Bally

Elektra

Pinside Rating

This game received 60 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.394 _/10

7.394

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #202 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.437

Artwork: 7.735

Sounds/Music: 6.143

Other Aspects: 7.318

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 1 of us has rated this game.

7.073

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Found 20 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 20 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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6.876/10

11 months ago

VEE

Veemonroe

Pinside member

London

2y 55,550 205 7 176

Played at The Pinball Office on 29th April 2023.

I’ve never played an Elektra before, but I have owned a Flash Gordon, to which it has some resemblance in the two-tiered upper playfields, the numbered targets on the upper playfield, and so on.

Unfortunately, Elektra feels like a poorer cousin to Flash Gordon. During my short(ish) plays, I never worked out how to get to the lower playfield, but the enormous plastic panel covering the lower playfield made shooting the playfield above feel weird. The slingshots felt a bit weak and poorly positioned (almost flat), which - combined with the plastic panel - made the ball drift about in an insipid way. Getting to the upper playfield was trivial due to the large number of ramps and, once there, there wasn’t a whole lot to do, but it was definitely more interesting than the standup targets on the lower level.

I’d definitely own one if it was the only classic I was allowed, but - given choices - there are better pins from that era. On the upside, however, the back-glass is nice.

6.223/10

2 years ago

TSE

thetylander

Pinside member

9y 54,800 56 10 50

Honesty is the best policy and sometimes it has to be brutal.
One of these came up for sale recently for $1,000 on Craigslist. I looked at the ad and said, “Well that’s about $999 too much.” It was snapped up by a “get rich quick hoarder” by the end of the first day and I was happy that it wasn’t being bought by a real person just getting into pinball for the first time.
Yeah, I contacted the seller a couple days afterwards to find out who bought it, just because I couldn’t believe it sold.
Turns out there are more beanie baby collectors getting pinball machines. They don’t care what it is, they are never going to play it, they just heard that pinballs are worth a lot of money according to fake news. So they buy a few and stick them in their wet basement or in a rotting shed and wait for them to become super valuable so they can become filthy rich.
They hope to get rich off an Elektra!!!
Bwah Ha Ha Ha!!!!
This is not a great game. In fact it CAN be fun, but it simply doesn’t want to be.
Where Black Hole nailed the wide body multi playfield concept is exactly where Electra does everything wrong.
Angles - wrong. Targets - wrong. Mini playfields - wrong. Sound - wrong. Scoring ability -wrong.
…and so on.
It could have been great but it tries to do too much and doesn’t do any of it or even get the basics right.
I really hate being this harsh, but I have tried to play many different Elektras over the years thinking that one wasn’t set up right or that I wasn’t in the right mood. I wanted to like it, but it’s not very likable.
I am sure there are people that love the machine and that’s good because someone has to. I can’t recommend it as even a filler machine. Like a Lotus Seven with a twisted chassis, it still looks great but it’s impossible to drive.
The funnies part of this review is that I typically like the “meh” games. I can have the same amount of fun with Mata Hari, for example, as I could playing Indiana Jones. The playfield is everything and toys and DMD mini games mean very little.
Elektra has a bad playfield… perhaps that’s too harsh… Elektra has an uninspiring playfield. Again, there are people who love this game and I am glad that you found what makes it great, I always say that I love all pinball and in this case, this machine doesn’t want my love.

5 Pinsiders flagged this.

6.215/10

3 years ago

SJS

redhawk1689

Inactive member

Salina, KS

4y 36,650 12 2 37

This is not the pinball machine to introduce someone to pinball! I found it extremely challenging to hit shots (which is not such a bad thing) but which lead to a dull and boring game! I have played on pinball machines since the 60’s and this one was one of the least enjoyable ones that I have played! To the casual player, I would tell them to try another.

6.211/10

3 years ago

???

Kulovuori

Pinside apprentice

Lahti

3y 15,000 19 27

Elektra bonus field is nice add, game not so mutch.

7.520/10

3 years ago

PLG

nplg

Pinside+ Frequent

Columbus, OH

3y 52,050 53 8

Elektra is a game for the skilled player, one knowing how to control the pinball and aim carefully. Follow the ruleset and Elektra delivers. Multiball is among the hardest out there.

Four ramps, two spinners, five banks of targets, inline drop targets and, yes, the third mini-playfield. She isn't a Flash Gordon or an EBD, but sits well between both of these games in the collection.

7.318/10

4 years ago

ACE

Tbpilot78

Inactive member

Canton, IL

5y 31,550 157 11

A ok game,it doesnt have that one more game feeling,probably ok in a larger collection.The theme and look is pretty nice tho and good use of colors,upper pf not so much.It looks better then it plays imo

5.762/10

4 years ago

GTX

gdonovan

Pinside member

7y 185K 13,206 70

Played two of these machines now and disappointed both times. At the same show as the second Elektra, played Flash Gorden for the first time and was like WOW! Something clicks on FG that just doesn't click here. Liked FG so much I rattled off 3 more games, it has a "I have to try one more time" feel that this game doesn't have. She is a looker but nothing gelled for me.

