Pinside rating
This game received 976 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.752 /10
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game design: 8.831
Artwork: 8.877
Sounds/Music: 8.39
Other Aspects: 8.706
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 9 of us have rated this game.
This game is part of a group
Note! There are multiple versions of this game!
This is "Monster Bash".
The other versions are: Monster Bash (Classic Edition), Monster Bash (Limited Edition), Monster Bash (Special Edition)
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 481 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 481 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 20.
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8.716/10
9 days ago
Mesa, AZ
When I first played Monster Bash, the rules wern't entire clear to me. After a few plays, I began to understand the shots that needed to be made and how each one corresponded with a band member. I really enjoy this layout. Every shot feels satisfying, especially when they flow into combos. Shots aren't too difficult but not super easy either - plays just right for me. Lots of humor in this pin. One of the best pins out there and for good reason.
9.464/10
57 days ago
The theme is a perfect fit for pinball. This game epitomizes classic pinball it’s the perfect blend of the cheesey humor that makes the machines of this era so great. I both like and dislike how easy this machine is. It’s nice to be able to ‘complete’ this game so easily but it doesn’t make you work as hard for it as others of this era. Music isn’t my favorite but it has some great callouts.
9.143/10
62 days ago
Calgary, AB
Monster Bash is a relatively simple game that is great fun. I find I am a sucker for fan layout, ramp to ramp games and I love the flow of this game. The rule set is simple and not very challenging which is a minus, but the theme, art, call outs, toys, animations, and pretty much everything else is amazing. My only critique would be that I wish the rules were a bit deeper and some heavier monster rock music would be sweet. This game also benefits from some properly places spotlights.
9.540/10
69 days ago
Monster Bash Review
Summary and First Impressions
Like many pinball machines, my introduction to Monster Bash was on Pinball Arcade. It was there that I learned the ruleset and gained an appreciated for Monster Bash's design. It wasn't until recently that I was able to play the physical machine, and oh boy did it live up to my digital experiences and then some! This game just exudes fun; from the zany theme of a monster rock band to the use of a "phantom" AI controlled shot. It's got a great bash toy in Frankenstein, which is also part of one of the best multiball starts in pinball; I've seen it a million times and I still never skip it. Finally, the rules package that ties everything together has just the right amount of depth, accessibility, and difficulty.
Highlights
* Theme - Hollywood movie monsters get together and make a rock band, what's not to love? This game doesn't take itself seriously at any point and it pays off with funny callouts and animations and just an all-around fun atmosphere.
* Shots - The Frankenstein shot has a great risk-reward feel and hitting the toy is satisfying. Getting into a groove with the Bride ramp shots is another high point.
* Rules - Being able to stack the monster modes with Frankenstein multiball creates some interesting challenges for the player because you can't start new modes while the multiball is playing and the modes are timed while not in multiball so you have to have Frank ready to go if you hope to stack. And if you do have Frank ready to go you have to make sure you don't accidentally start multiball before you have your other desired modes ready! There's also the challenge of actually completing the modes to collect the instruments so you can work toward the Monsters of Rock wizard mode. Overall, while it doesn't have a large number of activities, the ones that are there are fun and have good depth.
Misses
* I could see how serious players could be turned off by the phantom flip mechanic.
Conclusion
Monster Bash is a highly ranked game and it deserves every bit of that rank. Checks all the wants: great toy, fun layout, accessible but deep rules, and great theme implementation. It's a great game!
Summary and First Impressions
Like many pinball machines, my introduction to Monster Bash was on Pinball Arcade. It was there that I learned the ruleset and gained an appreciated for Monster Bash's design. It wasn't until recently that I was able to play the physical machine, and oh boy did it live up to my digital experiences and then some! This game just exudes fun; from the zany theme of a monster rock band to the use of a "phantom" AI controlled shot. It's got a great bash toy in Frankenstein, which is also part of one of the best multiball starts in pinball; I've seen it a million times and I still never skip it. Finally, the rules package that ties everything together has just the right amount of depth, accessibility, and difficulty.
