Pinside rating
This game received 175 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.850 /10
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game design: 7.819
Artwork: 8.134
Sounds/Music: 7.533
Other Aspects: 7.743
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 8 of us have rated this game.
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 75 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 75 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 3.
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Long Beach, CA
6.846/10
6 months ago
I have always felt that this game is FAR greater than the sum of its' parts. Maybe the most in all of pinball.
I'm not a huge fan of the artwork, sounds, or theme...but the game is just plain fun. It definitely has that one more game appeal. The chance to win a token is a right of passage that every pinballer should experience.
I'm not a huge fan of the artwork, sounds, or theme...but the game is just plain fun. It definitely has that one more game appeal. The chance to win a token is a right of passage that every pinballer should experience.
10.000/10
7 months ago
Victoria, BC
Why did I give this game a perfect score?
First off, Pat Lawlor.
Secondly, you need to realize just how different and innovative this game is.
It has unique tokens designed specifically for this game and this game alone which has a whole mech custom built to spit these tokens out at you to give you access to a special wizard mode. WOW!
The playfield is smaller than a standard body but packs everything and the kitchen sink for toys and shots.
Utilized backglass to include a freaking board game!
What some people might criticize would be the smaller flippers, smaller playfield, and timed balls (as opposed to the typical 3 ball) however I consider these things a positive change because it just shakes things up, and makes jumping back and forth between a standard sized pin and a safecracker feel so strange yet refreshing. So instead of bashing it for feeling alien, I LOVE it. Variety is the spice of life after all.
They are pretty rare, so if you find one you’ve got to try it out.
First off, Pat Lawlor.
Secondly, you need to realize just how different and innovative this game is.
It has unique tokens designed specifically for this game and this game alone which has a whole mech custom built to spit these tokens out at you to give you access to a special wizard mode. WOW!
The playfield is smaller than a standard body but packs everything and the kitchen sink for toys and shots.
Utilized backglass to include a freaking board game!
What some people might criticize would be the smaller flippers, smaller playfield, and timed balls (as opposed to the typical 3 ball) however I consider these things a positive change because it just shakes things up, and makes jumping back and forth between a standard sized pin and a safecracker feel so strange yet refreshing. So instead of bashing it for feeling alien, I LOVE it. Variety is the spice of life after all.
They are pretty rare, so if you find one you’ve got to try it out.
8.172/10
1 year ago
Wow what a game. What a novel idea and game! Incredible.
Could be very frustrating but it's so different and you have such a specific goal. Plus the reward with the token at the end!
If you have a chance, definitely stop and play this! So so so cool!
Could be very frustrating but it's so different and you have such a specific goal. Plus the reward with the token at the end!
If you have a chance, definitely stop and play this! So so so cool!
7.787/10
1 year ago
When Pat Lawlor's legacy is written, Safe Cracker deserves a prominent chapter. What an innovative, gutsy project this must have been. I suspect it was the mid-late 90s and pinball was feeling the decline in interest. The idea of a series of pins that were slightly smaller, but offered a challenging pinball game plus a video/board game in the backglass was very clever and inspired. I heard this was supposed to be the first of many "magic token" pins, that would award tokens which could be used to play other magic token pins. Except just over 1000 Safe Crackers were produced, and the game did not revolutionize pinball. Remember Baby PacMan? This pin is actually an exceptional realization of a pinball game hybrid, with a video/board game in the head. You try to enter the bank by disabling the alarm at one of three possible entry points (the basement, roof and main entrance). Once you enter the bank, you turn your attention to the backglass, where a video boardgame begins. You basically roll virtual dice to advance your position toward the bank vault. Along the way, guards can chase you, robot dogs can send you back to the pinball game, and you can earn money or more time. The game is also innovative because you are playing against the clock, with a certain amount of time to access the bank, and then enter the vault and win magic tokens. Great concept, very well designed. Didn't change the industry, but with just over 1000 examples, these are valuable, especially with all the tokens and cabinet wings. A memorable chapter in Pat Lawlor's distinguished career.
7.927/10
1 year ago
Too bad this game is so rare and expensive. It's a mini game with mini flippers but it doesnt feel too mini. It's a great little oddity and it doesnt take up a lot of real estate
9.220/10
2 years ago
Born
The last Bally Williams I keep at home, after all the ones who were here in the past.
