Williams

Comet

Pinside Rating

This game received 138 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.336 _/10

7.336

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #208 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.478

Artwork: 7.541

Sounds/Music: 6.105

Other Aspects: 7.57

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.

5.914

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Found 87 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 87 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.160/10

9 years ago

DOC

drsfmd

Pinside member

10y 76,550 3,156 108

This one was a real game changer. It was the first "modern" pinball I'd ever played, after a 7-8 year run of crappy early SS units that weren't as good as the EM's that preceded them.

I don't know that I have the burning desire to own one, but Comet will always hold a special place in my heart.

Edit: 4 years later, and I'm back to edit this comment. I ended up with a Comet... and it gets played as much as anything else in my collection. It's got the perfect balance of challenge and reward.

drsfmd edited previous rating on February 22, 2019.

6.022/10

9 years ago

DPC

cubitron

Inactive member

West Des Moines, IA

10y 48,800 56 2 282

It is an okay game. However, I find the illustration of the African-American child on the backglass a tad bit racist. Am I alone on this?

cubitron edited previous rating on June 29, 2015.

7.746/10

10 years ago

ROB

RobKnapp

Pinside member

Colorado Springs, CO

13y 110K 3,116 13 183

Classic Fun

7.535/10

10 years ago

DMS

Elevatorman

Premier Pinball Stl

St. Louis, MO

10y 116K 1,860 71 171

I dumped a lot of money in this pin when I was young trying to get the million shot! The game is pretty fun.A ramp shot,corkscrew,million shot.
Good sounds with guys taunting you,lol.I still like it,especially for the price you can get them for!

Elevatorman edited previous rating on July 29, 2014.
Elevatorman currently owns this game.

8.193/10

10 years ago

DFB

abaxas

Inactive member

Blagill

11y 9,900 54 2 14

Great single ball game with enough toys to keep you coming back for one more game.

6.369/10

10 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

11y 80,150 289 7 282

Music and sounds always annoy me. Love the backglass.

7.096/10

10 years ago

MOF

mof

Mof Pinball

San Francisco, CA

11y 149K 13,304 25 94

Played this at CAX 3-4 times, and was thoroughly non-impressed.

PROS
* funny callouts - good taunting
* nice use of a Bally inlane on one side (respect) -- but at the same time -- it's not fun
* nice use of hurry ups
* nice bonus collect
* nice progression towards extra ball rewards

CONS
* The background music is really a chore on my ears. You can remove it with setting "1" on switch "34"
* Lots of dink-donk near the pops, that slows the ball flow down.
* Same with any shot to the right ramp - takes a while to get your ball back.
* pop action isn't interesting.
* 3-color scheme is not attractive: Red, Yellow, Green. We've seen this a few too many times.

mof edited previous rating on July 14, 2022.

3.443/10

10 years ago

JRM

Mato

Pinside member

Perth

11y 75,800 2,717 11 105

It wasn't to bad but got bored after a while

6.215/10

10 years ago

RPG

tilted81

Pinside+ Addict

11y 104K 2,389 45

good ramp, I like the ferris wheel. This games good for nudging. I think it's kinda ugly but I'd buy one if i got it on the cheap.

9.460/10

10 years ago

CB3

fryeguy7

Inactive member

10y 18,400 83 6

Just plain fun. Single ball game, no dmd, but really flows well. Long ball times and a great pin to learn how to "play" and manipulate lane saves and flipper control. I really should hate this game because of all the stuff it does not have but instead think it's a steal for the price you can get one. It has a place in any collection.

Also for anyone new like myself, this game is really easy to work on compared to games with a lot of toys and moving parts. So in that respect (has nothing to do with gameplay) would make a good pin for a novice to cut your teeth on.

7.603/10

11 years ago

ATE

AdamTheGamer

Pinside member

11y 56,150 270 2 133

Comet is a lot of fun, but nowhere as fun as it's sequel, Cyclone, in my opinion. I still enjoyed the game, but I don't think I'd ever want to own one.

