Williams
Flash Pinside Rating
This game received 144 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.322 /10
Flash
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.685
Artwork: 6.718
Sounds/Music: 6.107
Other Aspects: 7.476
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.
Found 78 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 78 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 4.
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Sydney
7.046/10
11 months ago
Gambrills, MD
A very important game with a very good layout, but the artwork is not fantastic, especially compared to Bally games around the same era. Still fun to play though and you can see where Steve Ritchie is going with it, and if you can look past the art it's a fun game for the price.
Öhringen
8.000/10
1 year ago
Very nice game.. you keep going after the lightening bolts sound.. cool game for it's time..
8.572/10
1 year ago
Maybe it's just because this is my first pin, but I love it! I've played newer popular pins that I didn't get into as much as this. I may just enjoy playfield where you can always see the ball. I don't ever see us selling this game, it's just fun!
4.120/10
1 year ago
Mississauga, ON
I know this game sold a lot of units back in the late 70's / early 80's but I'm not a fan of this game. I just find it boring. There are other games from 79 or early 80's that I think are way better like Flight 2000 or Fire Power. Even a number of EM's are more fun than Flash. The game does have nice flow with its shots but for me the sound and gameplay just doesn't resonate with me.
8.118/10
1 year ago
This game was fun enough to play. It was one of the early games with voice (Gorgar, I believe, was the first) and one of my favorite stories is about my uncle's bar in Nome Alaska. One of the bartenders would come into the bar early to clean up and get it ready for the day, and periodically the game would say
"EMPEROR MING... AWAITS!"
and the bartender would just about jump out of her skin, because she thought the bar was empty. Happened nearly every morning for a while, until she git numb to it.
"EMPEROR MING... AWAITS!"
and the bartender would just about jump out of her skin, because she thought the bar was empty. Happened nearly every morning for a while, until she git numb to it.
7.420/10
1 year ago
SUMMMARY
This game was way ahead of its time in 1978. It still holds up with a fantastic layout. It could stand for an updated rom with more interesting rules.
LAYOUT:
Action/Per/Minute: very good
Backhands: not noticing any
Bonus Multiplier Goal: good - 1-2-3-4 lanes
Dink Donk: almost none
Drops: 2 sets: 3 and 5
Drops Sweep: good - top bank is sweepable with 3rd flipper and 5bank can backwards sweep by a ricochet. I hit 4 of 5 once.
Extra Balls: good - two ways to earn them.
Goal -EB/BC/Jackpot: good: lots of EB’s no Bonus Carryover.
Hurry-ups: none - don't think they were invented yet.
Inlane Lane Change: nope
Inlane Swoosh: excellent. might be the first game set up with fast inlanes.
Jackpot/Bonus Collect: good - you hit middle bank 3x to get to the 50k reward.
1-2-3-4 Lane Change: none, unless you upgrade the rom
Nudging: important. outlanes are tricky
Orbits (Repeatable): 3rd flipper perhaps can, but not really.
Outlane Fun: very good - wide open.
Pops: fascinating placement - left pop is live to strike sdtm
Rules (time/order): decent. there's a controlled lamp to up the scoring of drops. and sequential drops.
Shots (total): 8
Skill Shot: very good one - you can choose 5-bank target or try for 1-2-3-4 lanes
Slap-Saves: yes - it’s a williams.
Spinners: yes very good one.
Stop'n'Go: zero other than the scoop which is instant ofc.
Taunting: none - no voice yet
Toy/Gimmick: the blue flash is pretty!
Voice / V. choreography: not invented yet
ART: constantino -- pretty bad
SOUND: very good, but the background sound you have to turn off
FEEL: Feels great
OVERALL: Very good pinball, with pretty color palette, ok artwork, very good sounds, and a nearly flawless layout.
This game was way ahead of its time in 1978. It still holds up with a fantastic layout. It could stand for an updated rom with more interesting rules.
LAYOUT:
Action/Per/Minute: very good
Backhands: not noticing any
Bonus Multiplier Goal: good - 1-2-3-4 lanes
Dink Donk: almost none
Drops: 2 sets: 3 and 5
Drops Sweep: good - top bank is sweepable with 3rd flipper and 5bank can backwards sweep by a ricochet. I hit 4 of 5 once.
Extra Balls: good - two ways to earn them.
Goal -EB/BC/Jackpot: good: lots of EB’s no Bonus Carryover.
Hurry-ups: none - don't think they were invented yet.
Inlane Lane Change: nope
Inlane Swoosh: excellent. might be the first game set up with fast inlanes.
Jackpot/Bonus Collect: good - you hit middle bank 3x to get to the 50k reward.
1-2-3-4 Lane Change: none, unless you upgrade the rom
Nudging: important. outlanes are tricky
Orbits (Repeatable): 3rd flipper perhaps can, but not really.
Outlane Fun: very good - wide open.
Pops: fascinating placement - left pop is live to strike sdtm
Rules (time/order): decent. there's a controlled lamp to up the scoring of drops. and sequential drops.
Shots (total): 8
Skill Shot: very good one - you can choose 5-bank target or try for 1-2-3-4 lanes
Slap-Saves: yes - it’s a williams.
Spinners: yes very good one.
Stop'n'Go: zero other than the scoop which is instant ofc.
Taunting: none - no voice yet
Toy/Gimmick: the blue flash is pretty!
Voice / V. choreography: not invented yet
ART: constantino -- pretty bad
SOUND: very good, but the background sound you have to turn off
FEEL: Feels great
OVERALL: Very good pinball, with pretty color palette, ok artwork, very good sounds, and a nearly flawless layout.