8.295/10

6 years ago

MAH

wamonkey

Pinside+ Frequent

Seattle, WA

8y 73,300 1,272 7 9

OK - this game does not get a lot of credit for how good it is because it was over-shadowed by other games in that time frame like Flash Gordon, Eight Ball Deluxe, Fathom, etc. It is still a great game - hard to find as there were not many made. The game may not be as much fun as a Flash Gordon or EBD but it is still fun especially with the lower playfield that is really fun to get to on each turn. The two ball multi-ball is a great feature it is hard to get but fun as well.

A common complaint is the lack of pop bumpers or maybe drop targets which is true but if you are working for multi-ball or Elektra points you don't miss that.

I think the artwork is great - both on the playfield and the cabinet. It is typical 80's stuff....but neat if you like the vintage of it all.

The upper playfield can be worn - as they are hard to find un-used but there are people who touch them up or make overlays for it.

It is a rare game so most people do not get a chance to play it, I never saw one until I found one for sale and I grabbed it as fast as I could and I think it is great.

My only issue is all Bally of this vintage don't have freeplay settings - I updated the board and put in a freeplay rom. Also, I think during the attract mode the repeated call out of the Elektra voice gets repetitive. I could probably shut that off I guess but to me that is the only downsides of the game.

wamonkey has this game on the wishlist.

9.432/10

8 years ago

DJB

brenna98

Pinside+ Frequent

Wind Point, WI

10y 132K 2,244 59 54 1

Elektra is a very complex title for the era! The rules and shots are quite challenging. I love the tri-playfield setup, where the lower playfield is a bonus round when you drain.
I’ve only been able to accomplish the 2-ball multiball a few times. It’s quite exciting, because it’s not easy to hit all the targets in order to enable the locks. I would compare this to the difficulty level of obtaining a multiball on Black Hole.
Love the sounds and voice on the machine or any machine around this era. My favorites are Elektra, Flash Gordon, and Vector with those cool background sounds and voices.
The trouble with this game is finding one with a good upper and lower playfield. The main playfield has a sheet of plexyglass over it, so it’s always good. The upper is a standard Bally finish, so it wears out quickly. I’ve seen the lower PF with and without mylar, but this naturally gets less play.
I can see why this title is a keeper for many collectors.

brenna98 currently owns this game.

8.859/10

8 years ago

MEL

melappels

World of Pinball

Almere

15y 81,050 285 7 165

Well balanced and pretty hard game!
3 playfield are a blast and well designed.
If you find one you should buy it and have a chance to explore the great ruleset.

6.976/10

9 years ago

MRD

robbiedoo

Inactive member

Edmonton, AB

11y 55,900 555 2 11

What a great game. I've played a few others from this era, but this one made me want to own it. It has a deep set of rules, especially for the year. Excellent theme with BEAUTIFUL back glass!

robbiedoo edited previous rating on October 21, 2014.
robbiedoo has owned this game in the past.

8.956/10

10 years ago

JVE

Jappie

Pinside member

11y 106K 1,069 56

Elektra is a great machine. It's one of the most complicated early solid state Bally pins. Both playwise and from a mechanical point of view.

The thing I love about Elektra is how almost every aspect of the game adds to the theme. For instance:
- The ball flow is different from any other machine. This is caused by the plexiglass playfield surface. Very smooth, almost futuristic feeling.
- The mechanical parts like the flippers just sound different, because of the thick layer of plexiglass. Adds to the mystique.
- The sounds are, well, electrifying. The background hum is simple, but makes it seem like the machine is really charged with electricity. A classic example of where less is more. There's not much speech, but what's there is good.
- The ruleset is somewhat elaborate, but mainly just very different from other SS Bally's. Very challenging and refreshing. The mini playfield under the normal playfield is a welcome twist. Get good at it, and you can score some serious points.
- The artwork is beautiful. It just makes all the above blend together.

Jappie edited previous rating on August 29, 2014.

4 Pinsiders starred this!

7.326/10

10 years ago

HEY

MrTwister

Inactive member

Helsinki

10y 10,000 1 11

This is a pinball with a lot of space. Huge.
I mean there is nothing to hit for ages.
Look at that pinball go!
It's the freakiest show.

Heads up, engaging(maybe also because of this), way more interesting than most machines from after 2000

The theme is awesome. The sounds are great, the background hum envigorating and eeery. Enveloping you in a distopian, dark, stil typical 70's vision of the future.
As we knew it.

