Fathom

Pinside rating

This game received 204 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.024 /10

8.024

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #80 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.004

Artwork: 8.951

Sounds/Music: 6.512

Other Aspects: 8.056


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 5 of us have rated this game.

8.058

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This title is part of group: "Fathom"


Found 89 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 89 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 3 of 4.

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8.014/10
9 years ago
I didn't even knew the game existed until I ran across it at APE 2015. Super cool artwork, fun game play, good rules, good game flow, plenty of toys and somewhat novel ideas (trapped ball behind drop targets, outlane design) make this a very unusual but extremely enjoyable pinball experience. Rare and expensive, too bad. Otherwise I would own one. A true gem.
9.886/10
9 years ago
Beautiful game - cabinet, playfield, backglass - fabulous art package, one of the most beautiful pinball machines ever produced. Not only that, gameplay matches the artwork - it's a wonderful game for a skilled player - with multiple goals tied to different skill shots from both left and right side. Love the two bonus ladders, the neat side lanes, great design to light extra ball... plus that awesome row of drops and to top that off the in-line drops on the right side... holy crap, it doesn't get better than that; what else do you want in a pin?
8.135/10
9 years ago
This game is legit fun. Inline drop targets galore, and a three ball multi ball that feels similar to BSD's three stacked multi ball. A ridiculously awesome and beautiful machine with a very strong 'one more game' draw. One complaint I don't care for is the pop bumper being open to direct shots.
9.349/10
9 years ago
Ranked in the 70's? How? This is maybe the best SS game of the early 80's. Wonderful layout, shots all over the board, great "guarded" lock areas, good ruleset, and the art is amazing.

I found myself pumping quarters into this one for a straight 45 minutes. Lots of fun. If I had my choice I'd take this over almost any game, DMD or not.
8.257/10
9 years ago
This is one of few early SS games that I truly covet. I played an immaculate version at Stu's Emporium and couldn't get enough of it. Love the inline drop targets. Simple yet engaging rules. Very satisfying shots and a really rewarding bonus tally at the end of balls. When you get this machine Rockin, it feels like it's preparing to blast off!! Really great pin.
6.536/10
9 years ago
This is a good pinball at all.
9.462/10
9 years ago
Originality: excellent.

Art/Lights/Theme: Great. Like Centaur, there are a lot of colored inserts here. Very colorful light set. Not as many insert colors as Centaur and Embryon. Artwork and backglass are second to none. Dark theme about mermaids killing male divers. Awesome x 9000.

Sound/Callouts: I love the voice synthesizer sound from 1981. Overall, I'd say the sounds are decent. It appears this one has no control for reverb like on Centaur.

Flow: Good. However, surprisingly, there are a few "dead ball" spots on this game, which for me puts Centaur far above this pin.
1) The 1 o'clock shot just hits the right pop. A surprising use of the 1 o'clock shot, which is really powerful off the left flipper.
2) The ball can come to rest just to the top-left corner of the bottom pop.
3) I don't like when the 3rd flipper (in any game) has its tip hanging out and you can nail the tip full power off the left flipper.

Toys: good 3rd flipper, creative use of inline targets (twice) to release multi-ball.

Ball Control/Hazards: Good risk / reward balance. I would say there are any specific super-risky shots, but a LOT of balls drain in the inlanes which are hard to nudge and a LOT of balls drain SDTM. It's not a game about "risky shots" as much as it is a game about having incredible finesse and ball digging skills when the ball slows down around the flippers. It's also a bit of a shell game, when the slings take control of the ball and you may have a 1/4 second at some point to save the game. You really have to stay on your toes.

Balanced Scoring: Seems good. No big jackpots to throw things off as far as I know.

Fun/Lastability: Very hard to start multi-ball brings you back over and over. Very Difficult pin. Requires a lot of finesse and patience.

Symmetry: Zero symmetry except around the flippers. Really well done.

Pops: Excellent: All 3 can score A-B-C lanes, and two of them can burn you. Second best set of pops only to Black Hole that I've ever played.

Backhands: Excellent. All three flippers can do VERY cool things with backhand shots.

Skill Shot: none!