Highlights
* Theme - Hollywood movie monsters get together and make a rock band, what's not to love? This game doesn't take itself seriously at any point and it pays off with funny callouts and animations and just an all-around fun atmosphere.
* Shots - The Frankenstein shot has a great risk-reward feel and hitting the toy is satisfying. Getting into a groove with the Bride ramp shots is another high point.
* Rules - Being able to stack the monster modes with Frankenstein multiball creates some interesting challenges for the player because you can't start new modes while the multiball is playing and the modes are timed while not in multiball so you have to have Frank ready to go if you hope to stack. And if you do have Frank ready to go you have to make sure you don't accidentally start multiball before you have your other desired modes ready! There's also the challenge of actually completing the modes to collect the instruments so you can work toward the Monsters of Rock wizard mode. Overall, while it doesn't have a large number of activities, the ones that are there are fun and have good depth.
Misses
* I could see how serious players could be turned off by the phantom flip mechanic.
Conclusion
Monster Bash is a highly ranked game and it deserves every bit of that rank. Checks all the wants: great toy, fun layout, accessible but deep rules, and great theme implementation. It's a great game!
9.400/10
78 days ago
Only bad thing I have to say about this machine is sometimes it feels repetitive and maybe a little easy, but otherwise great flow, great theme, fun shots, funny call outs, great theme/game/design blend. Love this game!!
8.508/10
3 months ago
Unknown City
A classic no doubt about it. Beautiful art, great call outs and some nice toys. Only problem for me is the code is lacking, unless you get everything stacked you’re kind of in jail. Hopefully this might be sorted with the remake if the rumors are true...
Paris
9.560/10
4 months ago
I'm fortunate enough to have played three different examples of this machine in the wild. On every occasion they've been maintained in tip-top shape. People who own them and play them apparently respect this machine for the paramount achievement that it is.
What else can be said about this game that hasn't already been said?
The monster toys are some of the best in pinball. The flow around the wolfman orbits or alternate bride of Frankenstein ramps is awesome. And whoever threw out the theme idea at the planning stages for "hey, let's have all of the classic movie monsters get together and start a band!" needs more props than I can possibly give out.
It's a family friendly theme and game (not too punishing), that my kids always gravitate too as well. I only hope that this game can get the remake treatment so that mere mortals might be able to get one of these machines new in their own home.
What else can be said about this game that hasn't already been said?
The monster toys are some of the best in pinball. The flow around the wolfman orbits or alternate bride of Frankenstein ramps is awesome. And whoever threw out the theme idea at the planning stages for "hey, let's have all of the classic movie monsters get together and start a band!" needs more props than I can possibly give out.
It's a family friendly theme and game (not too punishing), that my kids always gravitate too as well. I only hope that this game can get the remake treatment so that mere mortals might be able to get one of these machines new in their own home.
Chesterfield
9.660/10
5 months ago
What needs to be said that hasn’t already?! One of the very best efforts from Williams, a timeless classic and a true display of talent from George Gomez. Along with MM absolutely smashes the coin drop on location even after 20 years. A keeper
9.160/10
5 months ago
Its super campy but it has a lot of toys and stuff. As a fan of Universal Monsters this isn't the game I would want... these aren't even the Universal Monsters. Wouldn't it be cool to see JJ do a pinball based on the Universal Monsters to have Dracula modes to Frankenstein, to Wolfman and so on. No monsters playing the drums. LOL
The game is fun but its not the 5th best pinball game ever. Please. Its one of the better ones but nothing close to one of the 10 best.
The game is fun but its not the 5th best pinball game ever. Please. Its one of the better ones but nothing close to one of the 10 best.
8.196/10
6 months ago
A really fantastic, great playing game. I don’t care for the theme, but I love it at the same time. It is funny and very approachable. Music and call outs are exceptional and so is the code. If I had the money, this game would come before AFM and MM.
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