Williams

White Water

Pinside Rating

This game received 954 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.372 _/10

8.372

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #46 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.562

Artwork: 8.301

Sounds/Music: 7.657

Other Aspects: 8.609

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.

7.966

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Found 526 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 526 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 16 of 22.

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9.180/10

11 years ago

ROD

carbonROD

Pinside member

Act

11y 47,800 132 16 11

One of the most visually stunning & unique games EVER!! I remember the first time I saw a WHITE WATER...it was enough just to look at, let alone play! If you just want to bash the ball around this isn't the game for you - there's a hell of a lot crammed into this playfield so choosing your shots is particularly important. Because there's so much plastic moulding on this playfield it's a good idea to avoid air balls that can cause a bit more damage on WH2o than the average pin. BIGFOOT is one of the coolest toys of all time & the FALLS ramp is super satisfying to hit with the 3rd flipper located on the upper playfield. Quite simply, WH2o is a thing of BEAUTY!!!

carbonROD has owned this game in the past.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

7.346/10

11 years ago

TSR

TaylorVA

Reese Rails

13y 116K 8,893 11 7

Wh2O is a very fun and flowing pin. Do hate the VUK sound and the music can become too repetitive. If you can master the center shot the game is pretty beatable. A beauty of a pin and I did a full restore on mine. If the game had a true wizard mode it would be a keeper but getting to VJ is not that difficult in a home environment. Game does have great humor and some nicely nuanced rules. Bigfoot hotfoot and Gold Rush are nice extras.

TaylorVA has owned this game in the past.

9.460/10

11 years ago

DLW

Pintopia

Pinside+ Frequent

Duanesburg, NY

11y 79,050 780 19 10

What can I say this is one of those sleeper games, well maybe not any more but back when I purchased mine it was considered one. This game if given the opportunity will win you over. Great theme and game play, but can be brutal because of its speed and killer shots. This game is not for the faint of heart but if you're up for the challenge then put on your life vest and get ready for a ride of a life time.

Pintopia currently owns this game.

9.020/10

11 years ago

DAG

pbdagger

Pinside member

Mt Angel, OR

11y 27,550 16 8 7

Great pinball that proves to be quite challenging to play. Average game time can be short due to the speed of the ball and the variety of drain shots. Fortunately there is a kick back on the left lane and a ball save on the latest HUO ROM. I really appreciate the theme and playfield design. The Insanity Falls shot with the upper flipper is key multiple jackpots and big scoring. Beware Boulder Dam and extra ball shots are sucker plays. If you are short on time but want to get some ball in, this is a good choice to play.

pbdagger currently owns this game.

7.891/10

11 years ago

DJG

nasco62

Pinside member

Sydney

12y 67,800 801 14 54

Good gameplay if you rampshots, fun game play for pinheads and beginners.

nasco62 has owned this game in the past.

8.540/10

11 years ago

WLP

prock

Inactive member

Winnipeg, MB

11y 26,650 268 1 9

I've finally had a chance to really start getting into this game. It's super fast with a lot of things to *try* and accomplish. The theme is super unique and is extremely well done from bigfoot to the names of some of the shots you need to hit! The rules and the theme work so well together you cant help but love this machine! If you have a chance to play this game DO IT! You'll see why it's where it is in the top 100!

prock currently owns this game.

9.800/10

11 years ago

DAV

Golgotha

Creekside Hideaway

14y 79,800 636 12

Best game in my collection. Definately should be top ten withought a doubt. Ramps, multi-layer, great rules, ramps, awesome jackpot, cool topper, sounds change as you progress, ramps, Bigfoot, boulders and effects are incredible, ramps, Cool DMD graphics and a few cool toys. And did I mention th ecool ramps?

Golgotha edited previous rating on April 19, 2019.

9.008/10

11 years ago

MLV

Pinball-is-great

Pinside member

Lafayette, LA

12y 147K 5,016 3 102

Really like the theme, artwork, and gameplay. Has lastability, and fun factor is fairly high. I'll admit it, ...I'd like to have one someday, it's on my wishlist.

Pinball-is-great has owned this game in the past.

8.544/10

11 years ago

DAD

Drumdink

Inactive member

Sacramento, CA

11y 21,150 30 3 22

Had a chance to play a perfect WW. Super fun game! Tons of steep ramps and the yeti (skill shot) is cool once he starts to spin. Only problem I had...the flippers were a bit weak probably to preserve the large selection of plastic ramps. If I found a WW for under $2k, I'd pick it up.
Update: the spinning headed yeti is frickin' awesome. Like the game a lot more now. Ramps and upper flipper require a bit of skill to master. Great pin!

