Pinside rating

This game received 240 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.769 _/10

7.769

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #104 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.915

Artwork: 7.498

Sounds/Music: 7.07

Other Aspects: 7.958

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.

7.294

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Found 133 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 133 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 6.

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7.660/10

17 days ago

BAD

Diospinball

Pinside member

Joliet, IL

3y 73,300 1,336 9 75

I like this game.
And I know some people might rate this game low in the terms of gimmicks and toys... But, I didn't for one reason. This is the first or one of the first games where you control the lane change and also I like the 3 physical ball locks.

Its a simple game with very simple rules.
And it doesn't have anything fancy. Which is both good and bad. I love the simple rules. yes, they are rinse and repeat. I also think it can be frustrating as this game can be a drain monster.

But, I've had games which I put up a good score and that feels amazing. Its a good layout, and yes the middle shots are dangerous, but that's the point. I do like the rules as I stated. I won't go over them, but they're intuitive and make sense.
Also a lot of fun to rip the spinner.

Speaking of ripping the spinner. This game has no music. But, it does have some speech. Fire Power mostly, but it does say other things. But, while no real music, the games sound effects are amazing. I think this is what pinball should sound like. Lots of zaps and explosions and all that stuff, and the FirePOWER call out fits.

The theme is simple, but again thanks to the artwork and the amazing sound effects its a perfectly themed game. I also like how the playfield and backglass are very similar, but altered just slightly enough. Gives it a sense of cohesion and also a feeling of action and energy. The playfield artwork has the laser blasts from the fighters lining up with the stand up targets. Which are probably the most important shots in the game. As you need to hit all of those to qualify or light the locks.

Just a simple, but I think very effective way to both look cool, and also focus the players attention on the important areas.

Not much going on with the lighting. Its fine and it serves its purpose. But, where I think this game shines is that its a pure shooter.

I love playing this game, and while I do get my fill after about 10-15 minutes of playing. I also like to go back to it and grind for higher scores. Its a game I could have fun playing for long hours on from time to time, but its also just a fun pick up and play game. My fun does correlate to how well I am playing though. If I'm bricking everything that day, then I don't enjoy it as much, or if I get a lot of bad bounces that lead to early drains.

Regardless, its a fun game. And I really enjoy playing it.

8.926/10

18 days ago

HWY

hwyhed

Pinside member

Surrey, BC

5y 82,550 1,259 3 18

I’ve had this great game for over a month, and feel that it’s time for a review. What can you say..this early ss is loads of fun. Not a complicated rule set, it’s fairly easy to understand. I really like the speed, the spinner when lit, and of course the challenge of locking all 3 balls for multi ball! I find that it’s a shooters game, and it’ll improve your overall skills. I’m real happy to have this beauty in my collection!

hwyhed currently owns this game.

9.402/10

63 days ago

YOP

dyopp21

Pinside member

Arlington, TN

5y 51,900 351 67 6

It's simply the best of the early 80's SS machines. First out of the gate with lane change and a mission based multi-ball. A Ritchie classic.

dyopp21 currently owns this game.

8.926/10

3 months ago

ED

oilspot

Pinside member

Dover-foxcroft, ME

3y 42,050 200 11 6

Where do I even begin on this one? It's like critiquing the Mona Lisa. This game changed everything.First SS Multiball, first with lane change, early example of speech and background sounds, just incredible when it hit the floor in 1980. The first time I saw it was in the arcade at our nearest mall in 1980 or 81 and it kicked my ass quickly. 12 year old me deemed it a drain monster and walked away to find a nice predictable pac-man to put my quarters into, oblivious that I would own one someday.
So at 50 I see Firepower in a different light. No more the intimidating state of the art quarter thief she once was, now she's a good challenge and sometimes reminds me of that first brush as a kid. But when it's good, it's great. This game surely is what crowned Steve Ritchie "the King of Flow" ( If you don't understand"flow" I can't really explain it, but when you see it, you'll know) Not much feels better that ripping a multiple Multiball game off on Firepower and seeing the bonus count into the stratosphere. The pace is quick and the center targets that are necessary for lighting the locks are merciless if you don't hit them from the correct flipper. SDTM also gets dished out from the space between the target banks as the ball slows from the pop bumpers and lazily drains off the backside of the target bank. Fortunately, the flippers are close enough that a slap save can sometimes save the day. The primary goal , Multiball, is easy to grasp and hard to reach. And when you do, it can drain so fast it makes you wonder why you did all that work. But the countdown alone is worth it. The sounds are amazing for 1980, Williams was really setting the pace in the sound department until Bally's "Squawk n Talk" came out and evened the score. Black, Red and Yellow abound with contrast provided by the large white planet/starbase thing that takes up the lower playfield. Overall, Firepower is the whole package, though I'd maybe swap the scary alien dudes on the plastics for some sexy little space nymphs, but now I'm nitpicking. It should be easy enough to find one with 18000 manufactured, but finding one that someone would part with may be another matter. Mine's bolted to the floor.

oilspot currently owns this game.