10.000/10

11 years ago

YAR

Gangplank

Pinside member

11y 32,900 86 4 23

This is an amazing pin all around, with LEDs in it, it looks and flashes for attention like a slot machine, when I got mine the flippers were weak, but the playfield and comet ramp itself was in pretty good shape, after cleaning and adjusting the flippers awhile this game kicked the ball around good, this game plays great with stronger flipper coils, music is awesome and so many unique cool sound effects, this will never leave my collection, I've put too much love into her anyway!

Gangplank edited previous rating on April 24, 2013.
Gangplank has owned this game in the past.

7.480/10

11 years ago

BEC

BigB

Inactive member

Dike, IA

11y 66,900 1,498 5 56

Love this game! Simple, family friendly, easy to play game. You won't be disappointed.

BigB currently owns this game.

9.036/10

11 years ago

MTA

AtlanticPinball

Inactive member

Weymouth, MA

11y 25,900 73 19 19

In the Fall of 1986, at Northeastern University's Ell Building, you'd find the same group of guys huddled around the Comet game all day long - while Ice Fever sat next to it probably wondering why no one ever played it.

Comet was a blast to play! We'd play it as much as our class schedules would allow. Yeah, maybe it is simplistic, and doesn't offer multiball, but it rocks as a game. There's satisfaction in hitting the "Dunk the Dummy", and of course riding the Comet! The corkscrew shot was always hard as hell to hit. The Million shot was a real game changer.

If you're looking for a good "old skool" SS game - keep an eye out for a Comet machine!

8.000/10

11 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

Comet is a simple and entertaining game.

The Pros:
Python Angelo and his crazy view of the world come through loud and clear on this art package. This is especially true with the PF which is full of silliness and reminds me of a "Where's Waldo" book. John Belushi would be proud to know that he adorns this BG. Gameplay is straight forward and hitting that million shot is always a rush. The ramp is a classic example of risk/reward. An unusual PF design from Barry Oursler with particular note to the absence of the Oursler tm outlanes of deadly drain.

The Cons:
Flipper have to be strong or the corkscrew ramp to the upper lanes is impossible. Many of the million shot plastics are cracked into pieces. Dunk the dummy is a sucker shot.

The Takeaway:
The theme is hilarious and very well executed on a unique playfield. Playing this game, it almost seems like an EM gottleib in the sense of simple, but not easy and it has that "You gotta play just one more game..." factor that Barry Oursler and his team were able to cultivate deceptively well with so many of their designs. This deck is FUN!

7.785/10

11 years ago

???

Jgarg

Inactive member

Medina, OH

11y 10,000 1 19

Good game for the time period.The first game to have a million point shot!

7.052/10

11 years ago

LAS

HighNoon

Pinside member

11y 80,100 1,144 54

My favorite thing about Comet is the playfield artwork. It's almost like a Where's Waldo drawing and every time I look at it I find something funny and new. The Comet ramp and associated sound effect is cool. The ball slows down at the top of the ramp and then rushes down the to the bottom, just like a real roller coaster. The cycle rump is hard to hit and a bit random. I put green LEDs behind the fun house to give it a spooky look that was pretty cool. What I don't like about Comet is that it seems to have a fair amount of dead shots on the playfield.

HighNoon edited previous rating on January 11, 2016.

8.038/10

11 years ago

DEB

Dbaum88

Pinside member

Roswell, GA

11y 90,050 1,274 8 78

I just got my Comet for Fathers Day and am very happy but I may have to edit this one day. I love the theme, and may have to get a Cyclone soon. The playfield art really adds to the theme and I'm looking forward to discovering all kinds of crazy, secret pictures on there. To me, the pin feels like the perfect link between an older and newer game. It doesn't have all of the gimmicks and toys and computer animations of a newer machine, but it has some great ramps, great sound and a million dollar shot. The game plays fast and clean and is very enjoyable for kids or casual gamers. And the fireworks sounds thrill the crowd! Now just need to make that shot...

