Ratings

An overview of the latest machine ratings and reviews placed on the Pinside.

42 new ratings were added to the Pinside, in the past 24 hours!

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Found 54822 ratings (with comment)

There are 54,822 ratings (that include a comment).
Currently showing results page 1 of 2,193.

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10.000/10
3 hours ago
Beautiful machine excellent build quality and fun to play
9.422/10
8 hours ago
I made the bet to order the Jaws premium before trying it. I have to say I absolutely regret nothing, just like the movie, Jaws pinball is an instant classic!

The gameplay is simply superb, easy to enjoy no matter your skill level. Without being too complicated, the code remains deep, the modes, and the layout of the playfield fit the theme very well. With Bruce, the bash toy under the boat, and the motorized shark fin, the experience is simply mind-blowing. The idea of bounty hunters spreading blood in the water to attract prey is excellent.

Almost perfection, definitely a keeper and hard not to replay it again and again...
9.140/10
8 hours ago
The Pros:
An original layout with lots to shoot for. Original and interesting placements of posts, walls and drop targets make this 3 flipper layout an original layout from a new designer AND a new company. I can play this game for hours and not care about the score on the screen. That's pinball fun right there! If I would give it a relational experience. Black Rose? But maybe with a bit more flow.

Wow!

I can't remember the last time this perfect storm of pinball has happened.

That and it's a Jim (muthafuckin') Henson theme! If he can pull off the original muppets in a pinball game... There's a new sheriff in town!

The Cons:
Some people won't like the licensed theme. A new company always has to deal with being the new kid on the block. Some of the shots that ramp from the third flipper (esp. that upper middle of shot) have a bit of clunk. I have only had the chance to play one copy of this game, so we will see what happens when I get to play another copy.

The Takeaway:
David's lessons from working with Spooky have paid off. Barrels of Fun's choices with their technology, business partners and creative design have paid off. The FAST system works great in a professional operator's environment. This game is a joy to shoot and while it doesn't have the polish that we see from a company like Stern or Chicago Gaming, their games feel as good as the newest JJP games and they have that 90's solid feel down! This is their very first game. I am impressed!

I was not sure what to think with this game and I am glad to have kept an open mind. This game is good enough that I may have to save my pennies and get a copy. Pinball has entered a new era that we haven't seen since the late seventies with excellent high quality games pinball coming from multiple companies.

In the late 1970's we had:
Williams
Bally
Gottlieb
Stern v.1

Today in 2024 we have:
Stern
Chicago Coin
Jersey Jack
American Pinball
Spooky

And now Barrels of Fun

Each of these companies have their advantages and detriments. Just like they did in the late 70's.

Today is a good day to be alive and playing pinball.
8.476/10
13 hours ago
This is my favorite Spooky game yet. Especially since the theme is one of the most iconic horror movies of all time.

I think the layout is very innovative and the shots actually feel pretty smooth. The door shot is by far my favorite. When the door is opened it feels similar to finishing off saucers on Attack from Mars. It is a shame though that the majority of shots isn't backhandable (at least on the exact machine I played).

The hook lock unfortunately did not work but the meat grinder did and I have to say it is one of the most interesting ways to divert a ball off a ramp I've seen so far.

What I didn't expect is that you would play as the Sawyer family within the game. It is an interesting idea and I think it works out pretty well. I liked the game's rules so far and the modes and so on represent the movie quite good. I especially like the little blackouts on the screen as you finish a mode.

In terms of artwork I think the game looks excellent. The backglass could maybe have been a little better but other than that I really like it.

All in all, this is a good machine with an innovative layout, excellent artwork and a great representation of the Texas Chainsaw theme.
10.000/10
13 hours ago
Mon préféré et même plutôt le Premium avec options + Mods ;)
6.830/10
14 hours ago
The most interesting and best feeling Spooky pin yet...

There is a lack of polish to this table that may be improved on over time; between the graphics, animations, and score breakdowns, things are too busy and just slightly too formulaic. It is missing a bit of magic and a real push to keep with it, but these are things I could I expect to see code updates fix.

If you look too closely at some of the details, its hard not to notice little things like fonts being low resolution on the pin or keyhole cutouts exposing plywood where the art doesn't meet up with it. Too many little things that honestly should price this pin lower than it is but it is right up there with the big boys. Not a huge detractor but if I were interested in owning this machine, I would definitely nitpick a little.

