Pinside rating

This game received 91 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.016 _/10

7.016

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #269 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game design: 6.681

Artwork: 8.469

Sounds/Music: 5.051

Other Aspects: 7.065

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 4 of us have rated this game.

6.423

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Ranking history

An overview of this machine's ranking over the last years. Lower is better.

Rating history

An overview of this machine's rating over the last years. Higher is better.

Found 43 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 43 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 2.

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7.292/10

10 months ago

JSH

John-H

Pinside apprentice

Norman, OK

1y 29,150 12 7 30

For better or worse, this is (arguably) the most iconic pinball game of the 70s. Everyone knows this game.

I'll start with the good stuff. The art is just fantastic. If you walked into an arcade in 1979 you'd know if this game was there within 5 seconds.

The sounds are terrible. Oh wait you mean the pinball game...really, it's fine for the time. I can't actually tell which songs they're trying to emulate, but it's fine.

The game doesn't play all that bad and it's fun to try to fill the grid but there just isn't much here. The spinners are slightly difficult to nail but it's fun when you really get them.

In the end it doesn't matter what I think - the game is massively popular (colossal bonus!) and priced accordingly. And I really don't think I'm being too critical. If you're a KISS fan this game is a grail collectible.

*Wife approval* She hasn't played it but I've shown her pictures. She just thinks it's silly. Actually she might have played it at a convention when we were dating and we both forgot about it. The gameplay itself is forgettable. Anyway, she's too young for the band to have any significance, and when I was a kid I asked my parents who these KISS people were in the t-shirt ads in my comics.

Have at it though, KISS fans. You could have done worse than this one. Rock art gem, not a lot after that.

7.367/10

11 months ago

???

Jrowedc

Pinside member

4y 26,900 4 6 6

I grew up with this at home, so it has a lot of sentimental value for me, but I still recognize it for what it is: Spell this word over and over and over again. Also, get A-B-C-D over and over.

Your bonus level persists for the entire game (or at least it did on mine), so the key to big points is to get your bonus early on, then get 2X via A-B-C-D every ball. Despite playing more modern pins in arcades through the 80's and early 90's I always loved this game. The sound of 16 bonus womps at the end of a turn from Colossal Bonus and 2x will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. The spinners are awesome, too, with the persistence of vision effect illustrating a tongue sticking out of dude's mouth.

The artwork is provocative and frankly ridiculous, but as a child I always thought it was intriguing. Would I have it today? Nahhhh. Because my mother still has it in her basement!

Jrowedc has owned this game in the past.

8.077/10

11 months ago

LAW

the_quail_man17

Pinside member

Plymouth, IN

1y 31,650 7 139

Ultimate classic machine! KISS is probably one of these most classic machines in my mind. A true institution to pinball.

the_quail_man17 edited previous rating on March 11, 2020.
the_quail_man17 has this game on the wishlist.

6.655/10

1 year ago

CAH

ReadyPO

Pinside member

2y 142K 1,279 50

Its an early SS Bally. They play the same, especially the symmetrical ones like this. With four pops, this differs from others slightly. The KISS animation on the BG, the gorgeous PF are wonderful to look at - truly works of art. For gameplay, not too much to write home about, but you can't play a Van Gogh.

3.278/10

1 year ago

???

luigi90

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

1y 7,750 2 6

My dad loves this game and I am always stuck playing this with the old guy. I hate this machine with a passion.

KISS in general has to be a generational thing, I'm in my late 20's and don't understand how anyone can like them.

8.665/10

1 year ago

T.S

sedlacek

Pinside member

Ronneby

2y 26,250 13 9 20

This is a real must to have game in a mancave,its just amazing to look at in attract mode,and quite fun to play

sedlacek edited previous rating on November 09, 2019.
sedlacek has owned this game in the past.

7.604/10

2 years ago

???

Bradpinfan

Pinside member

Fort Wayne, IN

3y 40,550 2 22 18

Pros:
Spinner shots are very fun and rewarding. Standard Bally Williams bonus max out fun time design is as fun as it has always been although maby some inlines somewhere, just a thought. Spelling kiss is fun.

Cons:
While spelling kiss is fun, that is really the extent of the theme. Maybe they could have had different instrument shots instead of just spelling kiss. The skill shot is worth to much. I have had to play this many times in tournament and the if you know where the skill shot is you have a massive advantage. Why does your colasol bonus not get multiplied.

Overall:
While it is a fun game I feel like more could have been done or rules could be improved. Overall though a game I allways come back to and that I wouldn’t mind owning.

Bradpinfan edited previous rating on January 23, 2019.

7.562/10

2 years ago

CUZ

mcuzz

Pinside member

4y 106K 369 129

If you’re into KISS this game is a must-have, great hand drawn artwork of the band and all around decent game.

7.445/10

2 years ago

???

Rafoon

Inactive member

Ingrandes

2y 8,750 2 9

My first one, forever ...

Rafoon currently owns this game.

6.698/10

2 years ago

DIA

mrossman5

Pinside member

Warren, PA

3y 163K 2,446 4 176

Art is definitely the strong point of this pin. Rules and sounds are not.

8.741/10

3 years ago

GAR

Cherga

Pinside member

3y 49,050 331 16 1

For what it was when released it was impressive. The subject matter could not be beat and considering how many were made, shows its appeal. Forward nearly 40 years and it is still very popular for it's subject matter alone. Classic gameplay with not a lot going on. As others have mentioned, it's basically a show piece for the artwork but likely doesn't hold up in a small collection.