7.220/10
3 years ago
I'll be honest, this one didn't immediately grab me like I thought it would! (The artwork is NOT to my taste!) I'm sure the fact that the machine I was playing was n't well maintained probably had a great deal to do with my "first impressions." That being said, after High Speed and some other Steve Ritchie designs that I loved came out and I realized that I REALLY like his "style" of pinball game, I revisited Flash and this time (thankfully) it seemed as if the machine was well-maintained and set up properly! The machine was better than I originally thought! (The artwork still suc... err... isn't to my tastes!) I wouldn't purchase one but I would definitely play one again!
6.072/10
3 years ago
Flash...I know some hate the sound. I love the sound.
I kinda love the cabinet.
This has gotta be one of the ugliest back glasses in all of pinball.
The playfield isn't really an improvement.
It feels like a fast EM.
It isn't horrible but I wouldn't want it in limited lineup.
I do want to find a junker and pick it up cheap and fix it and play it more...just pimp it out and maybe it'll grow on me?
Probably a great first pin. Probably pretty easy to sell a running one to someone when you want to move up.
I kinda love the cabinet.
This has gotta be one of the ugliest back glasses in all of pinball.
The playfield isn't really an improvement.
It feels like a fast EM.
It isn't horrible but I wouldn't want it in limited lineup.
I do want to find a junker and pick it up cheap and fix it and play it more...just pimp it out and maybe it'll grow on me?
Probably a great first pin. Probably pretty easy to sell a running one to someone when you want to move up.
7.207/10
4 years ago
It amazes me that this machine came out in the 70s. I can't think of an earlier game that used the upper flipper properly like this game did. The layout is similar to eight ball deluxe, but the rule set on this title is much better.
Between the dynamic sounds, the speedy inlanes, the shot that can only be made by the upper flipper, and the fact that the pop bumpers aren't overly exposed on the top of the game. This game was ahead of it's time.
When this game came out, I don't think anything could compare. I think this game set the stage for the flow style of gameplay many people know and love now.
From an artwork standpoint. I don't think it get much worse. If the artwork or theme was better, I think this game would have a significantly higher score and be more sought after. As it stands it is one of the cheapest games you can buy that is actually quite decent to play.
Between the dynamic sounds, the speedy inlanes, the shot that can only be made by the upper flipper, and the fact that the pop bumpers aren't overly exposed on the top of the game. This game was ahead of it's time.
When this game came out, I don't think anything could compare. I think this game set the stage for the flow style of gameplay many people know and love now.
From an artwork standpoint. I don't think it get much worse. If the artwork or theme was better, I think this game would have a significantly higher score and be more sought after. As it stands it is one of the cheapest games you can buy that is actually quite decent to play.
8.003/10
4 years ago
Wow, this is a tough one to rate. A milestone game for innovation as the splash page notes.
Of the games I have owned, this is by far the most difficult to set up correctly, but when it is set up, look out!
Signs of a well set up flash, include being able to knock the drops easily, and repeat the loop with the third flipper multiple times, and powerful flippers.
The game has a great flow, and can be set up to be a good challenge for experienced players. It provides options to go for an extra ball, and multiple flashes for Super Flash. It also has the spinner loop that can be lit for big points, by getting the left side drop bank down (sometimes dangerous).
It has a skill shot, which can be made to either start the left drop bank, or go for the top rollovers for bonus, _OR_ pull all the way to loop to the third flipper.
With bright LEDs, this game is amazing, includign the ultra bright flash in the middle when you complete a drop bank.
----------
The issues I have with this game, are more with regard to build quality and components. The System 4 flippers and drop targets require a lot of work to keep them at optimal performance, and to ensure they engage well.
The playfield is flimsier than most other machines I have worked on, and the interconnect between board can be problematic.
The art is definitely not for everyone, (including me), it's not that it is bad, just not my style. This allows me to deduct some score to rank it around where I think it should be when you factor the build quality.
Of the games I have owned, this is by far the most difficult to set up correctly, but when it is set up, look out!
Signs of a well set up flash, include being able to knock the drops easily, and repeat the loop with the third flipper multiple times, and powerful flippers.
The game has a great flow, and can be set up to be a good challenge for experienced players. It provides options to go for an extra ball, and multiple flashes for Super Flash. It also has the spinner loop that can be lit for big points, by getting the left side drop bank down (sometimes dangerous).
It has a skill shot, which can be made to either start the left drop bank, or go for the top rollovers for bonus, _OR_ pull all the way to loop to the third flipper.
With bright LEDs, this game is amazing, includign the ultra bright flash in the middle when you complete a drop bank.
----------
The issues I have with this game, are more with regard to build quality and components. The System 4 flippers and drop targets require a lot of work to keep them at optimal performance, and to ensure they engage well.
The playfield is flimsier than most other machines I have worked on, and the interconnect between board can be problematic.
The art is definitely not for everyone, (including me), it's not that it is bad, just not my style. This allows me to deduct some score to rank it around where I think it should be when you factor the build quality.
8.327/10
4 years ago
A great classic layout by Steve Richie. Fun to rip the spinner and who doesn't love drop targets? Scoop shot on the right is fun although not worth shooting unless extra ball is lit. Overall a great game, and a milestone in pinball history.
6.893/10
4 years ago
This was my favorite pinball machine when I was in my 20s. It is primitive compared to modern machines but I remember it as being fun. I especially liked the lightning effect.
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