Pros: Astonishing overall art package. Feels so good to be in front of this machine. Super touch on all plays to manage your drops in the right order. Great layout overall. If the multiball mode is more fun/manageable overall, then this game is tied for 2nd best ever with Centaur and Black Hole.

Cons: TOUGH play during multiball, 2nd ball drains quickly. (Some day I may have the skill to manage it) Overall the space feels a little bit cramped.
7.719/10
9 years ago
Beautiful
8.270/10
10 years ago
Fathom is a beautiful pin with amazing artwork. The theme is a little dark and definitely not mainstream. Some cool features which I imagine would have been new at the time - great multi ball modes and the reverse inlane/outlanes work really well. Some extremely satisfying shots. The sounds and speech callouts are very cool.

I have rated it against other games of the same era.
5.585/10
10 years ago
Was fun 80" year
7.297/10
10 years ago
Killer artwork, inline AND horizontal drops, and an impressive ruleset. This game stands the test of time & is a keeper for me.
2.070/10
10 years ago
There ar much better Pinballs with lower ratings.
7.415/10
10 years ago
Wanted one forever I thought, but having played some very nicely restored ones recently I came to the conclusion that for me it looks better than it plays - still one of my favorite pieces of pinball art.
7.389/10
10 years ago
You really owe it to yourself to play Fathom if you have the chance. It has a ton of drop targets and who doesn't love those? The playfield layout is similar to Captain Fantastic but with a lot more to do and better features. The inline drop targets and ball traps are a nice touch and are incorporated well with multiball. Yeah, I know the outlanes are weird but once you figure them out you'll like them because they're unlike any other game you play. You have to master the nudge and have quick reflexes or pay the price. The slings are less dangerous with the reversed outlanes as side-to-side action is more forgiving. The speech is good but the background sounds can get old at times. If only Fathom had a Xenon-esque Siren doing the speech calls. The artwork needs no description. You already know it's awesome.
7.742/10
11 years ago
Fathom is basic, but very fun. The artwork is beautiful and catches my attention often. I usually only want to buy games that are released after 1985, but I wouldn't mind having a Fathom someday. Awesome game, definitely worth playing!
7.565/10
11 years ago
Early SS games are tough to rate. Sounds are gonna be not as good compared to later platforms but it was a new feature back in the day. I love Fathom for the art alone. No other pin in my mind comes close with the details.
8.747/10
11 years ago
Fathom was one of those games I played as a kid and it was too tough! Granted this was the early 80's and I did not see another one for about 20 years. Fortunately, I've gotten better at playing pinball and wouldn't you know... this game is still a challenge.

The Pros:
Murder in progress by those fishtailed temptresses. This game is lush and the shots require precision. the timer on the 1-2-3 targets is a great way to add tension to the game. Starting the 3 ball multi is a challenge and the drops require precision. Greg Freres did a damn fine job with this art package. Inline drop targets for the lock and a bank of color coded green and blue targets for your bonus on the left of the PF require thought and accuracy. Light the spinner and rip it up! The inlane/outlane setup requires solid nudging skills. A true shooters table.

The Cons:
I don't own one. People who are rating this game less than an 8/10 need to spend some time on it and get the feel of it. Like I said before, when I first tried this game in the early 80's (forgive me... I was 12) the game killed my quarters faster than anything I could remember. But the game made such an impression on me that I kept on looking for it. If you are a good player and still rate it under an 8/10... it's you... no really... it's you.

The Takeaway:
A Classic Bally pinball game in every way. Looks beautiful, plays great. Keeps you coming back for more. Ward Pemberton's best table by miles.

Update:
I found one! I paid more than I would have like to have... but the quest is over. I have to say, this thing is gonna be sweet when it's tuned!

Update v2:
Well, the dream is over. I had someone offer me a trade I could not refuse and after another trade, it turned into a suh-wheet AC/DC preem with >550 plays. I miss it, but damn. I do love me some AC/DC preem! Will I have another one some day? I certainly hope so. The wheel keeps on turning and when you have more than a few pins to work on, why not? I wish it's new owner the best and hope that he has as much fun with it as I did. I must keep my eyes out for another copy... If anyone has one for sale, msg. me and let's make a deal!

