Gottlieb
Target Alpha Pinside Rating
This game received 59 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.708 /10
Target Alpha
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.809
Artwork: 7.954
Sounds/Music: 2.933
Other Aspects: 7.572
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 41 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 41 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.273/10
4 months ago
Middleburg Heights, OH
Target Alpha is a great EM title. The playfield layout was used in several games because it is that good - 15 drop targets! Goal in this game is to hit the drops down which builds up your bonus (and is doubled on the last ball). Kinda weird locations for the pop bumpers and that alternating 5,000 switch can really boost your score for doing almost nothing at times. Hitting all the drops is a tough feat, but they don't reset until the next ball so once they are all down there's really nothing to shoot for. It's like "awesome I finally hit all 15 drops!.... now what?".
7.938/10
1 year ago
Pretty cool game. One of the best EM games Gottlieb produced. Really like the placement of the 4 flippers, the upper are in great spots and size to pick off the 10 upper drop targets. If you like drop targets, you’ll love this one. Fun game that kept me playing.
8.963/10
2 years ago
I picked up Target Alpha recently. Once raised up, flippers were just too weak, so replaced all four flipper coils with orange dot along with new EOS switches. Now it plays fast and the drop targets can be picked off from all 4 flippers. Can't beat 15 drop targets for plenty of target shooting. Yeah, I agree that it would be an improvement if the drop targets reset after hitting all 15, but I can live with that. The reset sequence to start the game is pretty loud and clunky, but can live with that as well. I play it every day... very addicting.
A big bonus with this game is that the Pinball Resource has a page devoted to parts for it....nice
A big bonus with this game is that the Pinball Resource has a page devoted to parts for it....nice
9.398/10
2 years ago
This game is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED. It is easily a top 10 EM of all time...and likely the best value in all of pinball.
Everyone wants drop targets in games of this era...it has 15. Check.
Pinballers always want cool artwork and quirky themes in EMs. This is one of the best ever. Check, check.
People like difficult games that are hard to master, addicting to play, but not overly complicated for houseguests to pick up. Check, check, check.
Oh yea...it's also the most desirable maker of the era... Gottlieb...which means it has great parts and is easy to work on.
They made a TON of these due to it's popularity...along with other pins with the same layout (El dorado, solar city, and Canada dry). The theme and gameplay of target alpha are the best of the bunch, however. Coupled with the fact that it is 4 player...which makes it more tournament and party room friendly. It also has stand up targets, rollovers, a plunger skill shot, phenomenally placed pop bumpers, 4 flippers, and 2 large rows of drop targets.
At around $1200...you simply can't beat the value. Heck...toppers cost more than that these days!
Everyone wants drop targets in games of this era...it has 15. Check.
Pinballers always want cool artwork and quirky themes in EMs. This is one of the best ever. Check, check.
People like difficult games that are hard to master, addicting to play, but not overly complicated for houseguests to pick up. Check, check, check.
Oh yea...it's also the most desirable maker of the era... Gottlieb...which means it has great parts and is easy to work on.
They made a TON of these due to it's popularity...along with other pins with the same layout (El dorado, solar city, and Canada dry). The theme and gameplay of target alpha are the best of the bunch, however. Coupled with the fact that it is 4 player...which makes it more tournament and party room friendly. It also has stand up targets, rollovers, a plunger skill shot, phenomenally placed pop bumpers, 4 flippers, and 2 large rows of drop targets.
At around $1200...you simply can't beat the value. Heck...toppers cost more than that these days!
8.366/10
3 years ago
One of my favorite EMs. Surprised it isn't ranked higher. As far as theme goes, I like the one-player version El Dorado better. The game was definitely popular when it was made as they made three different versions of the game. If you like drop targets, then this is your game. The asymmetrical playfield is well thought out.
7.646/10
3 years ago
If you like shooting targets, then this is your game. Mostly open playing filed, but still challenging based on some target locations and the flipper(s) needed to make the shot. I haven't played this in over 40 years but still remember it well, and dropped a lot of quarters into it.
8.783/10
4 years ago
Great EM! Classic drop target gallery, lots to shoot at. Deep shots require this machine to be high tapped and waxed well. Get a couple good games cookin’ and your are off to the races. See them all the time, typical yellow black glass flaking on all of them, but a great pickup if you can get it for $500 or less
Wolfsburg
8.051/10
5 years ago
A Gottlieb EM without that large top arch. It's unique, but they made 20k of these playfields with different artwork, but this version of the game has the best artwork in my opinion.
It's no easy task (for me) to knock all the targets down on a single ball. Yea, once you do knock them down there isn't much to do, but it's not easy to do so there is a lot of play there before you run out of targets.
Chimes are the standard chimes from the era. You can tell it's a gottlieb, but you can't tell one apart from another from this era.
Buy one!
It's no easy task (for me) to knock all the targets down on a single ball. Yea, once you do knock them down there isn't much to do, but it's not easy to do so there is a lot of play there before you run out of targets.
Chimes are the standard chimes from the era. You can tell it's a gottlieb, but you can't tell one apart from another from this era.
Buy one!
8.730/10
5 years ago
The most iconic drop target game of all time. The game so good, Gottlieb re-skinned it 8x. Love the art package. Nice classic Sci-fi sillyness. Beautifully ingenious asymmetrical layout from the master of design Ed Krynski. This is a glorious example of what design genius in pinball looks like. If you like drop targets, you can't do much better.
9.159/10
6 years ago
Guelph, ON
Great classic game, cool retro space theme, 15 drop targets, add a ball and sweet Gottlieb chimes what's not to like.
7.001/10
6 years ago
It won't hold your attention for long, but it's more fun than many EM machines, IMO. I like the theme, the throwback artwork, and the drop targets. El Dorado might edge it out for gameplay, but both are soid EMs.
8.244/10
6 years ago
One of those classic unique EM games, great layout with four flippers, drop targets galore and a steep difficulty curve. You will have a great game followed by three or four games that just crush your spirit. One of my favorite games to pick during league play to see the looks on players faces when they realize what they are in for.
7.713/10
7 years ago
We played an El Dorado machine one night for hours
Target Alpha appeared in my basement about 10 days later
Target Alpha appeared in my basement about 10 days later
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