Dbaum88 has owned this game in the past.

9.100/10

11 years ago

MDS

mdsjdtx76

Inactive member

Fort Worth, TX

11y 18,900 18 13 6

The game that got me started

mdsjdtx76 currently owns this game.

7.859/10

11 years ago

ERG

cireone

Pinside member

Moreno Valley, CA

12y 56,900 670 16 16

I think Comet is a fun machine, we have owned it for a couple of months now and we are not bored of it yet. Yes, I know it doesn't have the deepest ruleset, but it is a satisfying pin and I love the feeling you get when you make the 1 million point shot.

cireone currently owns this game.

5.419/10

12 years ago

JJS

jonogo

Pinside member

12y 75,300 2,987 1 51

Great Pin! First of the Roller Coaster Williams 80s pins. It only has so many options to shoot for however, and this makes it not a long lasting pin in my opinion.

8.484/10

12 years ago

PHH

phh0999

Inactive member

Newport, MA

12y 25,900 2 11 31

I really connect with Comet. Feels like you are playing against the evil clown. The taunts are great, cycle jump with drum roll, awesome, fireworks are super cool, game is fun, flow is fast, and the rule set is challenging without being impossible to all but the most dedicated. Here's so of the things that make Comet a winner in my book. Plunger shot, go easy and light up a couple of 1986 lanes? or go for the 20k corkscrew guaranteed...have to get the ducks an the rabbit targets to make the "comet" center ramp really pay, cycle jump can be back handed by right flipper or shot with the left, drop target is a risk reward as wrong angle is a SDTM, BUT you have the post IF you are patient. Sounds are cool and fit the carnival theme. 3rd ball completion of the 1986, trap ball on right flipper, back hand to the cycle jump, hit the last ring and 1 mil!! Fun when you complete it, and in 1986 1 mil was still a lot of point (on some machines now you get 1 mil for putting a ball in play lol!) Achieving extra ball with corkscrew shot is tough, but can be done...Once you get the hang of the shots and the order to do things game can be "easy" for a home machine with owner's beating the pants off guests, (Bad Cats is very similar) But various challenges can be added via programming to make the game play tougher. For me this game is a "keeper" , the theme is one I connect with, Williams was building quality pins in 1986 build wise, and game play is just plain fun. I like the other carnival themed games as well, each has there own unique strengths and weaknesses. I prefer single ball pinball, so for me that makes Comet a game I prefer.

phh0999 has owned this game in the past.

6.611/10

12 years ago

III

singlebanana

Pinside member

Summerfield, NC

12y 59,950 593 15 141

IMO the weakest of the trilogy: Comet, Cyclone, and Hurricane. Not a big fan of the ramp being dead center and the skee ball shot on the far right, which takes up space that could be better used. Not a bad theme, but a little too simplistic, which hurts it lastability. Save a little more money and get a Cyclone.

singlebanana edited previous rating on April 10, 2012.

9.747/10

12 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside member

Sana'a

12y 169K 40,258 18

Comet is a great, underrated game. LOTS of ramps and interesting stuff to complete. Hard to make the 1,000,000 shot.

If set up correctly, with good bumpers and slingshots, the game plays nice and fast. This game needs clean and powerful flippers to give you any chance of the corkscrew shot. Most of the ones I see are pretty poorly maintained.

HEY TURKEY... C'MON HIT ME......AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! (splash).

vid1900 edited previous rating on May 14, 2012.
vid1900 has owned this game in the past.

8.404/10

12 years ago

MBA

islandpinball

Pinside member

Nyc, NY

12y 61,450 1,604 4 28

great simple game, three ramps, no multiball which is a bummer, but all around very good play

islandpinball edited previous rating on November 04, 2011.
islandpinball currently owns this game.

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