Update v3:
I babysat a friend's game while he was in town getting it fixed (he lives in a remote area and could not get the game to work). So I have been sessioning it out and... well, it just doesn't speak to me the way it used to. I was at a party where my old table was and I felt the same. I love playing the game, the shots, the rules, the sounds, the artwork, the dual bonus ladder, the Murmaids, but unless I was in multiball, I didn't feel the challenging pull that I get from other games of that era. I find that there is more to do and more fun to be had with other tables from this era. I still love to play Skateball, Paragon, Harlem Globetrotters and Flash Gordon. But the dream is over for me and this table. Who knows, maybe another one will come my way some day, but for now... lastability and fun are reduced accordingly.

Update v.4:
Stuck in 2 ball multiball with the ball trap on the right. light spinner. tear said spinner up, repeat. How did this game become so safe? I got bored. Maybe another copy will feel more challenging, but I am not sure. She is a beauty though...
9.487/10
11 years ago
This is the first game I have totally "restored" back to better than new! I first bought this game as a beater just because of the beautiful artwork, and at the time I was looking to collect early Bally SS games. I had never played or seen one in person, and the first time I turned it on was when I got it home. Aside from the trashed playfield, the game was even more beautiful than I expected in my dimly lit basement, but that wasn't all that got me hooked. The sinister background sound (which will admittedly bother some) ramps up and will eventually turn to a frantic pace, adding to the adrenaline rush this game is supposed to induce! Inline drop targets times two, 6 more drop targets and a 3 bank drop target right in the center which must be hit in order to light the timed extra ball stand up are all great because of the varied shots needed, plus the varied rewards they give. Nice touch! On games that are well tuned, the pop bumpers and slingshots have a great kick, and really speed up the game. The early Bally voice doesn't disappoint if you remember that this was a milestone achievement in SS technology in the 80's, but obviously doesnt' compare to sound quality 30 years later. Varied specials, huge bonus possibilities, a rewarding spinner both in terms of satisfaction in hitting it, plus the points rack up when lit, and multiball multipliers for both 2 and 3 ball multiball are great. I also enjoy the unconventional outlane set up which is reversed, and allows a challenging but different set of skills to nudge back in on outlane drains (unless the ball is screaming downwards!) But of course, the real testament to fathom is it's artwork package. In some people's eyes, it's the most beautiful game ever done, and I can say that once one of these games is restored back to new or better condition (easily done with all necessary repro parts available) I have to agree, it is a sight to behold in ANY setting. I constantly get positive comments on mine just on the looks alone. The one aspect some have bashed is the issue with multiball coming to an abrubt end when shooting a ball back into a lock saucer during multiball, (you need to hit the three corresponding colored drop targets at the 6 bank to release the ball again) I think it's just one more aspect of shot management during a hectic multiball that makes the player work harder for the extra points earned, OR a nice respite for those that want to slow the pace down a bit. Player's choice! While not the cheapest game to buy these days, you can still find decent examples for reasonable cost, or completely restored examples for a much higher price point.
8.922/10
11 years ago
Never played it.Never seen one,only admired it in pictures and videos.

Part of that classic Bally family.I want one !!
8.785/10
11 years ago
Amazing artwork, feels great to play, shots are very satisfying and the game just has great flow and feel. Love the in/outlane reversal. However, goals are repetitive. Pound the right lock to start multiball and get your double playfield going, ram the spinner. Shouldn't have made bonus multipliers so easy to get.
8.382/10
11 years ago
Fathom artwork is flat out awesome, especially the backglass. Sounds are good and I actually like the cheesy voice. Gameplay is fun. The memory drop targets guarding the kickout holes for multiball is genius.
8.761/10
11 years ago
Absolutely beautiful Pin. Backglass is a true artpiece, and the PF is not bad either. I love in line targets too, so I would probably rate gameplay higher than most.
7.760/10
11 years ago
What a looker! Actually one of the few "older" games I enjoy playing. Not that 1980 is old but I am not much for pre 1980 games. Seen some awesome examples of this game, when in great shape it is a beauty.
8.662/10
12 years ago
One of the best 80" pins!
8.204/10
12 years ago
was amazed at the gamerules, game is harder then i tought, artwork is very nice.
why is it so low in the rating compared to other games?
one of the best early ss game.
There are 89 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 3 of 4.

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