Johnny Mnemonic

Pinside rating

This game received 339 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.804 /10

7.804

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #117 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.185

Artwork: 7.112

Sounds/Music: 7.471

Other Aspects: 7.948


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 8 of us have rated this game.

7.977

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Found 184 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 184 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 8.

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8.984/10
3 years ago
This is a very underrated pin largely because the movie didn't do well and the artwork isn't what a lot of people look for. I have a personal attachment to it as a movie guy who lives sci-fi, so it doesn't bother me.
The gameplay is excellent, and the gloves toy/gimmick us incredible. The lighting could be better, but I really enjoy the music and call outs.
All in all, a very solid game..especially for the price (of course, people are finding out about this game, so they keep going up!)
8.460/10
3 years ago
Wow, what a fun game, under rated for the value. Glad I added t to my collection. Looks good and plays well. Shots are interesting and the hand is just plain unique in all the p8nball games I have played
6.504/10
3 years ago
Owned for about 6 weeks, and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I had high hopes when I bought it, but in the end I found the combination of side-drains and clunky shots to be very frustrating. There are moments of good flow when you can make the ramps and loops, but overall it's a very bricky game, particularly any shots that have to go up the middle.

The glove mech and it's tic-tac-toe feature is very cool, and it has one of the best video modes out there. It's an actual video game, as opposed to a timing/rhythm exercise. Trouble is, the glove mech is very finicky, and I was always worried that it was going to break. Theming as it relates to the movie is good.

JM has a lot of good elements, but they are ruined by the frustrating drains and oft-clunky gameplay. At least for an average-skilled player like myself. I think JM is probably a bit of an over-rated game. It went from being underrated for years (mainly due to the theme), and now I actually think it's gone over to the other side of being a bit overrated.
7.651/10
3 years ago
This game is a steal based on its terrible license. It is my #1 best pin for the money if you can look past the theme. There are some common complaints about the glove slowing down gameplay and being able to exploit spinner millions, but this game is difficult enough that i don't really think they are too big if flaws. However, if you get to the wizard mode and your opponent doesn't then you basically have no chance of losing, so there does seem to be a scoring imbalance there.
This is the game in my collection that constantly kicks my ass. For that reason, it is a keeper for me.
10.000/10
3 years ago
rapide et sympa .si le theme avait été matrix il rentrait dans le top 30
7.943/10
3 years ago
Another pretty good pin based on a not-so-good movie (The Shadow, Congo, etc.) This game plays very fast, and it can be over quick if you don’t take care of the ball and really shoot the Crazy Bob scoop consistently. The modes are unique and varied, and the rules are good overall. I like how dangerous the center shot is, if you haven’t qualified it and released the drop target by hitting Crazy Bob’s scoop. That single drop target is a killer. The glove is a creative gimmick. It can be a bit clunky and glitchy, but is fun when it works right, allowing you to choose your bonus awards and build your 3-ball multiball. The game feels a little cramped sometimes and the artwork feels sorta industrial and gritty. Translite art isn’t great, another with people’s faces from the movie. Cabinet art is decent, but simple and often faded. This one is still a good bang-for-the-buck pin, and a nice challenge and break from longer quest-type games. Just be sure the glove is working 100%, or this game is far more limited. A pretty good mid-90’s pin.
EDIT: Now on my second JM, and I more fully understand the rules now. The 5 modes and main glove multiball are fun, but there is more to do with the throwing stars and tricky video mode. Spinner millions is a blast and is risky to pursue. Dialed in, this is one of the more underrated 90s titles. I’m keeping this one.
4.386/10
3 years ago
hate the video mode.
8.796/10
4 years ago
Johnny Mnemonic is a great fast game with awesome rules, music, and game play. It is important that you play this game working 100%. You could say that about all games but this game really needs to be working well to really enjoy it. If the glove, flippers or anything else aren't set up right it makes a big difference. This is my second JM. The first was a players pin and it plays completely different then my new collector quality JM. The ramps are lightning fast and the rules and music are well integrated into the game. I don't care the movie didn't do well. This pin is great. Play one that is dialed in and I think you will agree.
8.247/10
4 years ago
The pin plays well and is fun - don’t let the bad movie theme throw you off!
8.096/10
4 years ago
All my reviews are going to follow a simple formula for those reading.
Number of shots to make - Pro's - Con's - Must Have Mods - What To Look For When Buying

Number of shots - 7 - Above Average

Pro's:
* Game is fast, especially orbit shots
* Power Down wizard mode one of the best in pinball
* The changing spots of the matrix and having to think about which spot to place your physical lock is very clever
* Nice use of diverters
* Targets to light ball save makes them relevant and useful

Cons:
* Missed shots to the ramps brutal
* Difficult video mode
* Voices are not original actors
* Glove is a bit slow moving, George Gomez has stated he would have liked it sped up

Must Have Mods: (Note I will not include things like LED's, Color DMD, Invisiglass or Speaker Upgrades unless it's really badly needed)
* Dolphin mod
* Protector for matrix exit

