Bally

Xenon

Pinside Rating

This game received 230 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.671 _/10

7.671

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #150 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.325

Artwork: 8.72

Sounds/Music: 7.133

Other Aspects: 7.612

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 6 of us have rated this game.

7.284

Your Rating?

You need to be logged in before you can rate pinball machines. No account yet? Registering only takes a sec!

Found 129 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 129 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 2 of 6.

List options

Ratings sort order

Type of ratings to show in list

Owner status of review

Exclude flagged ratings

Keyword or username search

7.632/10

4 years ago

JTD

StoneyCreek

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 60,800 604 20

For a 40 year old game, Xenon still holds some attraction. I'm not just talking about the killer late-70's sexy artwork either. Being one of the first (THE first?) machines to have a human voice, and among the first with multiball....historically this game is worth having in my collection. She shows her age with limited shots. Tube, Targets, Spinner, Tube, Targets, Spinner....etc.. but that's old school and I am down with old school. It's a nice break from the crazy deep, complicated, difficult modern pins. It's relaxing to play, and to reminisce.

8.699/10

4 years ago

KOJ

koji

Pinside member

Surrey, BC

6y 112K 2,658 14 65

This is the kind of game that makes you come back for one more play (and not just because she asks you to)

Game design: It works well, and the shots are rewarding. The game will reward well made shots, and easily drain on missed shots with side-side movement. Very interesting post under the flippers provides a lazarus every once in a while. Rollovers by the top kicker provide opportunities for skillful nudging. I really enjoy the two paths to bonus scoring

Pop bumper placement is excellent and really moves the ball around.

On a good incline, the gameplay is fast and furious, and will develop and encourage great flipper skills.

The rules and overall design is very solid.

-----------

Artwork wise this is my favourite solid state pinball. The light strobing around the backbox with infinity mirrors is incredible in a dark room, particularly as the game entices you to hurry up, the lights also flash more quickly matching the tempo of the music.

Sounds and Music? Again, absolutely phenominal what Suzanne Ciani was able to accomplish with the Bally engineers of the time.

The music is absolutely amazing, and draws you in like no other. It is unfortunate that most experiences will be made in the cacophony of a public place. In a home setting however; this can be enjoyed fully.

koji edited previous rating on March 09, 2023.
koji has owned this game in the past.

8.086/10

4 years ago

PQ

rskb41

Pinside member

9y 35,150 70 29

Love this game, reminds me of my childhood . Basic game but so much fun to play .

8.244/10

4 years ago

DPC

dpapclare

Pinside member

Fredericton, NB

7y 40,300 123 15 26

Fun machine in a larger collection, really great when you get the machine going, sounds and art is just fantastic and gameplay is decent. Overall an enjoyable game that I have no problem keeping in my collection for now.

dpapclare has owned this game in the past.

7.717/10

4 years ago

DAV

schwarz

Pinside member

12y 103K 2,168 19

Oh Xenon, so pretty. Underrated shooter. If you’re an Assman this game is for you.

schwarz edited previous rating on November 13, 2020.
schwarz has owned this game in the past.

8.547/10

4 years ago

GTX

gdonovan

Pinside member

7y 185K 13,221 70

Xenon sits next to Bally Star Trek in my line up and all I can think is WOW, what a difference from 1979 to 1980! Xenon really raised the bar in terms of theme, art and sound. Star Trek while fast fun comes across as a title that just as well could have been an EM instead of SS title.

Xenon on the other hand feels to be a more integrated whole that takes advantage of the SS tech of the time period. Bally really seemed to have stepped up on this title compared to Trek. Touches like the animated backglass, flashing shooter gauge, great artwork, voices, etc which could have made Trek far more than it was.

While getting multi-ball is somewhat easy (depending on your settings! having progress wiped on ball drain makes it a challenge) clearing the drops on the right side to get the special is not. Set the game hard and on 3 ball makes the game a worthy challenge.

