Pinside rating
This game received 315 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.562 /10
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.544
Artwork: 7.379
Sounds/Music: 7.097
Other Aspects: 7.843
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.
Found 187 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 187 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 8.
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Gyál
8.168/10
58 days ago
Knoxville, TN
A fast and fun classic! I owned it for a few months. A superb starter pinball, and also a keeper among collectors.
The sound is cool for the time. The rush of mutliball was crazy along with the sirens on top of the cabinet. If you’ve not had a chance play one. Classic classic pin.
The sound is cool for the time. The rush of mutliball was crazy along with the sirens on top of the cabinet. If you’ve not had a chance play one. Classic classic pin.
7.296/10
68 days ago
Super fast game. The table I played drained too many times when ball is initially put into play, so I’m looking forward to playing a different machine. I can see why this table has so many fans though, fastest table I ever played.
9.178/10
1 year ago
I only bought this game because it was too good of a bargain in a package deal to pass up, but I am so glad I did.
This game seems to be chronically underrated on here, because it's an absolute blast to play. It offers a brutally fast game, with some serious challenge, in an excellently executed theme.
Are the rules simple? Sure. That's the beauty of it, though. Theoretically, you're in a fighter jet, and your objective it to take down your target and avoid being taken down. Get locked on, get your crew ready, and unleash a flurry of an attack to eliminate your opponent.
For someone to truly enjoy (and get angered) by the machine, you have to play it in its 3-ball setting. No matter how good I get at the game, it always presents enough a challenge in this setting, because this game can cruelly drain a ball no matter what you do, and it always seems to pick the worst opportunities to do so. In one game, I'll score in the millions. In the next, I'll struggle to break 300k. It's amazing.
Then there's the sounds and the lights - I can't think of anything else in the era that even competes. It's amazing by today's standards
This is a keeper in my collection for sure. Part of me is angry that it's rated so low, and it definitely deserves its spot in the Top 100, but at the same time, I'm glad it's underrated. Otherwise I never would have had a chance to snag it when I did.
The other game I got in the package deal? It shall remain nameless, but I can say it's the one I was after, and it's also the one I'd get rid of first if I had to part with one of the two machines now.
This game seems to be chronically underrated on here, because it's an absolute blast to play. It offers a brutally fast game, with some serious challenge, in an excellently executed theme.
Are the rules simple? Sure. That's the beauty of it, though. Theoretically, you're in a fighter jet, and your objective it to take down your target and avoid being taken down. Get locked on, get your crew ready, and unleash a flurry of an attack to eliminate your opponent.
For someone to truly enjoy (and get angered) by the machine, you have to play it in its 3-ball setting. No matter how good I get at the game, it always presents enough a challenge in this setting, because this game can cruelly drain a ball no matter what you do, and it always seems to pick the worst opportunities to do so. In one game, I'll score in the millions. In the next, I'll struggle to break 300k. It's amazing.
Then there's the sounds and the lights - I can't think of anything else in the era that even competes. It's amazing by today's standards
This is a keeper in my collection for sure. Part of me is angry that it's rated so low, and it definitely deserves its spot in the Top 100, but at the same time, I'm glad it's underrated. Otherwise I never would have had a chance to snag it when I did.
The other game I got in the package deal? It shall remain nameless, but I can say it's the one I was after, and it's also the one I'd get rid of first if I had to part with one of the two machines now.
Antwerpen
7.893/10
1 year ago
Put alot of quarters in this game back in college. If you like the 80s and the movie Top Gun, then you'll love this machine. The theme and rules fit it perfectly, the light show is almost unmatched even compared to today's machine and it is an extremely fast machine Not very deep, but it is a Steve Ritchie machine so it is all about the flow. Always a good time to play! Glad I finally have one of my own!
7.613/10
1 year ago
If you're looking for a fast and challenging game this is it. One of the fastest playing pins out there. Going for multiball and plane takedowns is addicting and the kickback on the left part of the game is cool. This one will give you quick games and constant challenge. Fun and addicting.
8.952/10
1 year ago
Of the System 11s I own (Big Guns, Pinbot, and F-14), F-14 is likely to see the least play in my arcade. That's not to say it's a bad game, far from it. I find the other two more fun to play, and so do guests. F-14 feels unfair at times, too many shots result in a SDTM drain. It's hard to achieve multiball on factory settings too, which kind of alienates new players. Thankfully, you can change this so that when you achieve a lock lit by spelling "Tomcat", the game will award you two locks the first time instead of one. Since you have to lock 3 balls and then hit the lock again to release, it cuts down the number of locks you need to earn in half.