7.289/10

4 months ago

PO

pat4race

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

<1y 14,500 1 70

Entertaining game for the era, with multi ball, simple rules, and nice artwork. Playfield seems to have a lot of open space that could have been used to make it more interesting.

8.795/10

5 months ago

WRB

wrb1977

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

5y 65,550 908 13 7

One of the greatest shooting games of all time! Biggest complaints are the six digit displays and the lack of a playfield multiplier during multiball. Art package is far from my favorite but works for the theme and era.

wrb1977 currently owns this game.

8.288/10

5 months ago

JKB

Jbrauer2

Pinside member

2y 43,000 14 7 10

Love the Muti Ball play!

Jbrauer2 currently owns this game.

8.000/10

5 months ago

SYL

Matt08

Pinside member

Metz

<1y 12,900 6 2 8

Loved playing on it in the 80s

9.659/10

5 months ago

JED

Duff_Beer

Pinside member

<1y 17,750 7 6

I'm new at owning pinball machines but I already know this one is a keeper! My wife and kid feel the same way! It's challenging enough to keep the wife and I interested and entertaining and easy enough to play for my kid. It's a win win.

Duff_Beer has owned this game in the past.

8.227/10

5 months ago

GNS

GNStevens

Pinside member

Munster, IN

<1y 16,500 6 15 1

I've owned a couple Firepowers. The sound effects intensify as the game progresses, which is cool for it's vintage. The overall theme just screams classic 80s arcade. Has a nostalgic feel to it. Hard to find with both a good backglass and playfield. My current one has a bit of flaking, but it was priced right. Overall, not a highly complicated game. Plays well, and looks great!

GNStevens currently owns this game.

9.036/10

6 months ago

DWR

dabomb1

Pinside member

Keremeos, BC

5y 26,650 87 25 6

I love this game. Very fast yet not complicated. Great multi ball and can be very challenging at times. I always come back to this pin. I will always have one in my collection.

dabomb1 currently owns this game.

7.305/10

7 months ago

CAP

upaldi

Pinside apprentice

Buenos Aires

<1y 9,250 5 6

A dynamic pinball from Steve Ritchie's early days.
Agile, fast and addictive.
Interesting gameplay, medium difficulty.
Multiball, first machine with Lane Change, voice synthesizer.
Difficult to surpass the million points.
A classic from the 80s.

upaldi currently owns this game.

7.540/10

8 months ago

CWD

Teamhex

Pinside member

Rosenberg, TX

1y 28,650 110 2 12

I own a fully restored Firepower and it's a great Pin. It can be a drain monster until you learn the lanes and shots you need to make.

The rules are simple, and honestly...trying to compare this to a modern pinball machine would be silly. It's not even remotely comparable as far as the depth of the rules. I know some people like to compare things to the latest and greatest...I'm not doing that. I will say I also didn't grow up with this pin. 90-00s is what I grew up on so I don't have nostalgia tinted goggles here.

This pin is fast, easy to learn, but hard to master. To post a good score you really have to put some games into this machine. If I haven't played it in awhile...sometimes It takes 10+ games to get a multi-ball. Once I remember the shots and feel them out it becomes easier, but this is not an easy pin.

It's fast, and I mean fast. I always keep it clean and waxed, and mine currently rocks a playfield protector.
There are shots I've hit where I literally could not move my head fast enough to see the ball. I was 6" behind the ball's trail. The pops are like machine guns launching the ball in any number of directions and when bounced properly...will put it back at the flippers in a hurry. The 2 most dangerous things on this pin are the slings and the 6 center targets. The slings will cause you to drain...a lot. The targets in the middle aren't hard when you learn how to hit them...but if you just walk up and start batting shots at them...then will send that ball straight down the middle.

Over all this is a great machine, and I think it should be higher rated...but modern pins have really taken the spotlight on the top 100 here. That's fine, they have more depth and pinheads love that. It really helps the lastability of it.

You can't go wrong with this machine though. If it's setup properly and in top shape...you will have fun. Just be aware..it will frustrate you until you really get a feel for the machine. I really like that about it. It forces you to learn how to play it...or you will suffer constant drains. I've had entire 3 balls games last less than 40 seconds because of the draining.

Teamhex edited previous rating on November 18, 2020.
Teamhex currently owns this game.

7.620/10

8 months ago

DIA

mrossman5

Pinside member

Warren, PA

3y 163K 2,470 4 176

Firepower is a great game, especially for the time it was made. If you can pick one up for a good price, you won't be disappointed.

mrossman5 has owned this game in the past.