If I have a knock about Xenon, I wish some of the call outs had more variation which isn't fair since newer machines do this too but get use to hearing "Xenon" a lot. The action is fast, the sound effects are above average for the time period and the artwork can't be beat. Toss some LED's in and it really adds to how great the game looks.

gdonovan edited previous rating on July 26, 2022.

6.780/10

5 years ago

JVE

Jappie

Pinside member

11y 106K 1,071 56

Xenon is quite the looker, mainly because of the beautiful artwork on the backglass and the infinity lighting complimenting it. The sounds are very cool as well.

However, this game lacks in the gameplay and layout departments. It's fun to play a couple of games on, but gets old fairly quickly.

8.719/10

5 years ago

NAT

NatetheGreat

Pinside member

Unknown

6y 23,800 44 11 15

As far as the look of the machine, Xenon has to be one of the sexiest prettiest looking pinball machines of all time. And the playfield artwork is truely psychedelic and deep. As far as the back box scoreboard lighting and mirror effect, it is mesmerizing and truely stands out, and eye catcher for sure.
As for gameplay.....ehhhh, it's not bad, but definately the greatest as it gets kind of old after a while, but not bad considering the era (1979-80) if you are a fan of pop bumpers, then the 4 powerful bally bumpers are a plus. The tube ramp is interesting and a first of a kind for the era. And game speed is okay.
Only issue I have is the simplicity and game rules get old kind of quick, and maybe a but boring in most peoples opinion.. But for me i like the oldschool late70s early 80s era. And love the riding of the rail when plunging the ball into playfield of the older games.
Sound oldschool sound effects and voices are okay , but the simple chime music playing over and over and over again gets real real real annoying...
The sexy female voice kind of draws you in...lol, and the orgasmic moan when you put a quarter in kind of tells you what kind of seductive woman Xenon is....yep Xenon is a gold digger, and her only motive is to drain your pockets, lmao.
Shell drain your pockets quickly as the game is over quickly if your not good at it.
All and all its decent pinball machine, but a little too simplistic as far as game play, but that's to be expected for the late 1970s to very beginning of early early 1980s era...So for the era, it is a decent game.......The best thing Xenon has going for it is The Awsome Visual Aspects....visually, it's one of the best.

NatetheGreat currently owns this game.

6.442/10

5 years ago

JIN

Pinasco

Inactive member

Malmö

8y 37,650 81 3 60

Quite a looker, no doubt. The backglass is both magic and seductive. Interesting playfield layout und overall cosmetics. Problem is that the gameplay itself isn't that spectacular compared to other good early 80's games.

I think a lot of the hype around this has to do with its looks, rather than how good it plays. A decent table, but not something I would have to own. Especially considering the price tag for this cult item.

Update; oct -19 after some more mileage on this game. It looks cool but the play itself just isnt that interesting. Previous scores are justified.

Pinasco edited previous rating on October 23, 2019.

8.371/10

5 years ago

JKB

Jbrauer2

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 45,000 14 6 10

Xenon is a Fun and good game. I would recommended to people that are look to get into pinball.

Jbrauer2 edited previous rating on February 08, 2019.
Jbrauer2 currently owns this game.

7.546/10

5 years ago

CCH

Frostbite

Pinside member

Scottsbluff, NE

5y 42,900 32 11 30

I just love xenon! Just 2 or 3 short years before EMs were still being built. Then you look at xenon and wow, she had to have set the bar high for 1980. Simple 2 ball multi ball and ramp shot makes her a fun machine for beginners.

Update- Iv played alot more pins since, while its still a great pin compared to what was made a few short years earlier it doesnt hold up to much that was made after it.

Frostbite edited previous rating on April 20, 2020.
Frostbite has this game on the wishlist.