What To Look For When Buying
* Glove works as it should
* Drop target functions properly
* Wear around the ball drop from the glove
* Damage to ramps as parts are impossible
8.800/10
4 years ago
One of my favorite games ever. Gomez rules.
8.096/10
4 years ago
This game has a very quick, flowing layout. Gameplay slows down when the hand magnet grabs your ball and when you are in video mode - i'm not a fan of video modes and this one is no exception. Overall this is a decent game. grab one if its at a fair price!
8.000/10
4 years ago
I really like playing JM, when I can find it. Hummmmm. As per other games with low production runs, my final rating is still to be seen. I am looking to buy JM as soon as I can. JM might rate a keeper. I like Keenu Reeves and his movies. The JM movie was an interesting Sci-fi movie. UPDATE. 3-29-19 "I GOT ONE" JM IS WAY MORE FUN THEN I EXPECTED. FAST AND FUN. I am a George Gomez fan!! Great shots. Could be one of my "FOREVER" pins.
8.580/10
5 years ago
Super fast loops, hand ball lock and matrix, decent modes, midnight madness, and perhaps one of the best wizard modes in pinball with power down. Heck of a sleeper and under rated game. Glad I own one and will be fun exploring this game.
9.180/10
5 years ago
I love this game, its a blast to play, and always one that I keep coming back to time and time again. The power glove does slow things down a tad, but its a nice change of pace from crazy fast game play that this game is known for.
8.714/10
5 years ago
Fast, faster, fastest. This is the machine if you want to improve your reaction time. Very good rules, different and not to easy shots, hand and mini pf is a cool feature, video mode. In my eyes one of the best WPCs.

Don't be a zombie, play pinball!
8.083/10
5 years ago
The fastest pin I’ve ever played. Shots are great, depth is good, having never made Powerdown. Really enjoyable pin.

I don’t care for the theme but not fussed either way.
8.636/10
5 years ago
Underrated, fast game, not The Shadow but tuff and fun, glove is cool. I like the challenging pins.
8.800/10
5 years ago
I got this pin in Full Led and with a color DMD, which makes it a lot better! The game is just tons of fun. You can play for your modes, Multiball or for the spinner (+bonus). I can imagine that something must be done about the spinner if you want to use this pin for tournaments but for the homeplayer this game will give you a lot of fun!
7.612/10
5 years ago
If you like fast gameplay and soundtrack then this is it. Movie was a flop but pinball came out just fine.
Those were the days where they actually made an effort with playfield toys (movable CyberGlove).
A lot of fun for the price.
7.626/10
5 years ago
Super fast game when set up properly and well maintained. Hand is cool, but slows the game down, and can be finicky to maintain. Theme and art is bad. However, good value in my opinion if you can find a nice one under $3k. Wizard mode is great!
7.887/10
5 years ago
Solid pin and a good starter if you are getting into buying your own. It is enjoyable but not very deep which is typical of most games in this era. Worth a try and fun.
9.256/10
6 years ago
great game
7.427/10
6 years ago
Fun game about a terrible movie.
7.556/10
6 years ago
Was 1995 the best year for pinball ever? Quite possibly, and in turn that may be the major reason Mnemonic isn't better remembered -- any year with Theater of Magic, Attack from Mars, No Fear, and Congo (not even to mention oddballs like Apollo 13, Who Dunnit, or Waterworld) is going to have some also-rans that may be hidden jewels.

The movie had a plot that was so non-sensical at the time it ended up being inadvertently campy good fun. Having Keanu Reevers on your backglass is the perfect starting point for the level of seriousness. The passage of time only accentuates this (your average USB stick now has as much memory as Mnemonic's brain!). THE PROBLEM IS UP HERE! (Points to brain.)

But, Mnemonic the machine managed to recapitulate the plot of the movie and some of the cool tech gimmicky things quite well, incorporating a good flow, progressive goals, and the toy (the vaunted glove, which is basically a tic tac toe machine!) that actually is a completely non-pinball skill but is still fun (compare to: the helicopter in Rescue 911, or maybe the crane in Last Action Hero).

As such, it has aged incredibly well. I enjoyed this a ton when it was on location and among the pantheon of mid-90's Williams/Bally DMD games, it deserves quite a bit more respect. It's not the complex beauty of an Addams Family or Twilight Zone, or the perfection of a Theater of Magic or Attack from Mars or the chaos of Shadow, but it was a pretty good design and the machine still plays well.

This one also has a special place in my heart as being the only William Gibson-themed machine; I am still waiting for a Sprawl Trilogy pinball machine (Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive).

One personal PS: I played on this machine in a singles league at the time it was on location. First place in the league was a nice cash prize and a trophy; second place was smaller trophy and a little less cash; third place was a Mnemonic translite. I finished in...third place. I still have my translite, which is now worth more than the value of both trophies plus the cash plus inflation. WINNING
There are 184 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 2 of 8.

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