Spooky did a great job using clips from the old cartoons to start modes and fuel structure into the modes. The art package is very good and took great use of the art with the backglass, playfield and minatures. The voices are excellent and guide objectives very well. It FEELS like Looney Tunes and they utilized the license to the best of their abilities. Music in the modes I was exposed to are all ripped straight from these cartoons (imagine the old classical music) and I found the sounds and music to be really charming.

There are a ton of colored wireform ramps all over this pin and something about them really looks cheap and less than premium. Having (almost) every ball launch start in a concealed scoop is not very fun and seems to hitch up the game in my opinion, really strange choice. My previous experience with Spooky through Scooby and Halloween left my expecatations low, but I liked my time on this pin a lot more than those ones. Those two feature a ton of hidden ramps and lanes under giant upper playfields and that is not the case here. Everything is exposed and for the better, much more fun to understand how you are missing and improving aim. The shots are fun and numerous, and I especially like the multiball rocket and magnetized entry hatch underneath Taz. These are the premium type of features that are fun to see and added great character to the table.

I will continue to monitor this table for the code updates that it likely needs, speeding up the animations and simplifiying some of the busy checklists/ heads up displays is sorely needed, but it is a good start and I am really happy to see Spooky making a more interesting and compelling table.
6.016/10
18 hours ago
Again I have to compare this machine to other game from 1979 and older to make a fair comparison. It has a couple variations on the layout but nothing with a wow factor. Scoring is basic. To me there are many more much older games to play with more pizaaz.
Good for beginners though
5.825/10
18 hours ago
Always hard to to adjust ny thoughts to how these machines were back in their era. Obviously the new games have all the bells and whistles.
So as far as 1977 games so it has a very basic layout with not a lot of thought in scoring. I bought this game for a buddy of mine and he loves it ...me I find other game of the era much more fun and challenging
9.480/10
27 hours ago
One of my most favorite games and highly underrated since there aren’t many out there. I can play this game for hours on end. The endless tricks with this game I believe are better than Theatre of Magic.
7.229/10
31 hours ago
A surprisingly satisfying game. The shots are really great. The sounds are quite obviously first gen solid state and do leave a bit to be desired.

It’s very simple but unlike some other games of the time, you do get to keep working upwards towards a goal. I’ve played games where you’ve done everything and maxed your bonus and there really isn’t anything left to do, but Tri Zone has enough goals that you can keep going for a good long while. Basically spell TRI and ZONE, max bonus, max bonus multiplier, and rip the spinner.

I particularly like the feed from the right orbit, when timed just right you can send the ball right back up the spinner to the upper part of the playfield.

The theme is also kinda cool. Yellow skinned buxom retro futuristic racing I guess? No complaints about that.

All in all a solid game with fair rules and scoring. Seems like it’d be a good competition game.
8.976/10
32 hours ago
Went to purchase a game and he had a PE that he let me play. I was not interested in the game due to the theme when it was announced but JJP knocked it out of the park. A week after playing it I had one. Game has amazing flow that rewards made shots by feeding the ball back to the flipper. Light show integration is the best of all time. You can feel the improvements they made to the flippers which felt weirdly disconnected while playing Toy Story. This makes Stern LE’s feel cheap and it comes with everything- topper, invisiglass, art blades, etc. as the base model.

Music can be a little slow at times but it’s playing a song in the background until you start something and just kind of falls into the background. Price is a little steep but compared to a stripped Stern where all the cool stuff got pulled due to budget, or American Pinball saving money on licensing which I have no doubt JJP had to pony up for I’d say it’s a better value. Wish there was a really cool toy besides the piano but I’m not sure where they would put it with all the ramps.

Overall I’d give the game a 9/10. If it was my dream theme with good integration like this I’d move it up to a 10/10. This will be a top 10 rated pinball of all time as of today.
10.000/10
38 hours ago
Here it is... my first perfect score for a pin. I'm not particularly a fan of Elton John's music, though I do admit he has some certified bangers. I'm also not particularly a fan of Jersey Jack games, despite keeping 2 of them in my collection. So, to say I was not expecting much from Elton John would be an understatement.

But then I had a chance to play EJ, and watch better players play it, and I ended up ordering one for myself. It changed my mind after only a few games.

Being a Jersey Jack game, I knew it would look pretty, but I don't think I was prepared for how this would look in person. I know it's a tired phrase at this point, but simply put, no photo or video equipment I'm aware of could accurately capture the lighting in person. In a word, it is stunning. It's bright, it's colorful, it's sparkly, it's dynamic... it's beautiful. And the LED panel wrapped around the piano is really cool, and when it does this sparkling effect, it's like a disco ball in your face. Crazy.