Drumdink edited previous rating on June 26, 2015.

8.252/10

11 years ago

RCR

creyes82

Inactive member

Rosenberg, TX

12y 35,850 291 7 7

I picked up this game earlier this week. It's fun, fast, presents a challenge but not overly hard for a beginner. Great flow!

creyes82 has owned this game in the past.

7.812/10

11 years ago

DNW

drummerweene

Inactive member

Unknown

11y 20,900 116 5 7

Awesome concept, awesome layout. I love the upper playfield and its lanes. So cool to send the ball in more than one lane up there. If you have ever had the privilage to see this machine with an LED kit you will like it even more. I have seen it with aquamarine LEDs where the water areas are and it is stunning. I dont know how the theme would last in home use. Theme may get a bit dry after repetative play. Other than that it is a SOLID pin and high quality.

8.100/10

11 years ago

PEN

Inactive member

Bloomfield Hills, MI

12y 67,150 4,237 4 18

I did not like this game all that much at first. My buddy did a restore to one, and after I played it enough to get into it I loved it. Now I own it and have a blast playing it!

PEN has owned this game in the past.

9.180/10

11 years ago

BWM

Whitebuffalo

Inactive member

Corvallis, OR

11y 28,650 205 4 12

Original theme with great flow the immerses the player into the game. Everything feels right at home when it comes to this game.

Whitebuffalo currently owns this game.

9.120/10

11 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

Whitewater was a game I played quite a bit in college. I loved it then... I love it now. That's a good sign when a game can stand the test of time.

The Pros:
Lots of shots and flow. The more you get used to the tighter shots in the game, the easier it is to get to wet willy's. Getting to wet willy's is always a challenge. Vacation JP is even tougher to reach. When this game opens up, the ball never stops. Triple Jacks on 5x is always a real rush!!! The shot through the Boulder Garden is tough and the extra ball requires aim and lighting reflexes after you hit it. The table has multiple strategies to it even though at first it seems straightforward. You can achieve your first multiball in 3 shots, but you still have to work it to get big points. Depending on your skillset and preference, this game can be set up to be very friendly or super nasty with the adjustments on the outlanes and pop-bumpers. The lock targets are all about risk/reward and the standups to relight the kickout make center of the table very interesting.

The Cons:
The lower left flipper is rather userless. Seems to be a Nordman trait that larger parts of the PF are rather devoid us useful shots... DM is even more guilty of this characteristic.

The Takeaway:
Whitewater is a great pinball game. Multiball has one of the best starts ever. Is it perfect, no. But it's a great game (make sure to get the updated ROMS!) and besides, who doesn't like a bowling bigfoot? I gotta get my hands on one someday.

Update:
The 5x multiball setup is incredibly powerful, but not the only way to play this deck by any means. There is lots to shoot for, and a big part of is is the strategy of what to do with what the game is "giving" you at the moment. Do you really want to chance the boulder garden is gonna give you the 5x you are looking for? The limitation of shots from the left flipper is made up for by the amount of shots you can get at the center of the PF as well as the utterly critical kickback re-light standups. Aiming for anything lower than that on the PF is a very dangerous proposition. More than anything, this deck has that "one more game" in spades. I love playing it and would love to have one in the stable some day. I still think Dennis's best design is Indy 500, but this game was my top Nordmanite creation for years until I discovered I.5k.

A damn fine pinball game when everything is said and done.

Update V2:
Secondary and tertiary strategies start to become apparent with more mileage. I now specifically look for advance raft shots especially as the game progresses. The feeling of "Oh, well now that I'm not ready for the 5x + multiball setup for the win" is now gone. Even low-speed back hand a moving ball from the left flipper into the boulder garden and can fall down through the secret passage for another raft advance. Your mileage will depend on the character of the table you play. Sometimes this can be aided with a well timed shimmy-shake as well. Even a Spine chiller multiple ramp loop can add up quick. 5m-10m-15m-20m. That's 50 million in 4 shots! It may be a longer route and much rarer to see, but a Wet Willie's+Multiball (+5x, anyone) stack is possible and very lucrative. A 5x + lost mine is nothing to sneeze at either. This game keeps on giving. Me likey!

