Pinside rating

This game received 360 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.848 _/10

7.848

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #106 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.135

Artwork: 7.474

Sounds/Music: 7.275

Other Aspects: 8.049

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 7 of us have rated this game.

8.079

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Found 185 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 185 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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9.211/10

11 days ago

DIG

DigitalENCOM

Pinside member

Jonesboro, AR

<1y 16,000 9

One of the first Pins I ever played. I still have a special place for this pin, one day I will own one.

DigitalENCOM has this game on the wishlist.

8.272/10

56 days ago

???

tmonag

Pinside+ Frequent

Roswell, GA

2y 21,900 1 7 7

Ya gotta love the Time expander (mini playfield) at the center of all the action...and it's got 3 layers! I find the multi-ball play just so addictive. What can be better than screaming daleks every time you nail one of the targets and the ball drops down below playfield level. Best callout: "dalek in the corner pocket". I was never a fan of the BBC TV show doctor who, so I'm not particularly enamored of the theme. The daleks screaming "exterminate" can be pretty annoying, but I find the game play so damn addictive!!

tmonag currently owns this game.

9.800/10

76 days ago

SMW

SmittyWho

Pinside member

<1y 13,750 13

"It's not the obstacles, or a Dalek or two that I can't handle; it's the fast pace!" -7th Doctor

"Mwhahahahheheh." -The Master.

"Doctor! Do not move! Obey, or be Exterminated!" -Daleks.

"Ace, you need to activate your console too!" - 7th Doctor.

"Millions!" -4th Doctor

SmittyWho edited previous rating on November 12, 2023.
SmittyWho has this game on the wishlist.

6.422/10

3 months ago

TTE

EvergreenTTE

Pinside apprentice

Champaign, IL

<1y 9,150 4 24

Not a bad game. The layout is unusual and there aren't a lot of targets on the left side of the playfield, but in general it's pretty fun. The Time Expander in the back center that locks two balls and then rises out of the floor is a neat mechanism. I didn't care for the art, either on the playfield or the backbox, and some of the sound effects seemed pretty amateurish (a lot of switches made an uncool "doink" sort of sound), so that cost the game some points in my rating.

8.128/10

4 months ago

ABF

Sheev_Palpatine

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 102K 556 65

Classic game with great shots!

7.680/10

7 months ago

ENT

CaptainTrips

Pinside apprentice

Thulimbah

1y 15,400 32 6 6

I rate this one as fairly hard and bit unforgiving at times. Shots to the locks are easy and you can do both in 2 shots after a while but the 3 shot WHO still eludes me most of the time its the shot to the H that foils me. This is where the extra ball is hiding and i rarely ever get one except from score. Time Expander is a complex bit of kit and mine has no issues but i wouldnt want to take it apart.. a Dalek shooting gallery is none the less a great toy. Video mode is a bit easy so i set mine to hardest setting so make them harder to remember. Everyone complains about the open angles on the side outs, and there are threads about how to tighten them up a bit. On the advice of someone who used to operate them in the 90s I put 2 mini rubber posts in at the top of the in/out lanes and then opened up the lanes to max. still a lot of drains but now they feel like my fault, not just some design error.
Fairly complex ruleset that also desnt seem to matter too much about some aspects.

Pros: Dr Who's, 7 of them!! Daleks!! Cool centerpiece, tricky 3 shot combos to get to extra ball, and a loop that keeps a permanant record of top score.

Cons: diabolical outlanes, push button launch (not a fan) Unfantastic artwork

CaptainTrips currently owns this game.

8.584/10

8 months ago

MJM

mystman12

Pinside member

9y 76,550 1,145 6 7

I had the pleasure of keeping a Doctor Who in my home for a few months in order to repair the Time Expander and some other issues that the game had. I really, really enjoyed my time with it, though I will say that this is also the most infuriating pinball game I've ever played! It can be absolutely merciless at times, but when you get a great game you feel like the coolest person in the world, and that's what keeps you coming back.

The Time Expander is probably the greatest toy in pinball, I can't think of anything else that affects gameplay as much and looks as cool as it does. I suppose the sky scraper in Godzilla Premium comes close, but even that doesn't have quite as much going on. The way the Time Expander makes its area of the playfield go from lock shots, to bash targets, to scoops adds so much variety. Besides that though the rest of the playfield is pretty good. There are some awkward spots, like the massive wall of REPAIR targets, and the randomness of the video mode start shot as the ball often exits the bumpers the wrong way, but overall the game is fun to shoot IF you can make your shots. A WHO combo is always fun to hit, but it's also very hard to get. Loops are also lots of fun too of course.