And the sound? In a word: incredible. It sounds like you're at a concert or listening to a live album on a great sound system. The music is bassy, clear, and seems to be at a quality sample rate. It's head and shoulders above prior music pins, and it's something Stern should take notice of, because it elevates the game.

But how does it play? Like the best of Steve Ritchie banged the very best of Steve Ritchie and had twins. As it has been noted, JJP finally addressed their weak flipper issues, and the flippers on Elton John are strong and snappy. They feel really excellent. The shots are flowy and satisfying, with a layout that is part Star Trek and part Spider-Man. That's not to say there isn't new stuff in this design. There's an interesting dead end shot that can capture the ball, an upper ramp that can divert to loop around, pop the ball into a physical lock in the piano, or drop the ball into the pops. There's a deadly bank of drop targets that unlock valuable rewards and complete hurry-ups. The upper flipper shots return the ball to the upper flipper to allow for repeat shots. There are several multiballs, combos to pick off, and rewards to collect. Even on early code, it's pretty feature-rich.

And perhaps most helpful at all are the callouts. Most of the callouts aren't Elton John, and are instead a rather non-descript British woman's voice. There's no apparent attempt at humor, and the delivery is more or less flat. Negative, right? Wrong. While I do wish there were more callouts from Elton John himself, the callouts are so clear and concise that they effectively help guide you to your next shot, while not detracting from the audiovisual madness playing out in front of you. Put another way, on a machine that overwhelms your senses, it's nice to have a voice of calm to latch onto.

If I had any gripes, it would be that I really dislike the spinner sound. It's an overpowering and cartoony fill-up sound, and I really hope JJP offers an update that allows you to replace it. Also, while most of the sculpts are nice, the dancer is a bit goofy looking.

I've only seen the Platiunum Edition in person, and have seen pics of the Collector's Edition. The topper for the CE looks incredible, with the laser lightshow and dual screens. I do, however, prefer the art and trim on the Platinum Edition. Were there a way to get the CE topper on the PE... best of both worlds. That's not to say the CE doesn't look nice, but it is a more understated cab design.

Jersey Jack has got a winner with Elton John. It is such a feast for the senses, and so fun and satisfying to flip, that it transcends its theme, offering something for everybody. This isn't just Jersey Jack's best game to date, but also Steve Ritchie's best game to date. Elton John is the first real threat to Godzilla for GOAT.
9.260/10
39 hours ago
This game is just so fun. Great shots. Lots of flow. The Ninja ramp is an incredible shot esp with 3 straight skill shots to Ninja MB. Orbits work great. My only issue is that the ball never goes around the loop, it just comes back but at least it still scores. Sounds, artwork are all terrific.

All in all, a top notch game.
7.203/10
41 hours ago
I don't know why people bash this one. They only made 300 of these pins. I just pick this one up and went through it put new rubbers and clean / wax playfield and it looks great and plays really good. I kept all oem lights bulbs . . My pin has 28049 credits on counter and it still works. So this pin made over $7000 til this day. I bet it cost back then I'm guessing is 1800.00.? I bought it from a guy that said it was in a pizza place in Chicago.? It was a pretty cool concept just like the ms pacman that was a cocktail machine that made a lot of money too. When I had the grand kids over they played that pin even more then my revenge from mars or my other pins I have in my game room. Because you can relax and sit and play. You can see the ball now and have fun .. people if you seen one - grab it.. it's cool for the kids and us too.
8.008/10
43 hours ago
Put some time in on this at TPF. The premium is definitely better than the pro but still just not up to Godzilla or Jurassic Park. The ramp/wireform shots are cool and interesting, the upper playfield is well executed. The moving fin target is fun and innovative. Overall though, the game just felt a little average to me. It’s a solid game and certainly better than Venom. It’s not better from a game play perspective than Foo Fighters in my opinion. Unfortunately Elwin is a victim of his own success, we have Godzilla, JP and Maiden to compare this game to and it just doesn’t stack up to those.
8.042/10
47 hours ago
I finally got the chance to play this machine.

I really like the layout, especially in the backbox. Playing pinball vertically is difficult but very much fun. The best shots are the spinner shot and the jump shot in the backbox.