Update v3:
This game is great, but time is showing it’s 90’s ruleset. There are still many ways to make points, but this game is much like CftBL in that there is really only 1 way to make huge points. 5x multiball executed with skill. The trouble with this is that the randomness of the award cycling in the pops means that you can set everything up and still have to make dangerous trips to the pop garden to chance landing on 5x. Still, an excellent game. If you have a good pf with no insert lifting... KEEP IT!

Remember when this game could be found for under 1k, just like BSD...? Yeah...

Caucasian2Step edited previous rating on May 14, 2020.

4 Pinsiders starred this!

9.316/10

11 years ago

JFS

Sgtmax

Pinside member

Palm Beach

11y 32,150 302 2 7

Great game!!! If you can get one in good nick go for it!!

Sgtmax has owned this game in the past.

8.476/10

11 years ago

KRK

Spudgunman

Inactive member

Seattle, WA

11y 52,900 1,299 9 24

I played this on location good condition game (clean fast working) about 10 games on it, I really loved this game. I could see it getting old with just a fan layout ramp shot, but in a good collection I think it's awesome. The skill shot is a blast, the upper right ramp and whirlpool action area is awesome. Over all a great game to own if its in a collection, I would buy one.. Don't know if it would last years but I would love to own one for a while some day.

6.928/10

11 years ago

BIL

badbilly27

Pinside+ Frequent

Prospect Heights, IL

12y 130K 4,574 38 19

Cool layout (love waterfall topper) and unique. Satisfying ramp shots. But I don't get the love on this game. Never able to get into the gameplay and I've tried. To each their own.

badbilly27 has owned this game in the past.

8.224/10

11 years ago

DDT

trickracer

Pinside member

Rancho Cordova, CA

11y 17,750 2 18

One of the top 3 games for me. Still would love to own one. Seems like I always have a great turn on this game.. just one of those machines that clicks with me :)

trickracer has this game on the wishlist.

8.792/10

11 years ago

JPD

devlman

Pinside+ Pro!

Wilmette, IL

12y 45,150 553 8

Finally got one of these for my collection and love the hell out of it. SO much replay value, it's a hard one to stop playing.

devlman has owned this game in the past.

9.352/10

11 years ago

DBL

Disastro

Inactive member

LÃ©vis, QC

11y 10,000 2 1 9

When I first seen this pinball its been a big WOAH for me. The playfield with all these mountains and cave attracted me alot. I hope one day I can have one in my collection.

Disastro has this game on the wishlist.

9.660/10

11 years ago

JRK

jrivelli

TrueColor Protectors

Milwaukie, OR

11y 89,650 4,625 10 20

This may be my favorite pinball of all time. Great game that I can play forever. The music an call outs are super awesome. I love the upper playfield and the game is fairly deep with what needs to get done for vacation jackpot. I don't think I would sell this game for some time and can only see it gaining in value as more people play it.

jrivelli has owned this game in the past.

8.516/10

11 years ago

ERC

Paisley_Pinball

Inactive member

Paisley

11y 51,650 85 47 56

My first ever pinball that I got my hands on. I bought it when i was a student and have loved it ever since.
I bought it in near mint condition for Â£400 before all the prices went crazy. One of the best tables out there and I just got lucky with finding it.
A great game that everyone should, and probably has, played.

Paisley_Pinball edited previous rating on March 02, 2021.
Paisley_Pinball currently owns this game.

8.380/10

11 years ago

DAD

examiner

Inactive member

IL

13y 35,900 815 8

Just a damn fun game. Sometimes "less is more", and this machine proves why. Great shots, great sounds, just overall great fun. Always ready to play one more game.

examiner has owned this game in the past.

8.660/10

11 years ago

FXS

sulli10

Pinside member

Morristown, NJ

13y 129K 2,573 33 61

I was not sure why this game was always rated so high. Also considering how many were made , I always wondered why it is so difficult to find one. Now I know. This is an early 90's machine from a sound and light show perspective, but, from a play field design/ flow view it is as good as any game I have played. The shots blend together very nicely and I can see why it is ranked top 20. I picked up a players condition machine at an appropriate price. While there is an opportunity to restore the game ( which will be expensive due to the cost of the plastic ramps /boulders), from a fun perspective this may be one of the best in my collection.

sulli10 edited previous rating on July 04, 2014.
sulli10 currently owns this game.

8.568/10

11 years ago

ASA

Asael

Pinside member

Hoppstädten-weiersbach

12y 87,800 1,230 7 46

I don't want to bash this game, I can understand why other like tis one. But my ratings are very personal and I just had no fun playing it. The ramps are great, there is much to do. But it is one game I don't want to play.

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There are 526 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 16 of 22.

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