Found 15 ratings (with comment) on this game

A sold no frills game with good sound and decent playfield layout.

As an owner/operator, this machine is great for basic/casual players.
They will find just enough shots and unique features to play and enjoy.

The theme isn't exactly original. Card based warriors. It's great for a bar or similar, but average otherwise.

It's really a pretty simple game and I don't find it particularly exciting.

KOS was my first pinball ever. Simple layout, but the artwork and theme was pretty cool. I only got rid of it because i traded it for a more modern machine.
Would pick up another one in a second.

Pros: It’s a bit fun

Cons: Just watch the Bowen tutorial

Overall: Great to learn tap passing, otherwise avoid it.

Fairly basic but a fun game nonetheless. Definitely one of the better playing games from the mid 80’s Bally Midway days.

pretty fun pin from that era of games.. just wish it had a spinner but I like the 3 bumpers.

I owned this game for a little over a year. I sold it because all I was doing was shooting the right target.

Of all the games I play casually at shows or in other collections, Kings of Steel is the one I always slay on. I can routinely boss the game around...granted, I'm using the right target strategy to amass points. The game isn't nicknamed "King of Right Target" for nothin', after all. Art package on this game is a favorite, even if gameplay is a bit ho-hum and hobbled by unbalanced rules.

Great backglass, below average pinball fundamental game.
The playfield inserts looks like there is a lot going on, but this is deceptive.
"One shot" ruleset (Right lane target).
2 inch flipper has minimized use.
Below average sounds and music for the period.
The layout is like a cross between EBD, Xenon, and several others but nothing innovative.
There are better games to "fuel tank up" your collection.
Unfortunate, as the backglass is quite beautiful.

Pretty smooth gameplay, the skill shot is on the lower right.and allows you to rack up some nice points. Good filler pin for a collection, back glass and artwork look really nice.

This is the first machine that I actually owned. It was in good (but well used) barely working order but I had to do a full refurbishment on it. That’s a lot more than just shopping it out.
Sadly I had to sell it when we moved across country and have regretted it ever since. When I first got it I was a bit skeptical about it. How fun can it be to someone who only likes modern stuff? I knew I’d like it, but what about my family?
Everyone was actually surprised at how much fun Kings of Steel really is, considering it's “obsolete” by modern standards. And I do mean everyone, our friends, family, neighbors, random friends of my kids, they all put hours in on that machine, leaving me waiting fo my turn. The modern videogame consoles at the time started gathering dust.
Machines like Kings of Steel place all of the good and bad shots on the players ability,, even most outlane drains. Much like Space Shuttle, Gorgar or any other late 70’s to early 80’s pinball machine.
Kings of steel is no nonsense classic pinball with a complex rule set that constantly challenges you to beat the high score and get all the cards you need for the best bonuses. There are no ramps, no toys, and no multi-ball. Bland and boring to some, but to each their own.
I believe pinball machines need to be rated in tiers, against the competition of their era. There was a complete change in solid state game types about every 5 years until the decade long domination of the DMD machines of the 1990’s. As compared to other machines from 1980 to 1984. This stands up pretty well, although somewhat forgotten because of what was about to come out.
This was also one of the cheaper machines available at the time (budget title may be the correct term but it just sounds like it came from the shovelware videogame bin at Walmart). The high end machines of this time were starting to yell at you, while KOS received the awesome “cheap squeak” soundboard.
Art:
Beautiful! It has a blue theme with cards and pinballs all over it. The mirrored backglass has to be one of the best ever made in that time. Really no negatives here.
Design:
This is the start of the memory drop targets. Shots are smooth and flow is good. The only thing it could use is one more good gimmick, two ball multiball, a pressure target, a moving target, or a capture magnet. It’s fine as it is, but it would be remembered better if it had another stand out item. There are some famous pinball people who love it exactly how it is. Simple and incredibly hard.
Sound:
Cheap Squeak!!! This is the sound of early 1980’s pinball. Like all good machines the sound speeds up as play continues messing with your shots through psychological means. It has an alien, almost evil tone, and man is it awesome.
Funfactor and replayability:
One gameplay will score awesome, the next game is a dud. You know you can do better and you will play again and again until you do, or quit in frustration. It’s hard, it tries to cheat (sometimes), but it’s always good fun. You can shoot randomly at stuff and have a good time too. Depending on luck and skill, one game could last thirty minutes or only three. Regardless, if you like older solid state machines, you will play again and again.

Not many people have played or rated this machine making Kings of Steel a bit of a forgotten game and a hidden gem. Let’s keep it that way until I get another one!!!

Kings of Steel is a "back to basics" design put together by the righteous Greg Kmeic.

The Pros:
A fantastic art package by the incomparable Doug Watson. Both the illustrative as well as the design elements of this game come together for a great look for this deck. A simpler PF hides a few nice shots and a minimalist mindset that still offers great play and angles when properly maintained. A large bank of drop targets with standups behind them is ALWAYS welcome in my book.

The Cons:
Is it just me or does this game need a spinner or three? I like this game and understand that it was made during a belt-tightening phase of Bally's history... but this game taps out once your bonus is maxed.

The Takeaway:
A great looking and playing game. I'd be surious to see if someone programmed an extra decimal point display rom and then I think to myslef... "Wow this game would really be a chore to play then..." This deck could use some serious love from a programmer who would put an extra ball in the trough. Multiball from the top saucer would be cool on this deck.

Update:
Bowen made this game look SILLY! Until the Mystery Programmer has his way with this girl... scores are lowered accordingly. Witness the horror!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GoGo5yrhOrI

Basic Pinball at its best! Card game themed machine with a unique skill shot - perfect plunged ball rewards a Special for every Ball in Play (adjustable). A real Bonus hunter (up to 1.6 mio points/ball!) and drop target based main feature. Cool sounds for the era. One of my personal all time favorites.

For some reason I have 2 of these right now, when playing right and super fast this is a fun pin. Nothing super special but a decent ruleset and ok drop targets. Kind of behind the times for the mid 80's but I think that was the point, to be somewhat retro in gameplay. Wanna buy one? :P

For an older machine this is really fun. I like the card theme and the back glass looks great. Also like that you have to shoot the cards on the side to make hands. Like i said good fun for an older machine