Junk Yard

Pinside rating

This game received 340 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.602 /10

7.602

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #169 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.665

Artwork: 7.852

Sounds/Music: 7.038

Other Aspects: 7.457


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.

7.462

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Found 173 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 173 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 7.

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6.635/10
42 days ago
Junkyard is an interesting entry that just doesn't work for me. The wrecking ball is well executed and fun to interact with but the rest of the table is simply missing something. Most of the ramp shots are placed too far back to feel good and I don't enjoy the video modes, which are encountered more frequently than I find enjoyable. Junkyard is missing the flow and good feeling shots of other Williams offerings.
The theme is interesting concept wise and I think it's executed well, however the artwork isn't great and the entire experience feels disjointed at times. I think a junkyard theme could have had a lot more cool toys and shots, but based on the development cycle of this table it's understandable why this was the result.
Overall whenever I encounter a Junkyard in the wild I'll usually give it at least a game or two, but I have yet to find myself wanting "just one more". It's not a lastable game in my eyes, despite this it still has its merits and there is fun to be had with Junkyard.
5.015/10
3 months ago
Oh Junk Yard. I always thought I would really love this one, but when I got the chance to play it on location, I was absolutely confused by the game. The whole theme is bizarre and disjointed, the recycled content confusing, the mini games very poor. I cannot speak to the response of when this one came out and the feelings around it, but it does not hold up today. The gimmick of the wrecking ball is obviously the main draw, and its kind of neat for a little while, but with the lanes so far back and so much empty space, I cannot recommend much about it, it just does not feel good to play.
6.302/10
4 months ago
Junk Yard is…decent. The layout of shots is…fine. The wrecking ball toy is really basic but it’s fun. It’s neat how the “Time Machine” feature borrows stuff from other games of the era, but for a game with as many video modes as this one has, I’m not sure it was a good decision to copy/paste the Attack From Mars video mode. Once I noticed this I started feeling like other re-used elements weren’t due to nostalgia but something else. Tight development timeline or simply lack of creativity? For example the coin sound is the chime sound from a 70’s pinball machine. The theme song isn’t original either.

But wait, it turns out that’s the point! That was Barry Oursler’s whole idea for this game—re-using prior game leftovers. It didn’t really pan out because to begin with Oursler was laid off before he was finished with the game, and second, management forced the remaining team to make deep bill-of-materials cuts, leaving (for example) the weird empty space under the bus and a general lack of anything mechanically interesting.

I’ve been wanting to own one and just got my chance. I blew through the wizard mode (such as it is) on my second game and I won’t be keeping it for long. Soren has made significant improvements in his “official” code update that I haven’t yet tried.

Per Martenson has a nice writeup about this game on Medium dated Feb 2022. It’s worth a read if you’re interested in this game.
8.200/10
5 months ago
Junk Yard is the weakest WPC-95 game for me. That says a lot about the quality of the games of this era as Junk Yard is still quite good.

The layout is a bit weird as the shots are placed very far back and to the side. The middle is basically just the crane. Shooting the ball behind it is quite difficult but it's definetely fun. Sadly there is not much flow on the game, it is very stop and go in terms of gameplay. From all of the WPC-95 games it is one of the most difficult to play for me.

The ruleset is good and I especially like the Time Machine mode where all sort of MIdway games get referenced. And Crazy Bob is also a decent pinball villain. Starting the multiball is a lot of fun just like playing the video mode.

In terms of artwork it is very good as almost any of the later Midway games. The playfield might not be the strongest looking but the artwork even inspired Pinside's symbol. The animation is done expertly as well.

Overall Junk Yard is a quite difficult to play and fun game. It might not be the best WPC-95 game but it is still very good. It is probably best for casual players and above.
7.130/10
1 year ago
The weirdest pin for sure when it comes to theming but its still a good one and gets better and better the more you play it. Even got to the wizard mode of the game!
8.785/10
1 year ago
I think it's criminal how much I like this game. I purchased it with funds I didn't expect to have, on a whim from an ad I saw in a Florida post. I thought that I would buy this game and play it for a couple months and then sell or trade for something else. I don't think that's going to happen anymore.

=========================================

The Good:
-- Shots are fun to hit, some of the best in pinball imo
-- Two ramps on the left side, and both are satisfying
-- Layout is pretty great
-- Humorous
-- Great bash toy in the crane
-- Collect junk and assemble items to play modes. Pretty ingenious
-- Fun main multiball
-- Excellent wizard mode idea
-- Out lane ball saves that you can earn
-- Use the time machine to play parts of your old Bally/Williams games!
-- Once you reach the wizard mode once, it's not excruciating to play through it again. Why don't other games do this?
-- Easy to fix if things go wrong

The Bad:
-- Ugly playfield. Just awful
-- Not very deep and can be rather easy to reach the wizard mode. I wouldn't want this game if I only had 3 or fewer in my collection.

Literally the only two drawbacks imo.

==========================================

All in all, I sorta like the game... a lot. I didn't expect to like it that much, but now I'm looking at the rest of my collection and asking what else can I sell when I need money!? Its not overly great and doesn't belong in the same stratosphere as AFM, MB, et al, but it doesn't deserve to be middle of the pack like it is now either.

If you have a chance to buy this thing, I'd absolutely do it.
7.929/10
1 year ago
This game has sime pretty unique features for it's time and they are integrated well. Actually flows quite well once you get in the zone. The toilet bowl shot and crane are pretty cool shots. Getting Junk Champion and seeing your initials on the dog collar is pretty clever. Probably considered deep for its time.
I probably would not own this one unless i had a bigger collection as I find it a bit easy.
Kids seem to be really drawn to this title.
Pretty solid table overall and great effirt by Williams.
8.716/10
1 year ago
Love the ball crushing in the middle, and the dog shooting animation !!

