Pinside rating
This game received 43 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.800 /10
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.568
Artwork: 7.752
Sounds/Music: 7.751
Other Aspects: 7.87
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 2 of us have rated this game.
Found 24 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 24 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 1.
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9.360/10
1 year ago
Advance, NC
I just got mine in a few days ago and have been playing it pretty heavy. What a fantastic title! The package is amazing -- artwork, theme, sound, integration. It probably has bar none the best sound in pinball, not just the music, speech and effects integration, but the actual speaker and amplifier system beats even new games. That, coupled with the light show and animation, creates a uniquely immersive experience.
I think it is a really good shooter and all the shots feel nice. Rules wise, it isn't insanely deep, but each scavenger hunt item has its own mode or function (kind of like Addam's Family's mansion), the drop targets are the multiplier, trap lights the megamode, the knight targets light the catapult kickback, etc. It's very simple and straight forward, but deep enough to interest both a beginner or expert.
As a full package, I think this game offers everything you could want from a pinball machine. Like Whirlwind for me, it's just good, old fashioned, fun pinball. An immersive theme with great lighting and artwork, coupled with a really fun shooter with solid, but not overly complicated rules, that puts a smile on your face each time you press the start button.
It is a real shame that this game is so rare. I paid a lot for mine, maybe too much, but I'm extremely happy to have it in my lineup and think it will be a stalwart for years to come. Icing on the cake is having that machine all your pin buddies come in and gravitate towards because they've never seen or played it :)
I think it is a really good shooter and all the shots feel nice. Rules wise, it isn't insanely deep, but each scavenger hunt item has its own mode or function (kind of like Addam's Family's mansion), the drop targets are the multiplier, trap lights the megamode, the knight targets light the catapult kickback, etc. It's very simple and straight forward, but deep enough to interest both a beginner or expert.
As a full package, I think this game offers everything you could want from a pinball machine. Like Whirlwind for me, it's just good, old fashioned, fun pinball. An immersive theme with great lighting and artwork, coupled with a really fun shooter with solid, but not overly complicated rules, that puts a smile on your face each time you press the start button.
It is a real shame that this game is so rare. I paid a lot for mine, maybe too much, but I'm extremely happy to have it in my lineup and think it will be a stalwart for years to come. Icing on the cake is having that machine all your pin buddies come in and gravitate towards because they've never seen or played it :)
10.000/10
6 years ago
I love this game! The lights, the music, the speed, and the depth of secrets are endless. There are so many tricks and secrets I don't know where to begin. This is by far my favorite pin.
9.700/10
6 years ago
One of those rare gems that on first glance looks to be easy and basic, but once you dive in it's as challenging and fun as it comes. The theme itself is glorious, as I had a room I designed that looks like a castle, which also contains scary items, and Mystery Castle lends itself perfectly to it. The lighting, art and sound are top notch for such a low production machine. It just screams haunted house, and could quite possibly be the scariest game out there that doesn't have a license attached to it. I love the originality and the attempt at making something different, and Alvin G. deserves a big hi-five for making it happen. Only negative I would have would be that the DMD animations are a little weak. Not enough frames of animation, and some poor design choices, but not enough to hold my score back. Overall, it's just sad that theses are so hard to find as everyone needs to give it a game or two, but it's also awesome that they are so rare as it makes my collection that much more lovely, and gives people more of a reason to visit my Bloodshed Deathbath Arcade.
8.724/10
7 years ago
This game makes me want to turn the lights out and light a candelabra. Very cool theme. Who doesn't like an old castle looking for cool items? Yes it's 1993 technology with no toys or gimmicks, (spinning bigfoot, gumball machine ect...) but....The sounds and music are top notch. IDK its like Pink Floyd crazy laughter, heartbeats, clocks ticking and effects. The English accent call outs are outstanding as well. Heavy breathing, backwards sounding door-bells, Mozart like piano music. Not sure what drugs were used during the recordings but I say that in a good way! The thunder combined with the 2 stage lighting when the ball drains is nicely done. This game has a real presence about it. It's Rarity only adds to it's mystique.
7.064/10
7 years ago
Certainly not a bad game. It is collectible and is unlikely to ever get the reproduction treatment . . . so an "investment" is as safe as in any other true collectible.
8.661/10
8 years ago
I FINALLY got the chance to play this deck and I have gotta say... it's a lot of fun.