The three different levels for play is AWESOME! There is speech, for being so old, it's pretty, pretty good! This keep you at the amtosphere even when you loose.
That is soooo cool.

This is something I would not would be surprised to find lingerning around in the deepest corner of Jean Luc Picards private chambers.

You wait for Moebius to come crashing through the backglass at any moment.

The flipper/ramps communication is horrible. I made the ball crash against the glass quite a few times, always looking for a crack.

6.668/10

11 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

Elektra is a game that does not come up that often... for a good reason.

The Pros:
Triple PF design. The lower PF is a pretty cool design and is the best thing about this table. Bally was smart enough to learn from Haunted house and keep the ball on the lower PF and not use a multi level ball transportation system that blew the game up if things went bad.

The Cons:
This game is a bore to play other than the lower pf. The upper PF is reuined by 3 second ball times. For so much to shoot for, there doesn't seem to be any action at all.

The Takeaway:
If you can find a nice one and you like it great! I have yet to have fun on this table. Will see what happens when I get a chance to play it again. Not giving this one much hope though. The Fernandez/Ramunni connection here is not doing it for me. Claude never produced a good pinball game (Baby-pac is not a true pin!) after Flash Gordon starting with this table...

Update:
I made a point to spend some time with this deck at Pinburgh 2013. I have to say, it is starting to grow on me. Elektra is rather complex and not immediately apparent as far as rules and strategies are concerned. On the upper PF, the captive ball WITH the inline drops is a very satisfying shot. Nudging skills come to the forefront when on the upper playfield. With such a wide open and vertically angled standups on the left of the PF, and the skateball saucer on the right... sniper skills are a must. The upper PF will challenge your adaptation skills with the flippers at such steep angles. On the lower PF, I like the flipper layout with the StarGazer metal lanes to keep things fast and interesting. With bouncy brightly colored rubbers on the flippers, this setup is much faster and difficult to control than what you'd initially think it would be. Elektra... is it obscure, interesting and unusual? Yes. Is it a game I'd like in my collection? Probably not (at this point). But the more pin players that I respect, who talk to me about it that view it favorably and in a few cases, rave about it... I'm willing to play it some more. And that's always a good sign. Scores adjusted accordingly.

Caucasian2Step edited previous rating on April 19, 2013.

7.305/10

11 years ago

JLM

jlm33

Pinside member

Villejuif

11y 152K 5,892 7 169

I love all pins with lower PF!... but among them, this is the one I love the least and played the least. The elektra unit accumulation was an excellent idea - too bad the rest of the game play does not match its potential!

jlm33 edited previous rating on September 08, 2013.

7.214/10

12 years ago

M J

Melbourne

Pinside member

Somers, NY

12y 36,650 244 13 13

A bit of a sleeper IMO. Setup the table at a higher than normal angle, polish the plexi on the main PF until smooth. This is a fairly fast playing game for its age. I find it better to setup the multiplier early on and setup most shots into the upper PF from the bottom. The 3rd below PF mini-field really helps with the score. People complain the lack of pop bumpers on this table but I really don't think they are needed. The biggest challenge is controlling the shots from outlane drains and building up your elektra units and bonuses using aimed shots from the lower PF. I also found updating the game with some LED's helped increase its visual appeal (particularly the 3rd mini PF) and fit with the "Elektra" theme.

Melbourne has owned this game in the past.

7.302/10

12 years ago

STU

stuartr7

Pinside member

Roseneath, ON

12y 22,650 311 2 8

fun game with the 3 levels, mine is quite fast and love building the elektra units, a real sleeper classic with so many things that are right about this game, an understated classic, it screams 80's in a cool way

stuartr7 has owned this game in the past.

7.073/10

12 years ago

DEL

SealClubber

Pinside Moderator

14y 127K 11,060 246

Love the monotone electronic background hum. Sounds cool. Very fitting to the theme. Not sure if it should be called music since it doesn't change so I just rated it under sounds. The extra scoring logic of having to earn points to open up the lower playfield is neat. Artwork is colorful and wierd but in a cool way. Gameplay wise though, the game falls short.

SealClubber edited previous rating on March 07, 2016.

8.255/10

12 years ago

BUK

pinballslave

Pinside member

Litvinov

12y 138K 6,367 133 149

I love the sounds on this... if I like the fact that there's no variation, does that mean I should rate variation as Terrible or excellent??

pinballslave currently owns this game.

6.860/10

15 years ago

LO

LorenZ

Pinside member

Eaux Claires

15y 76,800 615 31 68

The first 3 level pinball of all time. Reach the market some month before the "Haunted House, but didn't really find the same reception. A strange and nice machine, but the game play, in spite of a two ball multi ball mode, is so slow and boring. Perhaps the addition of some bumpers could have give some rhythm to the machine.

LorenZ has owned this game in the past.

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