The rules are pretty simple and I like that about these older games. It is rather a challenge in gameplay than in rules. The making of the lit Red Hot shot is the best moment within the game for me.

In terms of artwork I think the entire game looks pretty good. Especially given that there is no traditional backbox the game really stands out in a collection of machines.

All in all, this is a good game with a truly unique layout, nice rules and good artwork.
9.240/10
2 days ago
Played jaws premium and I was surprised on how much fun this game was. Shots were pretty smooth once you got them dialed in and the flow was really nice. If you haven't played, I would give it a try. You might be surprised too...
7.838/10
2 days ago
Played this game 20 times at TPF. I enjoyed it a lot. It’s not a theme for everyone, but I think fans of pinball will be able to pick out what is essentially Barry Oursler’s greatest hits from his previous designs. The drop targets are exactly the same as Space Shuttle, the locks are similar to Space Shuttle, double lane change like Barracora, long flowy ramps like Dracula. I really like the bash locks, that’s a neat innovative mech, and it’s so simple! Another positive it has is that there’s not much to break because there aren’t any big complicated mechs. This game was made to be on route, and it shows. Should be very operator friendly.

I would absolutely play this on location. Owning it, maybe, if I could get a used one at between $5K-$6K and I had space for it. It’s hard to justify adding this to my max line up of 7 games when we have games like Jaws, Jurassic Park, Iron Maiden, and Godzilla out there for the same price.

The hate for Barry O’s BBQ Challenge is not deserved. It’s a fun game with a lot of love that was put into it.
8.408/10
2 days ago
This is a really enjoyable game.

In terms of layout this is one of the most flow based games Brian Eddy has made. The ramp shots are beautiful and shooting the ball into the Demogorgon is similarly good as the Hole-in-One shot on No Good Gofers. The backpanel that grabs the ball is a nice idea too. It is a shame though that it rather doesn't work than work. I often receive rejects from the left ramp or if I'm lucky the ball will just drop onto the ramp without being on the panel. The projections on the playfield are a good addition to this version, although I think it's more interesting to onlookers rather than to players.

The rules are pretty straight forward and playing the different modes is fun. The Upside Down mode has one of the best lighting effects of any modern pinball machine.

In terms of artwork there are many other new Sterns that look a lot better but it still beats the dreadful photoshop art on some machines in the late Whitestar / early SAM era.

All in all, this is a very good and smooth playing game. I am not that familiar with the theme but if I was this would probably be one of my favorite machines.
7.257/10
2 days ago
This is a decent pinball machine.

In my opinion the variety of shots is pretty limited. The shots that feel best to make are the VUK with the mini-flipper and the ramp. The Skull lock is a pretty neat feature which I enjoy. The same goes for the spinning disc in the middle.

In terms of rules I found the game to be a bit repetitive, especially in competition play. It can basically a one shot game. Just hit the ramp over and over, start multiball and collect the Jackpots.

The artwork on the entire game is typically mediocre for a game of its era.

All in all, CSI is a decent game with a special layout, quite nice toys and a generally good package that reflects the CSI theme pretty well.
8.856/10
2 days ago
Decided it was time to put in my review after code hit 1.0. I've really enjoyed FF since day one with the wild layout. JD was so creative with so many aspects of this layout. The left orbit shot for me is reminiscent of the great shots from the shots on solid state Gottliebs. I love the endless flow and connect-ability of the shots on the game. I'm also a big fan of the upper PF, as it has some fun loops, but it's tough to stay in there long. As far as art, I think it's some of ZY's best. I'm not a huge foo fan, but the theme leans more aliens to me which I love. Overall, this game is just a great package, especially after the 1.0 update. Don't think I would let it out of my collection.
8.940/10
2 days ago
Simply so much fun to play…played it on location and I was hooked from the first GOAL! Great game to introduce anyone to pinball. The rules are intuitive and fairly deep for games of this era. Totally fresh layout from plunge to drain. I will own this one day.
9.840/10
3 days ago
This is another example of the greatness of Elwin. I had zero interest in this game…..Jaws was not a theme I was remotely interested in….but then I saw the trailer and said this looks amazing. I bought a premium and it has been incredible. Very deep code and still fun for my casual player friends. I wish all Stern games were as fun as this one. All of the movie clips and call outs you could ask for with a packed playfield with tons of interesting shots. Instant classic!
9.900/10
3 days ago
Best theme integration, music, call outs and lightshow of any game
There are 54,822 ratings (that include a comment). Currently showing results page 1 of 2,193.

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