8.458/10

9 months ago

PLG

nplg

Pinside member

Columbus, OH

<1y 34,800 48 6 1

Firepower is a players game. Learning to aim, shoot, follow a set of rules to achieve the goal--all are a part of the Firepower experience.

Consider this game for when it was produced. Was a trend setter with many advanced features for the time. Have loved the game for 40 years and Firepower's fun can hold up next to almost any game past or present.

8.277/10

9 months ago

JJB

jbovenzi

Pinside member

Castro Valley, CA

6y 88,800 1,069 34 1

My first machine! Simple, straightforward and fun. Wouldn't mind getting another one.

Sounds are early 80s arcade, but the speech was a thriller at the time. Enjoyed the Marvel Comic artwork and really made the game. Backglass I could take or leave.

Electronics were in vogue then and this game fits the bill. I always play it when I find it at a show or on location as it brings me back.
Multiball is fun to accomplish.

A great game to pick up and learn pinball on. A great game to have for other non-pinball friends to play.

6.992/10

11 months ago

TKM

Daditude

Pinside Moderator

Rockwall, TX

2y 242K 6,761 13 264 1

It is just an all-around fun game for a pin from its' era. I enjoy the art and theme. The shots are straightforward, and it plays fast.
It can be quite a drain monster, especially if you don't angle your center shots.

They made a ton, so they are pretty cheap to acquire for the value you get. All of them seem to have major pf wear, however, so be aware.

Daditude edited previous rating on November 16, 2020.

9.120/10

1 year ago

HMS

Deadman

Inactive member

Unknown

2y 5,500 7

When I think of the first pin that actually made me want to plunk quarters in it at the arcade - it's this one. Firepower pulled me in with a great scifi theme, and those Eugene Jarvis sound effects from Defender and Robotron - Williams put it all in here. Fantastic game - a true classic.

8.986/10

1 year ago

FVG

pyrotech

Pinside member

Athens, GA

1y 37,900 109 4 6

Love playing Firepower, plays very fast, some times a ball could last 15 seconds the next could last for 2 minutes. The multiball is hard to get but great light show when you get it. If you like speed this is one to have.

pyrotech currently owns this game.

7.271/10

1 year ago

SJS

redhawk1689

Pinside member

Salina, KS

1y 26,650 12 2 36

What can I say? I like classic Williams pinball! I personally like Steve Ritchie designs and this one is right up there! I would love to see these designs updated to the 2020's but for what they introduced back in 1980, this one is a good representative of this style.

7.452/10

1 year ago

???

MIDWAYRIDE

Pinside member

Unknown

1y 12,500 3 6

For 1980 it’s a great layout very fun game

MIDWAYRIDE currently owns this game.

9.224/10

1 year ago

ROB

robmeans

Pinside member

Marietta, GA

1y 15,250 2 9

Not the first game I ever played, but the first one that really hooked me into pinball. Layout for a single level, no-ramp, no-toy game is fast and furious, and the flow of the game is superb for its time. Managed to get multi-ball the first time I played and was so unprepared for it that I lost all 3 balls very quickly. Did better the next time but it took me a few quarters. Of course it seems a bit limited now, and nothing really to do once you get multi-ball, but Firepower was ahead of its time and will always hold some nostalgia for me.

robmeans has this game on the wishlist.

8.834/10

1 year ago

FKU

PinBallPeteFromSD

Pinside member

Escondido, CA

5y 72,050 217 30 1

No matter how many times I play this game, it remains fun. I have pinball ocd, I go through games like no other. My 1st FP was missed so much I got a 2nd then a 3rd, which I sold to another FP junkie.
The rules are simple, and the multiball is more fun to get then to actually play. The sounds are horribly great. I have no clue whats going on with the art package but who cares its just cool.
I spend a lot of time at the museum of pinball in Banning, Ca. And this is one of the go to games for all the volunteers. Maybe thats why its special to me.

9.482/10

1 year ago

JLY

younginvisions

Inactive member

Columbus, OH

2y 20,150 3 1 7

Great game for its time. If you haven't had a chance to play, do so. This game is unique and many features are still used today. If it were 1980 again, the ratings would be a perfect 10!

9.740/10

2 years ago

???

Zoomtop

Pinside apprentice

Liverpool

2y 8,250 2 20

A true classic love that multi ball and the speech package adding led superbrights to the playfield and more colour to the back glass makes the machine pop as good as any modern machine today. That why I purchase a firepower that will not be leaving my collection any time soon

Zoomtop edited previous rating on January 03, 2021.
Zoomtop currently owns this game.

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There are 133 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 6.

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