American Pinball
Oktoberfest Pinside Rating
This game received 186 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.874 /10
Oktoberfest
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.024
Artwork: 7.435
Sounds/Music: 7.584
Other Aspects: 7.928
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 3 of us have rated this game.
Found 99 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 99 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 4.
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9.580/10
4 months ago
Schlierbach
Fun game , not common one with theme well integrated.
Oktoberfest is a traditionnal german party. Overseas people have to participate in an Oktoberfest to really appreciate the game theme.
Have a bretzel with your beer and play Oktoberfest : The basic …
Oktoberfest is a traditionnal german party. Overseas people have to participate in an Oktoberfest to really appreciate the game theme.
Have a bretzel with your beer and play Oktoberfest : The basic …
7.070/10
8 months ago
Fort Worth, TX
Have only played on location. The theme seemed dated and would have been more suited to late sixties or early seventies. The game itself felt well built and solid - which was nice. The flippers performed well and the layout was fine. Two things really bothered me and neither are at all important to how the game played. I hated the animations - I kept thinking "why even have a LCD screen?" and I hated the way Otto looked on the playfield. The LCD animations looked like they came off a 2008 Iphone and Otto's sculpt just did not match the other artwork. Later I saw someone came up with a mod that fixed this and I felt vindicated it was not just me that disliked that look. Music and call outs were . . . fine - nothing special. The art does the theme justice (except for the Otto sculpt which looked terrible when compared to the game art). The modes were silly but I guess fit the theme. Sadly, I think the game overall was "meh" with some tight/difficult shots but would have rated it up a couple of points higher with improved animations and the Otto re-imagined mod (which looks great). Call me shallow. It did feel like a quality design/build (good job AP) and I was impressed with how it played from a new company. Just not my cup of tea . . . err, my mug of lager. I do realize having it at home may be a different experience where the game rules really shine.
8.808/10
1 year ago
Sydney
Owned now for approx 2 months, and on latest code.
First Impressions:
The backglass is a little underwhelming, but it's fun and suits the theme well. Cabinet as well suits the theme, although I might call it functional more than anything - it certainly doesn't pop like some of my other recent games (Halloween - wow). The armour and powdercoating are really nice, and the playfield artwork is busy, and gives a pretty good Oktoberfest festival vibe. Those wireforms are absolutely beautiful - really make you want to press start and begin shooting for them, and the toys, especially the beer barrel and the bumper cars are quite brilliant.
Gameplay:
Holy cow this game is pure FUN! The oompah band music and the superbly cheesy callouts, the festival game modes, sparkly bumper cars on the pops, 4 magnets with 2 being controllable, one handed modes so you can drink a beer while playing, knocker (yes a real one) integrated with target and duck shooting - seriously, just how good is this theme integration? Shots are really satisfying - especially a right orbit/beer barrel combo shot it's up there with any of my other games including Elwins. Did need some minor adjustments to the beer barrel flipper and ramp, because that shot was way too hard requiring absolute pinpoint precision. Shortening the flipper stroke helps and AP actually sell a longer coil stop to achieve this (but you can adjust the flipper manually) and making some slight adjustment on the ramp so the ball wouldn't fly off made it a fair shot although still hard as nails. The rollercoaster ramp is possibly the steepest I've ever seen but it's absolutely no problem shooting it - I've seen complaints the flipper isn't powerful enough to make it, but that's certainly not the case on my machine. The layout is fresh, it's interesting and there is a LOT to shoot for and do on this game.
Rules:
Really superb ruleset on this - there are several paths you can take as you play the game: go for tent modes and try to get Flipper Meister, go for ducks and start Duck Derby, try and complete the food stand modes and get Food Coma - or go for the multiballs. Scoring is very nicely varied, and collecting Steins at the bar boosts certain aspects of the game (boosts certain tent modes, boosts MB jackpots, makes it easier to collect ducks etc), there is just SO much to do... Serious kudos to the team in giving the player such a great variety - and all paths are accessible from the get go. I tend to go for the mutliballs just because the shots are so great to get them (the beer barrel shot for the beer MB, and that rollercoaster wireform is just amazing).
Negatives:
Well, the artwork and backglass could be a little more appealing - it is fun and ties in with the theme, but it's a little bland at the same time. The beer barrel ramp on mine did need some serious dialling in - it was a makeable shot, but maybe 3 or 4 out of 50 shots would get there, and an orbit/barrel combo would never make it - the ball would just fly off the ramp. Adjusting the flipper stroke, widening the barrel entrance slightly and a tiny bend of the wireform and now its perfect. Other than that, I'd say maybe the animations aren't very engaging but they are fun just like the rest of the game.
Overall - I really have not played many machines more fun than this. I got hold of a Stern JP at the same time and I've hardly played it. Don't get me wrong JP is an absolute stellar game and I love it - definitely deserves its top 10 rating, but damn this game just has its hooks into me. I keep saying it, but it's just a joy to play. I'm genuinely really surprised this game isn't ranked higher, maybe its the theme which I guess isn't to everyone's taste. It has great shots, it's absolutely loaded with toys and mechs, the music is fantastic and the rules are varied and fun. Superb game, really superb - I would highly recommend trying it if you haven't.
