Bally
Vector Pinside Rating
This game received 53 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.011 /10
Vector
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 6.91
Artwork: 7.57
Sounds/Music: 5.937
Other Aspects: 6.983
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 1 of us has rated this game.
Found 24 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 24 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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8.789/10
5 months ago
Waunakee, WI
Do you like to nudge? Do you want to learn to nudge? This is your game. I don't understand why it has such a low rating, all I can figure is that those that disliked it were either playing a poorly-tuned machine, didn't understand the rules, or are never-nudgers. Getting the drops down and making the ramp to lock a ball is so satisfying. Sure, the upper playfield is small but it's preferable to one that takes over the entire game. Sure, multiball doesn't last long - but it really feels special when you get it and when you can keep it going. More than anything - it feels like this game gives you every opportunity to KEEP playing vs trying to punish you. Not saying it's easy, but rarely does it just rocket one SDTM with no possibility to save it. With practice you can save most outlane balls (right is easier than left) and the majority of the bounces or drainbacks send it to the flippers or slings, not the drain. I really like this game and it has made me a better player. Awesome speech and beautiful lighting.
7.358/10
2 years ago
An under rated early Bally SS game. Lots of tough shots. Nudging skills are important on the outlanes.
7.190/10
2 years ago
I personally think Bally was king during the late 70s and early 80s, I believe Vector is no exception. First off do i think its better than Flash Gordan, Eight Ball, Fathom or Centaur? nope! But I think Vector is an awesome title for whatever reasons you don't see out in the wild very often. In a medium size collection or bigger it fits very nice. This pin came out in 1982 and is packed full of cool features you dont see in many or pins if at all. First the usage of a playfield display in conjunction with the vector scan ramp works well and is fun to challenge yourself with. See Todd Tuckey tnt amusements youtube videos on vector for more details. Then the kickout holes near the ball outlanes at the bottom of the playfield to try to nudge the ball into to get your ball back into play is alot of fun as well. The lighting is amazing for the era having some Switch GI, i did add a few more GI on the lower playfield on my Vector. The downside is probably the upper playfield, not as good as pretty much anything else of the era with an upper playfield. I think with the Vector scan ramp and the neat ball lock system they did ok with the room they had. The sound and voice is awesome for the time, i will say i dont like the letter callouts when you hit the standups and it yells out X! Y! etc.....
9.322/10
3 years ago
VECTOR is a challenge and will hurt your feelings, but if you stick with it, Vector can make you a better player. I love the original concept and the layout is great, especially the last chance saucers on the outlines. Lighting is best when the room is dark.
7.973/10
4 years ago
I have owned this game for over a week now and I absolutely love it. I have learned the rule set and to accomplish success, it takes tremendous amounts of skill. This is not your typical game and some of the flow is a bit lacking however, there are numerous ways to earn points and it is a challenge. When I first started playing this, I drained the balls so quickly! Once I found the groove and learned the rules, I was able to fight for ever point. It took a while to sight in my shoots because the angles are deceiving and you have to fight against your instincts as to hit the ramps. This game is not for everyone and some will get irritated quickly however, I feel this line of Bally's with the unique game play and the odd rule set is what makes this game sustainable. I am looking for others like this and in this time era.
6.031/10
4 years ago
This is a cool looking game with lots of drop targets and an interesting ball lock feature. It's not fast, the art work is ok, the back glass is excellent. It's a middle of the road pin for me.
6.717/10
4 years ago
Wasnt my cup of tea,poor design,poor pf art,cool bg and cabinet.Upper pf is designed poorly and things are cramped which make things break.I really do like the concept with the vectoramp and drop target defenders just not executed that well imho
6.668/10
6 years ago
Hawkesbury, ON
Meh. Its ok. Under rated due to the gameplay mostly being in your face 90% of the time. It would have been nice to have a better flow. Beautiful pin.