The rules are really special considering when this game came out. The different Doctors enhancing different areas of the playfield adds a layer of strategy not often seen in other games of its era. Personally I really enjoy setting the game so that Doctors aren't automatically spotted each ball. This makes it so you really have to work hard to earn all seven Doctors and makes a couple of them more valuable. Besides the Doctor system though the actual game objectives offer a lot of variety. Multiball, loops, video mode, WHO combos... There's a lot of stuff to work at and it all offers lots of opportunities to experiment with different strategies.

Lasty, the presentation had a lot of effort put into it and it shows. Voice talent from the show, an original plot that feels just like a real Doctor Who episode, detailed DMD animations, and the Dalek topper, which looks really cool even without the rotating head thanks to lights synchronized with speech. The music and sound is solid, with some really cool sound effects and a faithful, albeit somewhat repetitive, cover of the Doctor Who theme song. I've seen some complain about the artwork, and while it's certainly not perfect, I really like it. To me composition is the most important part of an art package and I think it's great on this game, especially the translite which sets the exciting tone of the game well.

mystman12 has this game on the wishlist.

7.828/10

12 months ago

???

Greenhaven

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

<1y 3,000 6

Goid game but I can see how it might get repetitive for some. Time expander is the main target here. All other targets are a distant second. Work your way through the various doctors is the name of the game.

8.952/10

1 year ago

F H

derfske

Pinside member

Landgraaf

1y 24,550 78 4 10

really fun game. easy multiball. loop is hard. but rewarding.. and fun. there is enough to do on the playfield. beginners have allot of fun with dr 7 and his easy multiball, for better players its a great game, tactic with choosing doctors, save doctors.. get multiplier up.. when multiball starts. great game.. and for super pros.. the cliffhanger loop is a great tournament game..
never ever gonna sell this game.. its def a keeper..
its one of those good newer williams games. on ipdb the fun factor is rated as high as top 20 games and that what really counts for me..

derfske edited previous rating on January 20, 2023.
derfske currently owns this game.

8.087/10

1 year ago

JHD

JHod

Pinside+ Frequent

1y 29,000 6 9

I'm a huge fan of the show and of Barry's designs, but this one leaves me a bit... cold. It feels like an attempt to marry older playfield designs with modern (as of the '90s) tech, and good grief is it hard. When I get a good game going, it feels REALLY rewarding, but most of the time it kicks my rear end up between my ears. I really enjoy that instead of modes it uses the different Doctors to modify timers or scoring opportunities. Lots of tactical options, especially if you've mastered some shots better than others. But the outlanes seem very open, and while the game does have a 'Second Chance' mechanic that works for lock shots that drain immediately, it seems a bit inconsistent. As a Whovian, I'm not selling mine, though. :) Fun enough to keep coming back to, and see if my skills improve.

JHod edited previous rating on June 28, 2022.
JHod currently owns this game.

9.280/10

1 year ago

DAD

Afghan_Vet

Pinside member

Marion, IN

3y 20,000 4 21

For some reason I cannot stop playing this game!!!! The loop ramp is satisfying to hit. The center lock changes 3 levels and is strangely satisfying. I enjoy the music in the game and the call outs are a little creepy in a good way. I think Dr who was a TV show but I've never seen it so it's definitely not a dream theme for me. Having said that, I want to own this game.

7.003/10

1 year ago

C P

Skatewake

Pinside+ Addict

2y 99,550 487 8 63

Good game

7.924/10

1 year ago

JR

PrairiePins

Pinside+ Frequent

Ames, IA

2y 28,150 5 3 14

I found this game to be surprisingly fun. I cannot speak much for the music and sounds, as the I could not hear it over the venue's music. Fans of this era of Bally machines will find this a great addition to their collection.

8.340/10

1 year ago

RAW

Bomber19

Pinside member

Central Coast

6y 32,650 5 8 21

Even though I was never much of a fan of the show growing up, I'm developing a greater respect. The time expander is an awesome toy and the dalek callouts add greatly to the theme. Hitting the w-h-o combo requires ninja-like accuracy and is crucial to score big points. I like being able to choose which doctor to play as during game play, based on their individual benefits. All in all, it's a fun game to play.

Bomber19 has owned this game in the past.

7.210/10

2 years ago

SUS

Grayont

Pinside member

Encinitas, CA

6y 51,550 84 1 129

This game if fun to play, but has only 2 simple scoring strategies. Either play for multiball or the W-H-O combo and playfield multiplier. There are a few other things to be seen like the video mode, but other than that it's pretty simple. The rising ball lock mech is definitely cool and unique. The highlight of this game for me is definitely the side ramp shot. Looping it repeatedly is very satisfying, and completing the W-H-O combo is fun but gets kind of old. This game is alright, but sits below other Bally/Williams of the era to me.

