Bally
Theatre of Magic Pinside Rating
This game received 1086 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.441 /10
Theatre of Magic
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.635
Artwork: 8.512
Sounds/Music: 7.824
Other Aspects: 8.481
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.
Found 578 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 578 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 18 of 24.
List options
Roswell, GA
10.000/10
11 years ago
For me, the closest Pinball has ever come to perfection. At first I thought the Magic theme was seriously hokey and it would hold no interest, but by the first multiball I couldn't stop playing. Almost endlessly deep while not scaring away beginners.
5.256/10
11 years ago
This game looks fantastic, and has one of the best looking cabinets around. But the gameplay falls very flat. Very uneventful all around and gets old fast. Unfortunate too, since it looks so damn nice.
8.960/10
11 years ago
Swift Current, SK
We bought this game without playing it. It was quickly a favorite or mine once I started getting some games on it. Very fun gameplay and uses the toys exceptionally well. Love the trunk and how it starts multivalve by picking the ball up with a magnet! Great game.
9.328/10
11 years ago
Love this machine, in my top 10 for sure. Awesome shots, fun modes, very fun multiball, a wizard mode that doesn't take you 30 minutes to get to, awesome artwork all around, the organ music is fantastic and only heightens the tension when you are needing that one big shot. The worst thing about the game? The callouts could be a little bit better and less repetitive. Just an awesome machine, J-Pop's best ever!
8.727/10
11 years ago
This is a great table. It's got so much going on that it never gets boring, and the theme is great. I love magic and magicians, and I love the way the theme is incorporated into all the different modes. The only thing I don't like about it is the trunk shot leads to so many drains, but you have to risk to get the reward.
9.096/10
11 years ago
Purchased TOM as my first pin and really enjoy it. Have played it enough to know that if can be both easy and challenging at the same time. My daughter plays and it's simple enough for her to stay interested but has plenty of "depth" if I want to get involved in a marathon game. This seems like the perfect "first pin" due to many factors. Can be slow/steady play in mid field or mind blowing fast if you loop the ramps! There is a "skill shot" on the ball plunger on this pin even though many reviewers drop this pin a few points and say there is not, the designers simply placed it on the playfield after the ball is in play (just hit the box right away). This is an unbelievably beautiful game and playfield AND adding key mods only makes it better. I added the Tiger saw, Clock, Lighted mirror and full LED set, non of this takes away from the native beauty of this pin but simply adds to it. The use of magnets throughout the game is very well done, especially the Hocus Pocus wands on each drain. When they activate, you "feel" the power of the magnets grabbing and saving the ball from draining at either side. Highly recommend this as a first pin (or second, third . . .)
8.244/10
11 years ago
Magic is just a super theme for a machine and this one gets it right. A smooth fun game to play with plenty going on to keep you playing.
8.540/10
11 years ago
Great game that I have never tired of.
Lot going on in this game with the trunk, clock, modes, trap door etc. Some of the best music and voice work I've heard, although some people are annoyed by it.
I read a lot people get tired of hitting the trunk over and over but hey, it's only pinball, which is nothing more than repeating shots. These same people usually love AFM & MM, which you have to bash the center Endlessly.
It isn't perfect, the Wizard mode is pretty soft, but it isn't the easiest thing getting there (not the hardest either), but maybe all Wizard modes don't have to be super tough.
Lot going on in this game with the trunk, clock, modes, trap door etc. Some of the best music and voice work I've heard, although some people are annoyed by it.
I read a lot people get tired of hitting the trunk over and over but hey, it's only pinball, which is nothing more than repeating shots. These same people usually love AFM & MM, which you have to bash the center Endlessly.
It isn't perfect, the Wizard mode is pretty soft, but it isn't the easiest thing getting there (not the hardest either), but maybe all Wizard modes don't have to be super tough.
9.460/10
11 years ago
I have owned this game twice. 10 years apart. The cabinet, artwork and game itself make it look more like a piece of furniture than a pinball machine. People ask me "can I touch it?" when they see it. Everything about this game is fun. Deserves to be in the top 10 of all time. All the magnet tricks are really cool and the trunk is one of the top 5 toys of all time on a game.
9.580/10
11 years ago
The first thing you'll notice about this game (provided it's in good shape), is how pretty it is. Now I'm not talking about the buxom, but manly looking lady on the backglass, I'm talking about the playfield - the deep reds accented by brass habitrails, the mysterious trunk and those dual ramps that are begging you to hit the ball up them. Then you start to play the game, and it doesn't disappoint. The trunk is probably one of the coolest toys in a pinball machine in its build up to multiball, and the sounds/music are perfect. I think the spirit ring is a little clunky, but it's an interesting effect (Capcom's Pinball Magic did a better job of the levitating ball illusion). Overall, this game is a solid performer and seems to be a favorite among females (I'm not sure why).
7.172/10
11 years ago
For some reason, I have just never been able to really get excited about this game. I like the concept of a magic theme, and the different modes fit the theme well. I enjoy the playfield layout, and every time I end of playing it, I have a lot of fun. But when I have a choice of games to play, I very rarely pick this one. I think it's the sound, honestly. I just can't stand that woman's voice. The sound bites feel very repetitive to me, and start to irritate me after a while. With different sound, I would probably have a higher rating on this game, but it really does take away from the playing experience for me.
You too can add your own comment by rating this game! Click here to rate this game!
Over the years
Visualizing this game's rating and rank over the years
Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!
Donate to PinsideGreat to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