Gameplay is fast and furious. This is an expert level pin, and you really have to be ready to do some damage control if you miss a shot. The kicker in the upper left playfield is a great feature, it feels like you're actually fighting the machine, but it's also very fast, and a very dangerous shot. It's the only way to earn an extra ball though, so you have to go for the kills if you want to extend your play. Overall, the game flows nicely, it's just very punishing.
Where F-14 truly excels is in the sound and music department. Zero complaints. All the sounds are fantastic, and the music is some of the best the system 11 tables have to offer. Best multiball music in all of the system 11 family in my opinion, even better than Pinbot's iconic music.
Lighting is very good, and there are some really good light shows in the game. The table doesn't feel dark or hard to see, and the topper lights are a MUST have on this game. There's something really special about right before you get that multiball seeing those lights spin around and around. In my opinion, it's one of the best toppers in pinball.
I like F-14, but it doesn't always achieve one of my biggest standards for owning a pinball machine, the "just one more game factor", and this has to do with how brutal and unfair the game can be. I have to dock it lastability and fun points for that. I really like challenging games, but even by Steve Ritchie standards, this game is hard. I'll play it some more, it's still very new in my collection and my only experience with it previously was through Pinball Arcade, and virtual pins aren't always a good representation of how a game will play in real life. If my opinion changes, I'll update my review accordingly.
Update to my review 11/8/21: I'm enjoying this game a lot more now. It's currently seeing the most play from me because of the challenge. Now that I have a feel for the table and the shots, I'm getting into multiball more frequently on factory settings. Before, I would achieve multiball maybe once every 10 games or so and usually on the 3rd ball. My nudging skills have gotten better and most importantly, I have fixed the weak pop bumper which is making spelling "Tomcat" A LOT easier. I still think F14 is not on the same tier as something like PinBot, High Speed, Taxi or Whirlwind, but of the system 11 games I feel like it's at least better than Big Guns which is also in my collection, so I'm adjusting my score accordingly. I'm finding myself more and more fond of it because it's challenging. It makes for some intense games, and man the light show and music never get old.
Gameplay is fast and furious. This is an expert level pin, and you really have to be ready to do some damage control if you miss a shot. The kicker in the upper left playfield is a great feature, it feels like you're actually fighting the machine, but it's also very fast, and a very dangerous shot. It's the only way to earn an extra ball though, so you have to go for the kills if you want to extend your play. Overall, the game flows nicely, it's just very punishing.
Where F-14 truly excels is in the sound and music department. Zero complaints. All the sounds are fantastic, and the music is some of the best the system 11 tables have to offer. Best multiball music in all of the system 11 family in my opinion, even better than Pinbot's iconic music.
Lighting is very good, and there are some really good light shows in the game. The table doesn't feel dark or hard to see, and the topper lights are a MUST have on this game. There's something really special about right before you get that multiball seeing those lights spin around and around. In my opinion, it's one of the best toppers in pinball.
I like F-14, but it doesn't always achieve one of my biggest standards for owning a pinball machine, the "just one more game factor", and this has to do with how brutal and unfair the game can be. I have to dock it lastability and fun points for that. I really like challenging games, but even by Steve Ritchie standards, this game is hard. I'll play it some more, it's still very new in my collection and my only experience with it previously was through Pinball Arcade, and virtual pins aren't always a good representation of how a game will play in real life. If my opinion changes, I'll update my review accordingly.
Update to my review 11/8/21: I'm enjoying this game a lot more now. It's currently seeing the most play from me because of the challenge. Now that I have a feel for the table and the shots, I'm getting into multiball more frequently on factory settings. Before, I would achieve multiball maybe once every 10 games or so and usually on the 3rd ball. My nudging skills have gotten better and most importantly, I have fixed the weak pop bumper which is making spelling "Tomcat" A LOT easier. I still think F14 is not on the same tier as something like PinBot, High Speed, Taxi or Whirlwind, but of the system 11 games I feel like it's at least better than Big Guns which is also in my collection, so I'm adjusting my score accordingly. I'm finding myself more and more fond of it because it's challenging. It makes for some intense games, and man the light show and music never get old.
5.155/10
2 years ago
whaaaat does everyone see in this game? It's pretty boring. Honestly. It LOOKS AMAZING! Like man, this is going to be epic. and then... that's what you get. I did get the RELEASE and the light show was pretty epic. But... em... what else? Oh yeah, not much.
I have been waiting to play this game, almost bought one way back when. I was so disappointed and sad.
I have been waiting to play this game, almost bought one way back when. I was so disappointed and sad.
7.242/10
2 years ago
Fast Game! Sensory Overload! I dig this Pin! Initially you may be overwhelmed with all the action and especially the sound, but after you get use to the sound its a really exciting game! Lots of ramps, flipper action and the multiball is a plus... All in all, a fun exciting game... The sound is overwhelming, but other than that, a real cool pin!
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