8.135/10

5 years ago

D D

RandomTask

Silverball Chronicles

5y 68,550 512 2 35

One of the most artistic and cool pinball machines around. The playfield art, wow... What going on?! I can just imagine my own story. Backglass and the lighting of the infinity glass... stunning. The sounds are strange yes, but unique. The early 80s pinball 'music' is meh, but good compared to the others at that time and even after. The Xenon voice, wonderfully innovative. Game play? Well, it's simple, easy to understand, has Multi Ball and come on, one of the best 'rip the spinner's games around!

RandomTask has owned this game in the past.

6.886/10

5 years ago

CLY

Yesh23

Pinside+ Frequent

Indian Land, SC

9y 129K 2,519 10 32 3

One of the best looking machines of all time. I've owned this a ton of time, not because of gameplay but just the overall look of the machine.

Yesh23 has owned this game in the past.

4.197/10

5 years ago

MLP

tabascoman77

Pinside member

6y 46,150 4 110

"Xenon" is "Pin-Bot" before there was "Pin-Bot". The difference is that "Pin-Bot" is actually awesome and "Xenon" is just plain terrible.

It's a relic of a time long since past in which women in space wear tight, sexy clothing and moan at you to score points. I think.

All while the annoying music goes faster and faster, creating "pressure" so you'll screw up and miss your shots. It's a shame it's easy to make those because the music just becomes annoying and terrible. Additionally, there isn't much to this game past hitting ramps and drop targets.

Even the art is ugly and misogynist, praised only because of its sex appeal. Don't believe me? Read the majority of the reviews for it and you'll see men fawning over sexually-tinged audio that's poor at best.

You want sex and pinball? Try either of the "Elvira" games or even "Bride of Pinbot". "Xenon" is a dated loser.

12 Pinsiders flagged this. 3 Pinsiders starred this!

8.194/10

5 years ago

TPD

tomdrum

Tom's Pinball

Port Matilda, PA

6y 167K 7,481 16 52

A bally classic that never get old. If you get to play one on a clear coated PF that's set up nicely, it rocks!

tomdrum has owned this game in the past.

7.425/10

6 years ago

DJB

brenna98

Pinside+ Frequent

Wind Point, WI

10y 132K 2,245 59 54

I have restored 2 playfields for this and made reproduction aprons for it, so I’m a bit ashamed I don’t know the rules better… Absolutely beautiful art on the PF, BG and cabinet. The first female voice is cool, and what guy wouldn’t like sex noise sound effects… I’m willing to bet these were a major contributor to the high number of copies sold.

brenna98 has owned this game in the past.

8.611/10

6 years ago

TRU

SpaceTimeGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Cleveland, OH

6y 77,550 377 6

A CLASSIC !!

7.667/10

6 years ago

JES

john32

Pinside member

Kensington, KS

10y 49,450 155 86 45

I like xenon. and easy game and a great looker and if you add LEDS stunning backglass is one of the tops in all of pinball

john32 currently owns this game.

4.954/10

6 years ago

JJK

Jeewiz13

Pinside member

Chicago, IL

7y 41,550 171 7

Great art but that is all that its got. Not that fun.

7.416/10

6 years ago

DEF

yyyyyikes

Pinside member

9y 34,400 156 18 11

I editted my rating here as I read some of the other comments and thought I may have got it wrong.
Played it for an hour after having not played it for aaaaaaaaaaggggeeess.

It's better than I remembered. Plays like a classic, with the saucer top middle off the plunge.
It's actually a lot faster than I remembered, in multiball anyhow. The pops are pretty close to the flippers and send the balls back to you frequently so you can be dealing with alot at once, trying to get them through the spinner (which stays lit after multiball ends for the rest of the ball). The spinner shot is good, as is the tube shot - but really that is the only 2 shots in the whole game. Maybe the drops sometimes when a ball is locked and you have one on the left flipper, but even then the tube's a better option.