First Impressions:
The backglass is a little underwhelming, but it's fun and suits the theme well. Cabinet as well suits the theme, although I might call it functional more than anything - it certainly doesn't pop like some of my other recent games (Halloween - wow). The armour and powdercoating are really nice, and the playfield artwork is busy, and gives a pretty good Oktoberfest festival vibe. Those wireforms are absolutely beautiful - really make you want to press start and begin shooting for them, and the toys, especially the beer barrel and the bumper cars are quite brilliant.
Gameplay:
Holy cow this game is pure FUN! The oompah band music and the superbly cheesy callouts, the festival game modes, sparkly bumper cars on the pops, 4 magnets with 2 being controllable, one handed modes so you can drink a beer while playing, knocker (yes a real one) integrated with target and duck shooting - seriously, just how good is this theme integration? Shots are really satisfying - especially a right orbit/beer barrel combo shot it's up there with any of my other games including Elwins. Did need some minor adjustments to the beer barrel flipper and ramp, because that shot was way too hard requiring absolute pinpoint precision. Shortening the flipper stroke helps and AP actually sell a longer coil stop to achieve this (but you can adjust the flipper manually) and making some slight adjustment on the ramp so the ball wouldn't fly off made it a fair shot although still hard as nails. The rollercoaster ramp is possibly the steepest I've ever seen but it's absolutely no problem shooting it - I've seen complaints the flipper isn't powerful enough to make it, but that's certainly not the case on my machine. The layout is fresh, it's interesting and there is a LOT to shoot for and do on this game.
Rules:
Really superb ruleset on this - there are several paths you can take as you play the game: go for tent modes and try to get Flipper Meister, go for ducks and start Duck Derby, try and complete the food stand modes and get Food Coma - or go for the multiballs. Scoring is very nicely varied, and collecting Steins at the bar boosts certain aspects of the game (boosts certain tent modes, boosts MB jackpots, makes it easier to collect ducks etc), there is just SO much to do... Serious kudos to the team in giving the player such a great variety - and all paths are accessible from the get go. I tend to go for the mutliballs just because the shots are so great to get them (the beer barrel shot for the beer MB, and that rollercoaster wireform is just amazing).
Negatives:
Well, the artwork and backglass could be a little more appealing - it is fun and ties in with the theme, but it's a little bland at the same time. The beer barrel ramp on mine did need some serious dialling in - it was a makeable shot, but maybe 3 or 4 out of 50 shots would get there, and an orbit/barrel combo would never make it - the ball would just fly off the ramp. Adjusting the flipper stroke, widening the barrel entrance slightly and a tiny bend of the wireform and now its perfect. Other than that, I'd say maybe the animations aren't very engaging but they are fun just like the rest of the game.
Overall - I really have not played many machines more fun than this. I got hold of a Stern JP at the same time and I've hardly played it. Don't get me wrong JP is an absolute stellar game and I love it - definitely deserves its top 10 rating, but damn this game just has its hooks into me. I keep saying it, but it's just a joy to play. I'm genuinely really surprised this game isn't ranked higher, maybe its the theme which I guess isn't to everyone's taste. It has great shots, it's absolutely loaded with toys and mechs, the music is fantastic and the rules are varied and fun. Superb game, really superb - I would highly recommend trying it if you haven't.
9.289/10
1 year ago
This game doesn’t get the love it deserves. Admittedly, when I first started playing, I was frustrated until I got the shots down, especially the beer barrel ramp. Once you get it though, it’s a very satisfying shot. Love the festive theme and the tent modes are great. Definitely need to play quite a few games before everything starts to click. Sober mode is hilarious! Second favorite game in my collection of seven, behind Wonka.
9.170/10
1 year ago
I really like Oktoberfest, the festival and the Pin. The layout is pretty unique, and the feel of the machine is fun. I held off on buying one for a long time because I thought the animations were weak, but after owning one they grow on you, and now I think they are kind of charming.
8.880/10
1 year ago
Deep risk vs. reward rule set and a funky Balcer playfield layout. It will reward you for playing good and punish you for playing poorly.
Burgdorf
8.812/10
2 years ago
Not your run of the mill, flowing pin game play but what a captivating game. Games upon games within one pinball machine. The game play never gets old or repetitive. So many different ways to play and score.
I’m not one for deep rule sets. This game manages to throw a lot at you but as I player I’m never confused as to what to do next.
Is the theme a little kitschy? Yup, it sure is. But it’s so much fun.
Tough ramps? Yup, sure are. But how rewarding when you make them.
AP makes an incredible, solid as a rock machine. And if anything does go wrong or if you have nothing more than a question, their customer service is second to none. They respond quickly, call if they have to and are always active on Pinside with assistance and suggestions.
Love having this game in my collection.
I’m not one for deep rule sets. This game manages to throw a lot at you but as I player I’m never confused as to what to do next.
Is the theme a little kitschy? Yup, it sure is. But it’s so much fun.
Tough ramps? Yup, sure are. But how rewarding when you make them.
AP makes an incredible, solid as a rock machine. And if anything does go wrong or if you have nothing more than a question, their customer service is second to none. They respond quickly, call if they have to and are always active on Pinside with assistance and suggestions.
Love having this game in my collection.
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