I love this game.
Hightly undervalued game just because it is rare and not so many people can assess it.
Will never leave my house.
Pat is the best !
I love this game.
Hightly undervalued game just because it is rare and not so many people can assess it.
Will never leave my house.
Pat is the best !
9.140/10
2 years ago
Some people dont like differnt and walk up to this game with a closed mind. I did at first but once you get over it and aim to have fun its an amazing game
7.135/10
3 years ago
SafeCracker is a fun unique game that is different than anything else available. Amazing design by Pat Lawlor. I like how you set yourself up on the board with different entraces on the playfield. Getting into the vault is cool and having a token roll down the glass never gets old. The assault the vault mode is a fun extra multiball with an excellent DMD intro. The lastability of this game is only soso. With extensive time on this game I found I did not like the smaller size playfield and flippers compared to a regular sized game. It just did not feel as good to shoot. And the stop and go with the board game gets tiring with consistent play. Great alternative game that fits well in a large collection.
9.084/10
3 years ago
Chalons En Champagne
very funny game,you want to play again ans again,it's a verydifferent game of what i have and that's why childs and i love it
7.537/10
3 years ago
This game is crazy! I really liked that it's timed because every time I play it, the balls go strait down the middle and the flippers are super small. Pretty cool idea of breaking into the bank, being chased and rewarded. This machine is much smaller than a normal pin, but is still very cool. The best part is if you are able to get a reward token to shoot out.
9.080/10
3 years ago
A great gimmick game that manages to bring me back every time. Not only do I love going for that coin, but I like how the game attracts beginners and pros alike. It's a very unique game that doesn't sacrifice any fun for the gimmick. Too bad there aren't more of them out there...
8.380/10
4 years ago
What a great pinball. One of my favorites at yegpin.
Very unique. Never got to play one and this one will not disappoint.
It seems small but plays like a regular pin. Great and fun pinball.
Too bad they are increasing in price.
Very unique. Never got to play one and this one will not disappoint.
It seems small but plays like a regular pin. Great and fun pinball.
Too bad they are increasing in price.
Riccione
9.120/10
4 years ago
This is one of Lawlor's best games. One of the most unique in pinball. This game is one that gets played the most when pinball and non-pinball people come over. The look of surprise when they win a token is very memorable. A game that was ahead of its time.
7.341/10
5 years ago
this is very different from regular pinball it is on a smaller scale,nice flow, looks great, plays great ,solid machine, cute..lol....its very fun to play, theme works very well,one of a kind game play, not many out there !! play it if you see one...in the top 5 unique machines..not a keeper for me !!
9.400/10
5 years ago
One of the most overlooked games in the long list of unique tables out there...
I think what scares people away the most are the small flippers, and overall footprint of the cabinet, but once you dive in and see how deep of a game this is, you will be hooked for life. Hilarious speech, frantic and precision oriented shots, and unique spin on the overall life of your game being timed gives this something you can't really get in any other game.
The initial marketing was rather corny, but in my opinion this truly is one of Pat Lawlor's best, released in an uncertain time in the history of Pinball. They needed something to breathe new life into the game, and this hit the mark. It's just too bad they gave up on the Token Pin idea, as I think it's super fun, and one of the best multiplayer experiences you can have in the arcade space.
I'm usually a horror themed pinbidiot, but this is the one I had to get regardless of the theme. You should give it a go too (and yes, I realize it's quite a pretty penny for one game, but once you dive in, you won't regret it!).
I think what scares people away the most are the small flippers, and overall footprint of the cabinet, but once you dive in and see how deep of a game this is, you will be hooked for life. Hilarious speech, frantic and precision oriented shots, and unique spin on the overall life of your game being timed gives this something you can't really get in any other game.
The initial marketing was rather corny, but in my opinion this truly is one of Pat Lawlor's best, released in an uncertain time in the history of Pinball. They needed something to breathe new life into the game, and this hit the mark. It's just too bad they gave up on the Token Pin idea, as I think it's super fun, and one of the best multiplayer experiences you can have in the arcade space.
I'm usually a horror themed pinbidiot, but this is the one I had to get regardless of the theme. You should give it a go too (and yes, I realize it's quite a pretty penny for one game, but once you dive in, you won't regret it!).
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