It's still really all about the backglass with Xenon (which is stunning every time you turn it on). The artwork is good (have a repro pf which is nice) but the game is something from a previous era. A good play if you're looking to learn basic pinball skills or just like ripping spinners. If it wasn't so cool looking, I wouldn't own one. The same can't be said for Fathom or Centaur for example as these are unique games in their own right (AND they look cool).

yyyyyikes edited previous rating on August 01, 2017.
yyyyyikes currently owns this game.

8.771/10

7 years ago

AJC

chippe01

Inactive member

7y 70,400 513 7

I just got this game today and can't stop playing it. Yes, there's the obvious - the back glass (es) is/are stunning. The chaser lights add a nice effect, and I like how the lights follow the music - the faster the music, the faster the lights move. And there's multiball.

The playfield is also a work of art, in my opinion. It's a little sparse, but it works well. I'll never get tired of trying a tube shot! And ripping that spinner, which of course, is my favorite pinball target. At least on this game, the spinner is a satisfying shot. I also own a Silverball Mania and that has 2 spinners, but every time you get a good spinner hit, the ball bounces right back and stops it. Not on this game - it truly is a satisfying shot for me.

Most people think the game is a little boring, but I don't think so. That ramp shot is not so easy when you're under pressure with the music and lights going faster. The drop targets are a breeze with the top arch rollovers that knock them down for you. The left and right outlanes are not too much of a problem as the ball usually bounces off the mini posts, but that center drain is a killer. The mini post located below and left of center of the flippers occasionally saves the ball, but most of the time, the longer right flipper wireform blocks the balls travel and bounces it away.

There are definite goals with this game, one of which is to achieve multiball and light the spinner for 1,000. The bumpers get some nice action as well, despite the odd layout, or perhaps because of the odd layout.

Regarding the music, I thought it would start to annoy me, but I really like it. The vocals are also spectacular for the era this game was produced.

Overall, with the backglass, lights, playfield, music and vocalizations, this is an excellent game, and a lot of fun. It is also challenging as you try to keep the ball alive.

Just my 2 cents!

8.998/10

7 years ago

LUP

Luppin

Inactive member

8y 50,550 970 17

This is the most beautiful machine ever created. Period. The backglass with blue leds is just unbelievable, its a real contemporary piece of art itself. You have to see it to believe it. The music and calls are perfect, entirely capturing the fascinating, adult, mean spirit of the early computer era. Its such a deep, strong experience playing this machine. 90' and later machines, especially if based on licensed movies, pales in comparision. It looks like pinball machines were made for adults in the early ss era, and then the age target dropped to early teenage. Or actually the taste of pinball players dropped dramatically! Set it up properly and steep and its great fun: fast to play, great for some quick games with that amazing early Bally feel.

Luppin edited previous rating on June 03, 2021.

7.662/10

7 years ago

JOC

Stiffboard

Inactive member

Kristianstad

7y 19,500 11

Beautiful game with simple rules, maybe not long lasting balls but still a great game to play as well

Stiffboard edited previous rating on February 04, 2020.
Stiffboard has owned this game in the past.

7.880/10

7 years ago

PIS

crosbyjack

Inactive member

Greenville, SC

7y 29,650 18 6 8

In the future, popular spacewear includes mandatory thongs worn overtop of clothing. A+ for the art.
I love it when she tells me to "make a tube shot". Not sure what the story is though, it reminds me of looking through a book as a child and only looking at the pictures without reading the storyline. Tables from this era never needed to explain themselves. Xenon is like an evil corporate alien overloard sitting atop a very tal tower and you must escape her? Who knows, drains like a b*tch but addicting a hell to play! The first table I ever owned. My girlfriend especially appreciates the proportional and very clenched buttox.

crosbyjack currently owns this game.

6.290/10

7 years ago

GPS

onetaste

Pinside member

Adelaide Hills

10y 63,650 142 23 114

Nice art package but gets tired quickly

Previous Next 1 2 3 4 5 6

There are 129 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 2 of 6.

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 Pinside

Great 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+!