8.940/10

2 years ago

TTB

TempleTheBard

Inactive member

Eugene, OR

2y 17,750 15

There are a lot of fun things to shoot for in this game. Not too hard for beginners, and multiple opportunities to build up high scores for experienced players.

9.420/10

2 years ago

TSE

thetylander

Pinside member

9y 46,800 56 10 48

Just like they’re doing to every great sci fi franchise like Star Trek and Star Wars, Modern Doctor Who was destroyed from within by Doctor Nasty and Chibs the idiot. This isn’t about that.
Classic Doctor Who will always be great, and you can always pretend that it ended and never came back after 1989.
The game was made during the wilderness years of Doctor Who, a strange time to pick up the rights, considering the series had been off the air since 1989…
But it was the upcoming 30th anniversary of Doctor who, (made during the 29th anniversary, but that’s okay) and there were great plans at the BBC for that anniversary… that never came to be.
But we got Doctor Who pinball!!!
This game will make a classic Doctor who fan cry with joy, just as much as it made us cry with sadness back when Doctor Who was cancelled.
The difficulty level is way up there, especially considering the wide flipper spacing and the open playfield that causes balls to drain often.
Targets and rules are pretty straightforward but even those are of a higher difficulty level, you won’t beat it in a few days.
We all have played a lot of pinball, some licensed games appeal only to the fans of the product. The previous owner of this machine loved it a lot, owned it for five years but was making room for a Mandalorian machine. He admitted that he never watched one episode of Doctor Who.
That’s got to be a pretty good machine!
Edit:
I thought I would make it clear why this machine gets such an incredibly biased high score from me. Summary:Lifetime Doctor who fan, have wanted this machine since it was released. This is not only pinball, but good pinball and represents the ultimate in fan memorabilia, like Star Trek TNG would be to a Trekkie pinball fan. My score stands, when considering the complete package, few games would make me happier!

thetylander edited previous rating on September 26, 2021.
thetylander currently owns this game.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

9.740/10

2 years ago

CRM

TheShadowsNose

Pinside+ Addict

Upr Montclair, NJ

3y 68,050 470 5 11

Awesome game. The longer I have it the more I love it.

TheShadowsNose edited previous rating on January 15, 2023.
TheShadowsNose currently owns this game.

7.936/10

2 years ago

MFA

Mishap

Pinside member

Seattle, WA

2y 27,300 16 5 32

Kind of a one-trick pony, but it's a great trick! Very much its own machine, and the time expander on a working model is so cool.

Pros: The Time Expander takes the whole "center target" trope and does it one better. I love how each of the three levels requires more shots and more precision. Doctor selection feels pretty innovative for the time, and I think the theme and playfield are a lot of fun.

Cons: The center, while cool, is kind of the whole show. The other goals feel like they pale in comparison, and going from one baddie to the next doesn't change the goal much. I'll get through Davros and then not want to play again.

8.675/10

2 years ago

BXP

Deafman013

Pinside member

Osborne Park

2y 27,300 42 17 24

Is a good fast game

Deafman013 currently owns this game.

6.968/10

2 years ago

DUG

DougBris

Inactive member

Unknown

2y 5,000 6

Not a bad game. More appealing if you liked the TV series. Most are in good condition due to low plays. Sounds I found irritating after a while

7.290/10

3 years ago

DIA

mrossman5

Pinside+ Frequent

Warren, PA

6y 197K 3,066 7 252

FOr the time this was made, it is really good. Unique layout and great feature toy. It's hard for me to play with the "exterminate" callouts however. They get old pretty quick.

5.816/10

3 years ago

CHB

RojerLockless

Pinside member

3y 33,800 126 1 9

Not a bad box but could have been better. The sounds get a bit repetitive and the gameplay isn't the best, but it's a fun box to play.

5 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.635/10

3 years ago

TKM

Daditude

Pinside Moderator

Rockwall, TX

5y 263K 9,771 24 271

I got this pin in a trade and I planned on selling it, but it was surprisingly hard to get rid of. It has really good toys, call outs, and music. I'm not a fan of the artwork, but that doesn't distract from the fact that it's a great game. It reminds me of an upgraded pinbot.

Daditude edited previous rating on September 10, 2020.
Daditude has owned this game in the past.

7.608/10

3 years ago

BOB

Boberino77

Inactive member

Strongsville, OH

3y 21,150 2 1 7

I find this game to be very addictive, even though I'm not really into the theme. The ball elevator is very unique and memorable in pinball, and a lot of fun to cycle through the various stages. The upper playfield is also a lot of fun. The original lighting scheme is very dim, but when upgraded with LEDs, it comes back to life and stands up well to more modern pins. Fun to play!

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There are 185 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 8.

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