Atari

Hercules

Pinside Rating

This game received 81 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 4.923 _/10

4.923

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #291 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 4.871

Artwork: 6.115

Sounds/Music: 3.002

Other Aspects: 4.637

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 3 of us have rated this game.

6.493

Your Rating?

You need to be logged in before you can rate pinball machines. No account yet? Registering only takes a sec!

Found 50 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 50 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 2.

List options

Ratings sort order

Type of ratings to show in list

Owner status of review

Exclude flagged ratings

Keyword or username search

2.093/10

7 years ago

BW

KingBW

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 116K 3,143 102 1

The entire game concept is a gimmick. It is really cool to play it once just for the "gimmick". Way oversized game that plays extremely slow. The pinball is not a nice small metal ball, but something like a plastic ball from a toddlers baseball and bat kit. "Lastability" for me might be to play it once a year (if I see it that often) just to smile at the gimmick concept of it. Not a "serious" pin for me.

6.444/10

8 years ago

TBK

xTheBlackKnightx

Pinside member

8y 128K 4,097 137

Everyone pretty much knows this was an Atari novelty pinball machine, but it still has historical value.

It is not as much that it is a "turd" as people think in terms of gameplay (but it is VERY SLOW), but it is hard to find replacement parts for machine.
Gameplay is average, if the game is well maintained, but most are not.
Reliability is average, but many of the assemblies were not really designed well for this game.
Game code is below average, and sounds and music is minimal.
Basically, it is like any other early Atari SS game.
Backglass makes a great wall hanger though, if you can find a parted out game which has reached an equilibrium these days.

It uses a cue ball as a proper ball, if it shipped with something different from the factory, I don't know, because I never saw one NIB, as this was just a few years too young before I started tech work.
Maybe gameplay could be fixed with a new improved polycarbonate or ceramic ball in the modern age?
Nah, not really.

When I owned one, I had to get specially built machines assemblies when something broke like pop bumper assemblies, yokes, and such. That was the real PITA.

As a game it has plenty of value in museums or businesses.
Really draws the crowds and makes good money.
Still REALLY EASY to get $1 a play.
No change in mentality today.

It is not always about pure collector value, this game was never meant for that consideration when designed.
If you have the space, a full size pick up truck, and a small wad of Benjamin Franklins, certainly a consideration, but make sure it is COMPLETE, as many seem to be missing parts these days for the reasons I mentioned.

3.497/10

8 years ago

SAP

seshpilot

Pinside member

11y 112K 2,529 169 3

The first and last of its kind!! And for good reason.

I really wanted to like Hercules! It looks so cool. But the hype is true: it plays terrible. In some ways, it's not as bad as I thought it would be; in other ways, it's worse. There's just not much to shoot at, there isn't much skill involved, and the whole affair just feels overly clunky and unnecessary. If you're looking for a unique conversation piece, sure grab one...otherwise, I'd steer clear.

3.500/10

8 years ago

ACE

wingnut707

Pinside member

10y 32,900 5 2 39

This game is NOT fun. End of story.

3.377/10

8 years ago

QNT

Quint

Pinside member

Warwick, RI

9y 61,300 232 97

The novelty wears off very quickly and all you are left with is a sparse, boring play field

3.763/10

8 years ago

AGB

Ramtuathal

Pinside member

Louisville, KY

8y 63,650 123 1 148

Of course, this isn't really a "pinball" game, and of course the whole game itself is a gimmick, but I thought I say a few words about it.

Even though I've rated it as a sub-par game, I'm glad I've played it, and I'm glad the title exists. Innovation and stretching the status quo is important to keep pinball alive. Sure, this is a silly game, but someone at Atari said "Let's see how big we can make a playable pinball machine," and they gave it a shot. Now we know what happens when cabinets are maxxed out - good to know.

I'd recommend this game to anyone for one "experience" play. Probably don't want to own it for any reason other than collectibility though.

Ramtuathal edited previous rating on March 19, 2016.

4.801/10

8 years ago

JCD

dmbjunky

Pinside member

Odon, IN

8y 96,400 6,791 91

It was cool to see this at funspot. Probably a pretty rare pin but only worth playing once maybe twice.

dmbjunky edited previous rating on May 23, 2015.

6.627/10

8 years ago

ADM

3413241

Inactive member

State College, PA

10y 24,650 12 4 10

This game is similar to the giant slot machines you see in Las Vegas. It gets your attention and you want to play it, but you won't be playing it for a long time. It is quite rare and if you see one, definitely play it. The drawbacks are that it plays slow and there is not a lot to shoot for. Still, you must give Atari credit for being creative.

5.893/10

8 years ago

TOM

Egames

Inactive member

Moorebank Nsw

9y 11,000 1 1 6

this game is one of those games you play once and you never have to play it again. you get attracted to it by it massive size but then you sit through a sluggish game due to its heavy cue ball. if shooting the ball is a bigger challenge then the game you know you have a problem.

4.808/10

9 years ago

BZY

Brazy

Pinside member

9y 54,900 515 16

I remember this one from an arcade at Florence mall in northern Kentucky called TILT... it is a huge game played with what I think was a rubber ball...wow..how quick that was..lol. Total novelty..but I remember that same arcade had The Addams Family and Twlight Zone when they first came out so you could walk by and look at Hercules when you played the fun games...

5.687/10

10 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

11y 80,150 289 7 282

Lightning fast gameplay....just joking. This is as slow as it gets. A must play if you see it because of the novelty.. The art is pretty good but that's about it.

