool concept. Once you get 5 balls going it is a lot of fun.

There really aren't any gimmicks to it or toys. It's pretty simple and straightforward with solid gameplay but the art and sound are spectacular. It's just a solid game and I want to add it to the collection ASAP.

Sticky edited previous rating on August 08, 2016.
Sticky has this game on the wishlist.

8.197/10
2 years ago
 
TBK

xTheBlackKnightx

Pinside member

2y 116K 3,964 137 2

"Release POWER Orbs"!
Not to be confused with the Inder, 1979 game or Cyclopes from Gameplan, 1985 (also a really good game).

Absolute rock solid Early Bally game.
Notable for its black and white artwork on the playfield, backglass and cabinet.

Challenging game for multiball, which many players did not even know it had, as the balls are "hidden" underneath the spring steel flap.
Getting the O-R-B-S targets in order to add a ball is a tough challenge.
Completing the "Queen's Chamber" is even more difficult.

What really set it apart was the "Say it Again" Reverb module.
When it works correctly, it really adds to the depth of the sound.
If it not rebuilt and PROPERLY adjusted, it sounds like a garbled mess (hence comments of "I cannot understand what the game is saying")

Significant price increases in this title in the past 15 years.
Day 1 Mylar saved a lot of original playfields from destruction.

A must play if you are an Early Bally enthusiast.
A must have if you are an Early Bally collector.
Some new collectors will not "get" the game, which is highly unfortunate until later when you do and it costs $8k absurdity. At the current rate, this will be around 5 years or so.
12345
There are 101 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 5.

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