Goodna
6.816/10
8 years ago
Vector is one of those games that really keeps you saying just onemore game! Its fun! The layout is inyeresting as all get out. The ramps facing everywhich way is cool. And i love the drop targets blocking the left ramp. Protection drops are always a fun gameplay dynamic for me. The game does have a few irritations fir me regarding stuck balls. The ball gets stuck onthose very drops i like. Also stuck alot on the upper playfield ontop of the plastics. All in all a great game and one i would love to own
8.939/10
9 years ago
Newark
Vector is a beautiful and seriously underrated game. The best lighting of any early Bally SS game ? - quite possibly. It is not a Fathom, but the art was produced by the same artist and the game
designed to compete with the growing threat of video games. Bally threw everything they had at this game so it has a myriad of extra features, sounds, solenoids and lighting.
It is rammed full of features (9 drops - 6 of these with individual controls, 2 outlane saucers, double backglass, most speech of any game of this era, in playfield plasma display, ramp shot speed detector, 2 or 3 ball multi balls, 4 flippers, 3 ramps, pop bumper ..)
But this makes the playfield cramped, you need accurate shots and quick reactions to play this game. It is CRITICAL that Vector is set up and working properly and that you have pinball skills to play it. Nudging skills are vital on this game as both outlanes have saucers to save you. A well sorted example is a delight to play, but a tired example will be rubbish. It rewards you for hitting drop targets and stand up targets in order. You will both lock balls and release multiballs far more quickly if you shoot accurately. The speech and call outs beat anything of this SS era.
Most Vectors you will see are not set up properly and were hammered in the field. The crowded playfield would take a pounding from over-powered flippers leading to air shots from 3 of the 4 flippers.
I bought my game as a tired example. Like many reviewers I initially thought the game was rubbish. But now I have tuned everything properly. This was just adjusting what was there - refurbing the linear flippers and slingshot assembles, adjusting EOS switches to set sensible flipper power, replaced rubbers, set leaf spring gaps, put correct sized rubbers on the critical posts next to the outlane saucers ..... it has completely transformed this game.
If you are a decent player with some nudging skills and you get to play a well maintained Vector, you will be very pleasantly surprised.
designed to compete with the growing threat of video games. Bally threw everything they had at this game so it has a myriad of extra features, sounds, solenoids and lighting.
It is rammed full of features (9 drops - 6 of these with individual controls, 2 outlane saucers, double backglass, most speech of any game of this era, in playfield plasma display, ramp shot speed detector, 2 or 3 ball multi balls, 4 flippers, 3 ramps, pop bumper ..)
But this makes the playfield cramped, you need accurate shots and quick reactions to play this game. It is CRITICAL that Vector is set up and working properly and that you have pinball skills to play it. Nudging skills are vital on this game as both outlanes have saucers to save you. A well sorted example is a delight to play, but a tired example will be rubbish. It rewards you for hitting drop targets and stand up targets in order. You will both lock balls and release multiballs far more quickly if you shoot accurately. The speech and call outs beat anything of this SS era.
Most Vectors you will see are not set up properly and were hammered in the field. The crowded playfield would take a pounding from over-powered flippers leading to air shots from 3 of the 4 flippers.
I bought my game as a tired example. Like many reviewers I initially thought the game was rubbish. But now I have tuned everything properly. This was just adjusting what was there - refurbing the linear flippers and slingshot assembles, adjusting EOS switches to set sensible flipper power, replaced rubbers, set leaf spring gaps, put correct sized rubbers on the critical posts next to the outlane saucers ..... it has completely transformed this game.
If you are a decent player with some nudging skills and you get to play a well maintained Vector, you will be very pleasantly surprised.
7.788/10
9 years ago
I am pleasantly surprised by Vector. I never played one prior to owning it, it is a really cool game. Looks amazing especially with the double backglass, chrome ramps, great art on the playfield and plastics. It's a unique original game that is loaded with features. A must have for any early 80s bally enthusiast.
8.383/10
9 years ago
Great early Bally Solid State. lots of potential mulitball action and I love the "defending" drop target for the ramp. Outlanes provide for some great nuding as you try and reach the bonus holes.
Overall great game. Well worth your quarters.
Overall great game. Well worth your quarters.
7.312/10
11 years ago
Blast to play, ahead of its time, bang for your buck is great on this pin, i knock the poor lighting in the mirrored backbox, not bright enough to really make this thing pop. Timing shot is really innovative.. I have owned one and I may own another...
Litvinov
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