4.545/10

10 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

This was the last game that Atari made. I remember the seeing it for the first time in Lake Placid, NY just after the Winter Olympics were held there.

$1.00 a play. This was 1980.

The Pros:
A great novelty pinball game that uses a cue ball for the gameplay. Considering the size, the layout and the ruleset is alright.

The Cons:
Everything has to be working as it should for the game to make the upper half of the PF. Replacement parts must be machined to be a reality.

The Takeaway:
Hercules lives up to its name. It's perfect for having your picture taken next to it or or being buried in it after you have played your last pinball game.

1.810/10

10 years ago

DAB

Pinfidel

Pinside member

10y 99,800 3,924 9 51

This game totally stunk! When I played it, the damn flippers weren't even strong enough to hit the cue ball all the way up. And that was the problem with most of them. Terrible sounds too. Just an epic fail.

5.906/10

10 years ago

TSG

TheShameGovernor

Pinside member

Omaha, NE

11y 60,650 494 6 36

Hercules is a game that every pinball fan should play once.

Once.

TheShameGovernor edited previous rating on April 29, 2014.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

6.775/10

10 years ago

APK

krivoap

Pinside member

Lake Bluff, IL

11y 68,150 398 15 7

Novelty game but play is very slow

6.529/10

10 years ago

EDH

TigerLaw

Pinside Moderator

Jennings, LA

14y 224K 20,100 24 240

What can really be said about this game? It is a novelty game and the best attention getter you will ever see. I have no idea how heavy it is but it is simply huge. It doesn't play well, but it is themed great and is fun to play. The artwork is okay. I've only seen this game at shows and it always has people playing it and if a TV camera is around you can bet Hercules is in the background.

A rare game, I would like to have one to bring to shows . . . if I could have someone else deal with loading it, transporting it, unloading it, and then bringing it back for me.

4.250/10

10 years ago

TAP

Trace

Inactive member

Unknown

10y 21,000 9 24

Not many were made, the value lies in that fact alone.

5.228/10

10 years ago

LJH

GreyScale

Pinside member

Lawrence, KS

11y 66,150 398 244

The novelty is cool, but thats about it. Play it just for the fact that it is the biggest pinball machine ever, but after 3 games you're already done. Way too slow to really get into.

3.724/10

11 years ago

ZAC

L_satan

Pinside+ Frequent

Minneapolis, MN

11y 50,150 427 26 14

Weird.
Perhaps the weirdest pinball game I have ever played.
It's just not that fun. Has a little replay in the novelty of trying to re-learn pinball, but not much.
The game would be better if whack-a-mole mallets were provided to hit the flipper switches.
A cue ball for a pinball. That's funny.

4.981/10

11 years ago

ATE

AdamTheGamer

Pinside member

11y 56,150 270 2 133

Like others have said, if you see this game, you have to give it a shot. It fits the theme very well, since the game is so huge! It's truly a marvel to look at. Then you play it...and it's not very good. Wasn't too impressed with the game play at all. I suppose it goes to show that size does not matter when it comes to pinball.

AdamTheGamer edited previous rating on December 23, 2012.

4.615/10

12 years ago

MLV

Pinball-is-great

Pinside member

Lafayette, LA

12y 147K 5,016 3 102

A novelty type pinball machine that all should play at least 1 game in their life. It is the largest pinball machine I have ever played. Game play too slow for me, and not very much original or exciting stuff in the playfield (spinner is good). Backglass artwork ok, but playfield artwork and cabinet artwork not impressive. Colors selected for playfield and cabinet not my favorite either. No lastability for me playing this huge machine. It is funny to watch kids play Hercules. They have to stretch their arms just to reach the flipper buttons.

Pinball-is-great edited previous rating on February 28, 2017.

4.402/10

12 years ago

TOM

Rascal_H

Pinside member

Cumberland, RI

12y 138K 6,567 2 36

Played at The Guiness World Records Museum in Niagara Falls. I was really excited upon seeing it for the first time. It's BIG! After playing it I realized the size is pretty much the only thing it has going for it.

6.960/10

12 years ago

JAY

Jgel

Pinside member

12y 67,650 1,760 2 15

This was the game that you just had to try. This thing sucked quarters faster than any other game. Fun....nope. Huge....yep. You just felt like a king playing this thing. It was experience playing this thing. You knew going into it that it was not going to be fun, but you HAD to play it, just to see what it was like.

6.161/10

12 years ago

FLE

flecom

Pinside member

Miami, FL

12y 53,650 852 44 36

I agree with the reviewer that said the rating system does not really work for this machine... is it super fun? meh, probably not... its slow and clunky, but thats not the point... the point is its fricken HUGE...

seriously, a Cue ball? awesome... definitely an oddity and a fun thing to say "I've played it" so its awesome in that respect, but for playing it as an actual pinball machine, not so good

flecom edited previous rating on April 29, 2014.

5.290/10

12 years ago

666

cevans82

Inactive member

Westminster, CO

15y 28,150 108 2 41

the rating for this machine is not a direct reflection of the machine because i dont think this rating systme really fits it. i have played this machine a few times it is really one of kind. it lives up to its name. it is huge and with that it is cool to play a machine this big but you compromise that for speed. not many toys at all slow kinda klunky but it is fun for a game or so just for the fact it is big.

cevans82 edited previous rating on May 13, 2011.

Previous 1 2

There are 50 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 2 of 2.

You too can add your own comment by rating this game! Click here to rate this game!

Over the years

Visualizing this game's rating and rank over the years

Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!

Donate to Pinside

Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!