It's a simple but fast game. Knock down some of the drop targets to build a multiplier, shoot the left orbit to advance the multiplier, then shoot the skeeball ramp on the right to unlock multi-ball.
That being said, most of the frustration comes from the right lane and the pops. The fact that right lane is a gated outlane doesn't get better when you realize any ball "saved" by flipping it up the right lane to cradle will result in it draining. And the pops are notorious for launching the ball straight down the center.
Altogether, I would say it is a decent machine to learn/practice with. The real deal maker/killer for this machine is if you like or hate the deadpan robot voice doing the call-outs. Definitely check out some gameplay videos with audio before you buy.
Pinside rating
This game has received 35 approved Pinsider ratings. 15 more approved ratings are needed to get a rating and for it to be eligible for the Pinside Pinball Top 100 ranking.
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 18 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 18 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.613/10
2 years ago
Flat Rock, MI
I traded a project for a working Volcano. It's my first Gottlieb and have heard mixed reviews of their games. But I have always loved the back glass for the game. I have to admit - I really enjoy playing the game and my younger kids also love the game. Its simple yet challenging enough for me to keep coming back. I love the wide body when lined up with my other pins - more variety. It's not a great game - but fun to play.
6.022/10
3 years ago
This pin has some cool features like the mini ski-ball playfield and the underground ball lock. Also has the variable angle shooter lane skill shot, similar to Millionaire. But I always felt like the main shot was right into a pop bumper on this one so I just wasn't a fan of the layout.
7.749/10
8 years ago
Volcano I believe is the only game to have a skee ball ramp on it that I have found, I believe this feature makes it unique, the extra controls for the lights and the ball save keep you on your toes, I hope to have one someday, the 3 ball multi ball is easy to understand and achieve if your timing is good,
7.067/10
8 years ago
This is by far the fastest (older) wide body that I've played. The odd pop bumper layout combined with strong slings and crazy strong kicks makes for ball blurring lower PF at times. The top of the PF seems ho-hum unless you are accurate with your shots from the lower flippers. Getting the multiball is nice, but with the lower PF on this beast, it doesn't last long. I didn't think that this one would last long, but everyone that plays it seems to think that its a keeper.
7.127/10
9 years ago
This is one of the early "talkies" so to speak. The mono robotic voice must have seemed amazing back in 1981 - "wow, it's talking"! - unfortunately it wears thin fast in this day. Pros - the Volcano theme (with cavemen and dinos) is well executed... The glass is beautiful. However, the game is mono dimensional and slow - with only one real target (the "ski ball" Esque field, top right.). Better games from this era. Also, beware of sys80 - notoriously problematic.
7.436/10
9 years ago
Pretty fun game for the price.Odd layout and lots of surprising features for an early SS game.It goes well with my other Gottliebs.
7.472/10
10 years ago
Volcano has a lot going for it for '81: 3-ball multiball, widebody, unique skill shot, unique skee-ball feature, four(!) buttons to press, multilayer backglass, subway, and votrax voice synthesis. It is a very solid System 80 game. The backglass artwork is spectacular, and makes good use of the controlled lights.
Gameplay on this one is a little unusual, but great fun. The upper flipper is usually just a one or two shot flip, but the saucer above it and the pop bumper underneath makes it almost like a mini-playfield at the top.
The pushbutton manual kickback is a fun feature that takes skill and timing. It will frustrate you at first but with practice it becomes quite natural.
Mini-Skee-Ball and Multiball, with the associated playfield multipliers are really where its at in Volcano. Multiball is fairly easy to achieve and well rewarded.
Watch out for the ball release from the subway, though. The pitch-and-bat style flap launcher from under the playfield is erratic and sometimes is a screaming shot straight between the flippers. That same flap also sometimes mars the otherwise smooth shot up through the spinner when a ball gets hung up on the edge of the flap.
All in all, a fun game and a Gottlieb gem!
Gameplay on this one is a little unusual, but great fun. The upper flipper is usually just a one or two shot flip, but the saucer above it and the pop bumper underneath makes it almost like a mini-playfield at the top.
The pushbutton manual kickback is a fun feature that takes skill and timing. It will frustrate you at first but with practice it becomes quite natural.
Mini-Skee-Ball and Multiball, with the associated playfield multipliers are really where its at in Volcano. Multiball is fairly easy to achieve and well rewarded.
Watch out for the ball release from the subway, though. The pitch-and-bat style flap launcher from under the playfield is erratic and sometimes is a screaming shot straight between the flippers. That same flap also sometimes mars the otherwise smooth shot up through the spinner when a ball gets hung up on the edge of the flap.
All in all, a fun game and a Gottlieb gem!
7.465/10
11 years ago
Absolutely beautiful backglass. Some cool features, skee ball, adjusting angle on shooter, 3 ball multiball. A challenging, fun game all around. Prases, lava rising, its gonna blow, throw me a scarifice, can get annoying after a while. But lava erupting in backglass is still cool. Skee ball is challenging as well as timing the left side ram to prevent losing ball. Wide body but fast moving with not a ton of open space. I'm keeping forever. Add some more red lighting to it and it stands out in the gameroom.
8.699/10
11 years ago
Roseneath, ON
great game, the voice is definetly gorf and for me it's an amazing time tunnel ride back to the glow of youth , free time and great games!!
If you can find one grab it, for a widebody it's a blast and a real fun game, may not rival the deepness of dmd , but if you like pin, you'll love the tremdous range of shots to pull off.
The additional buttons for aim of the plunge and the kickback give the game a fresh feel, and something quite unique and gives another layer of strategy and control to this big fun game!!
Danger lava rising!!
it's awesome!
If you can find one grab it, for a widebody it's a blast and a real fun game, may not rival the deepness of dmd , but if you like pin, you'll love the tremdous range of shots to pull off.
The additional buttons for aim of the plunge and the kickback give the game a fresh feel, and something quite unique and gives another layer of strategy and control to this big fun game!!
Danger lava rising!!
it's awesome!
8.029/10
13 years ago
"It's gonna blow!!" Gotta love that robotic drone voice. Reminds me of "Gorf".
This was one of the better Gottlieb pins from this time period (in my opinion). The artwork was pretty good and the overall game play, while not too complicated, was themed well with the pin itself.
This was one of the better Gottlieb pins from this time period (in my opinion). The artwork was pretty good and the overall game play, while not too complicated, was themed well with the pin itself.
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