The Pros:
A solid layout with some easy shots (left and right ramp and left orbit) and a few really tough shots (left VUK and the lane and ramp from the upper flipper). There are a few surprises as well (back to the shooter lane from the passageway through the drop targets. The animations are solid and I'm especially fond of the WARNING animation where the game points at you with the character on the DMD. 15 modes mean that there is lots and lots to do and getting to the crown is well worth the 100 million per lit shot during that mode. MegaMode = multiball. This game has character and wears it very well. The theatre of this game, both light and sound are way sweet. Better than almost every B/W game ever made. Yep... it's that good.
The Cons:
The ramp from the upper flipper is near frickin' impossible to hit all the way up the incline. The pop bumpers are rather useless and are accessed more by chance than by a directed shot. The game that I played was set to easy rules and it handed out extra balls like they were candy. Mongo like candy. The flippers have a different feel to them that take a bit to get used to. It's a relatively low production number table and collectors get kinda silly for it. Silly pinheads...
The Takeaway:
Since I have only had the chance to play this game once... I'm looking forward to encountering another copy and play the heck out of it. Hopefully it will be at a more difficult setting. I like this game. Is it an Addams Family quality design? No. Is it a heck of a lot of pinball fun? It sure is and I'm glad that after years for looking for this game... I got the chance to put a few games in on this deck.
It may not be the greatest player, but this is a great game.
Update:
Alright, I was lucky enough to visit the collector who had this game again and learned a few things that are important for gameplay. First, a few things I don't like. You can actually shoot the ball all the way up to the top of the PF, through the pops and have the ball come straight back down the middle, not hitting a single thing along the way. Not the best for PF design. The other thing I don't care for is the rules/modes really need multiple plays to start to catch on to the nuances of the deck. Extra balls (on the settings of the game I played) are a frickin' gimme. So on to the things I do like. I really enjoy the sound package of this game, it's spot on with the county fair midway spookshow tunnel of love ride. It's great! The tilt warning is the best! I also figured out that the change item standup on the lower-mid right hand side of the PF changes the shot to make to start the mode. This is CRUCIAL for strategic gameplay as the standup is close to the flippers, now it's not a deathshot, but it has its dangerous moments. Can you make the lit item shot for the next mode? Do you want to go for the inner loop/ramp instead? Decisions, decisions... This is a really solid game, Quite possibly Alvin G's best. What a shame that this company went under when they did.
Slight adjustments to the scores.
The Pros:
A solid layout with some easy shots (left and right ramp and left orbit) and a few really tough shots (left VUK and the lane and ramp from the upper flipper). There are a few surprises as well (back to the shooter lane from the passageway through the drop targets. The animations are solid and I'm especially fond of the WARNING animation where the game points at you with the character on the DMD. 15 modes mean that there is lots and lots to do and getting to the crown is well worth the 100 million per lit shot during that mode. MegaMode = multiball. This game has character and wears it very well. The theatre of this game, both light and sound are way sweet. Better than almost every B/W game ever made. Yep... it's that good.
The Cons:
The ramp from the upper flipper is near frickin' impossible to hit all the way up the incline. The pop bumpers are rather useless and are accessed more by chance than by a directed shot. The game that I played was set to easy rules and it handed out extra balls like they were candy. Mongo like candy. The flippers have a different feel to them that take a bit to get used to. It's a relatively low production number table and collectors get kinda silly for it. Silly pinheads...
The Takeaway:
Since I have only had the chance to play this game once... I'm looking forward to encountering another copy and play the heck out of it. Hopefully it will be at a more difficult setting. I like this game. Is it an Addams Family quality design? No. Is it a heck of a lot of pinball fun? It sure is and I'm glad that after years for looking for this game... I got the chance to put a few games in on this deck.
It may not be the greatest player, but this is a great game.
Update:
Alright, I was lucky enough to visit the collector who had this game again and learned a few things that are important for gameplay. First, a few things I don't like. You can actually shoot the ball all the way up to the top of the PF, through the pops and have the ball come straight back down the middle, not hitting a single thing along the way. Not the best for PF design. The other thing I don't care for is the rules/modes really need multiple plays to start to catch on to the nuances of the deck. Extra balls (on the settings of the game I played) are a frickin' gimme. So on to the things I do like. I really enjoy the sound package of this game, it's spot on with the county fair midway spookshow tunnel of love ride. It's great! The tilt warning is the best! I also figured out that the change item standup on the lower-mid right hand side of the PF changes the shot to make to start the mode. This is CRUCIAL for strategic gameplay as the standup is close to the flippers, now it's not a deathshot, but it has its dangerous moments. Can you make the lit item shot for the next mode? Do you want to go for the inner loop/ramp instead? Decisions, decisions... This is a really solid game, Quite possibly Alvin G's best. What a shame that this company went under when they did.
Slight adjustments to the scores.
Belgie
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