At first, I was not attracted much by the theme but it reveals being much more fin that what I thought !
8.696/10
2 years ago
Agree with an earlier comment that this machine is unrated - Yes it is eclectic, and from what I have read (based on the new 2.0 ROM developed) it might have some unbalanced scoring (I have not got good enough to take advantage yet ;-) - but boy this machine sure is fun - who doesn't like whacking the crane - or spinning the ball down the toilet with sound effects. I have also enjoyed at least one Easter Egg and am looking forward to playing Midnight Madness.

If you haven't every played this machine and you get a chance - give it a go - you will enjoy it.
7.619/10
2 years ago
Game is not my cup of tea. Its good in some ways though.
8.172/10
2 years ago
This machine is a good bit of fun. People say the theme is a bit all over the place with some of the stuff, but I mean... it's a "junk yard". What do you find in a junk yard? A bunch of random stuff... like a time machine and the parts you need to build a toaster gun and a rocket ship. I would agree with others that the center of the play field is kind of boring, though the crane is pretty cool. I like the sound and music too.

Not the greatest machine ever made but pretty good, especially for an original IP.
8.269/10
2 years ago
Come on Man!!!! Junk Yard is awesome!!! girl and guy get locked in a junk yard at night. they must procure parts to built a space ship to escape to outer space and defeat Crazy Bob!!!! How much fun and quirky!! great shots. easy to understand. great art. I am looking for one to add to the family. 2/8/23!!! I got one!!
3.712/10
2 years ago
The crane is pretty cool but the revolves around shooting the dog. What is this theme? A dog chasing a girl in the bath and collecting parts from the junkyard?
7.833/10
2 years ago
Somewhat repetitive but I like it just the same. I can see and agree with most all the reviews. Not the greatest theme yet I would always play just one more.
3.065/10
2 years ago
UPDATE: Played Junkyard A LOT in Thursday night league at Pinball Republic. Honestly, this pinball machine is awful. I actively dislike playing it in league.

The theme is an incoherent mess (collecting junk? Devils? A woman being chased by a dog? Breaking into a junkyard? WTAF?!)

Getting enough points to qualify a decent score involves hammering the ball crane thing over and over and OVER again to start a multiball that involves strobing lights. Or else shooting DOG to get a rubbish ‘shooting toast at a dog’ video mode. Ultimately, it is utterly charmless, incoherent and a bit of a mess. Not one of the best of the Bally-Williams era.

***

I’ve played Junk Yard twice on a physical machine and countless times on the Williams Pinball app. Most of the Williams plays have been daily challenges because I would never choose to play this game.

The theme is incoherent. Most of the callouts are someone’s girlfriend nagging him about raiding a junkyard (who knows…). She’s chased by a dog while in the bath (in the junkyard?). The video modes are random. There’s a time machine… And a devil…

Anyway, there’s a huge void in the centre of the playfield with a crane in it, which is the best bit, and most of the rest of the game is shooting some not interesting orbits.

The lighting on the physical version was also rubbish.

Honestly, my husband, for whom Junk Yard was the first Williams machine he unlocked in arcade mode on the app, now uses Junk Yard as the epitome of a bad pinball machine. For me, it’s in the sour zone of aggressively rubbish, rather than so-rubbish-I-can’t-be-bothered-to-be-rude.

We played it in real life, when we saw one, to see if it was that bad in reality. Reader, it was…!
9.016/10
2 years ago
If I look at the top100 then this pin is very very underrated. This is a good pin, fast and fun.
9.220/10
2 years ago
This is such a sleeper and way underrated game. The rule set in this game is what makes it shine. Truly would love to own this one day
7.388/10
3 years ago
Surprising to me, this game is a lot of fun! It is not a theme I would ever think I would like, but it is very well integrated between game play, animations and art. Super easy to understand the rules and the wrecking ball really works well with the game. It may get old after a while in the game room, but I would have no problem put a few quarters in this on location.
7.731/10
3 years ago
JY is a pretty simple pin to learn how to play. Its pretty fun playing together but I dont think its gonna be a keeper. Its pretty much to easy to olay it! The art work is really nice thou, and it has fun gimmicks.
8.864/10
3 years ago
I miss non license games like this, everything on this game works for me, the music, sound effects,art, toys, its all awesome. When i play this game i feel like im in a junkard. Its not the most flowing game in the world and it doesnt need to be. It give me that one more time feel!
7.292/10
3 years ago
The theme is certainly unique, and I feel like it would be a good pin for a location, but the gameplay is a bit repetitive. If you are seeking a mid-90s example to add to your collection, I would find another title unless you just come across this one very cheapy (which it isn't anymore)
5.837/10
3 years ago
Game is too wide open in the middle.
7.035/10
4 years ago
Fun until you can get to space and battle Bob over and over. Like the quirky theme and premise.
9.158/10
4 years ago
All time top 5 games for me.
7.352/10
4 years ago
A great game, simple layout yet tough shots. Love the 3 video modes, and multiball modes.
Characters, voice over and DMD animations are solid.
Game is intuitive, collecting junk to escape the junkyard. Lighting is a tad dark towards the middle.
Playfield art is awesome, backglass is solid but could use a bit more contrast, imo.
Cabinet art looks great.
Really fun shots on the ball, and banging out video modes to sweeten the pot.
Game is very challenging to conquer. I've conquered my TZ and LOTR, but have yet to conquer the junk yard.
There are 173 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 7.

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