7.908/10

4 years ago

420

Bing_Party

Pinside member

Palm Beach, FL

4y 31,900 493 11

artwork is awesome..i have this machine basically as a show piece for the art, people play it but not often.

7.177/10

5 years ago

A$$

Bohdi

Pinside member

Burnsville, MN

7y 64,050 2,383 3 7

For it's time, KISS was ok. Not much going on here playfield wise. Light KISS over and over. Like the drop targets. Spinners are always fun to hit. If your a KISS fan, worth owning if you don't have a small collection. Gets a bit old in a smaller collection. Nice looking pin. Always a fun game for a play or 2. Somewhat miss mine. When I have more room, i'll pick up another. Do love the artwork...

Bohdi has owned this game in the past.

6.192/10

5 years ago

RHO

spiroagnew

Pinside member

8y 119K 980 161

Great theme, classic art package, yet incredibly boring gameplay. Spinner all day once it is lit. Great for casual players looking to spell KISS over and over and over again via the matrix in the center but further than that, the game leaves a lot to be desired compared to other games of the era. One of the best art packages on a classic Bally, from a company that created the idea of an in-house art department. It would a few years before the idea of art agreeing with game design was introduced...as Kiss proves wonderfully. Prices on this game have been madness for years now given Kiss Kollectors valuing this as the ultimate Kollectable. If it held a reasonable price, being a fan of rock n' roll, I'd consider owning the game for a spell, but not at current market value...!

spiroagnew edited previous rating on November 19, 2017.

6.002/10

5 years ago

DEF

DefaultGen

Pinside member

Morrisville, NC

8y 120K 2,806 10 166

I gained somewhat of a new appreciation for this pin. I've always considered it one of the most overpriced games ever, and I really don't like symmetrical games, but it's not all bad. The farrrr back spinners are a tight, dangerous, valuable shot. I actually like that more than ripping one halfway down the playfield on an EM. The bonus grid is kind of cool. Artwork, especially the backglass, is one of the greatest ever. The sound is of course abysmal, but if it it was made a year or two earlier might've been even worse. Just look at Nugent.

9.760/10

5 years ago

MFA

Moe90002

Inactive member

Hamilton, ON

6y 11,250 1 4 6

Where's my platform boots so I can kick some Ace!

7.233/10

6 years ago

FVA

stricht

Pinside member

7y 33,150 12 4 34

Hard to play, not for a long time

7.674/10

6 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

8y 77,650 288 7 280

Lots of fun, lighting up the spinners never gets old. Has some tight shots.

Surprised there isn't more love for this one...I am not a kiss fan but his is a fun pin.

7.742/10

6 years ago

RIV

SteveRivet

Pinside member

Ashburn, VA

7y 30,150 27 2 19

Very good early Bally Solid State. I don't like symmetric games as much as asymmetrical ones, but it works pretty good for Kiss. Scoring is consistent with the other Bally's of that era, so if you kick ass early on it you can coast thru, esp on a 5 ball game. You either like the theme or you don't, not many people are on the middle. Can't find them cheap any more, so if you're looking for a player from this era maybe look for a Mata Hari or something instead.

SteveRivet has owned this game in the past.

6.351/10

7 years ago

NAM

kwiKimart

Inactive member

San Diego, CA

9y 90,650 10,693 3 71

KISS sounds like a great potential pin for its time, but I just find it dull and overpriced.

7.280/10

7 years ago

REG

wildinindiana

Pinside member

Union, IN

8y 28,550 69 23 13

Of course a classic machine, with an awesome theme. Very fun to look at, but plays a little clunky... It is a bit easy at times, but can be very addicting at the same time. If nothing else it can sit and look pretty...

wildinindiana has owned this game in the past.

6.830/10

7 years ago

TOM

tjc02002

Pinside member

East Haddam, CT

7y 46,650 459 13 10

The KISS theme is what makes this a great pin. the gameplay is actually pretty addicting spelling KISS a bunch of times to score big points. Without a great theme, like this one, i dont think any pin from 1979 is worth owning.

tjc02002 currently owns this game.

8.055/10

8 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

Westminster, CO

9y 144K 1,343 51 899

Kiss the pinball and the band are 70's icons that come together perfectly in this game.

The Pros:
Kevin O'Connor's artwork is brilliant all around on this table. Jim Patla's design is understated, simple and very playable.

The Cons:
I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day in 4 bit sound... this is a rock and roll pinball right? I have to admit that I find myself singing the lyrics with the tune when I start my game, OK, it's not that bad. I know that this is what the tech at the time supported, but it seems shallow. The rest of the sounds are basic in comparison to that...

The Takeaway:
The Army will always be seeking this deck. It's a fun game and they made 17k of them, but the price will always be too high for what you get from the game for playability. If I'm paying 3k for a bally of this vintage... Give me a Paragon and a few others and I'm a happy pinhead.

6.537/10

8 years ago

ATE

AdamTheGamer

Inactive member

8y 53,150 269 2 133

If it wasn't KISS, this game wouldn't be a big deal. A band like KISS deserves a better pinball machine.

8.016/10

8 years ago

CGO

KPM19

Inactive member

Arlington, TX

8y 20,650 45 1 28

Very generic layout but with the artwork along with the sound(for the time)
it still has a good flow. Yes, you would have to be a KISS fan but I liked it.

KPM19 has owned this game in the past.

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