most underrated pinball
- Thread starter mrgone
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pudluther
Active member
firepower is fantastic. one of the pre-DMD games i'd definitely make a run at if one came up near me for a decent price.
quses
Member
I think Who?Dunnit is probably the best price/performance package of them all. The music is incredible; the theme is awesome; best dot-matrix graphics of them all; the gameplay is tons of fun. The game has so much going on: an actual slot machine in the playfield, and unparalleled integration between the DMD and the pinball game. It really makes you think trying to solve the murder cases - you have to know the characters' backstory to do well. It's very challenging and fun. I think the main reason why this pin is overlooked is a lot of people haven't played it, or they haven't read the ruleset - you cannot appreciate this game fully until you understand deeper how things work, how the equipment enhances gameplay; how to properly use the elevator; how to bump up the multiball jackpot, etc. I have this machine sandwiched between a TZ and a WH20 and it's by far the most fun to play. The ability to bet your score on the roulette wheel is nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. It's possible to make one shot and cross two credit thresholds! I don't know if there's ever been a game capable of doing that.
There's so many neat things about W?D that I like that separate it from other games. When you start to do well, this game fights back. You have to alter your strategy during multiball after a certain amount of time when the targets pop up over the elevator entrance. Barry Oursler really kicked ass on this game. It's a true work of art.
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Nescollector
Member
I would have to say that I think that Jackbot is HIGHLY underrated.
WadeLanham
Well-known member
Who Dunnit is a good one, but it's also a little strange so it might not appeal to a lot of people. It has a lot to do and some great shots though, and is usually well priced.
Johnny Mnemonic is a great one that doesn't get much love. Fastest game I've ever played, even the couple I played on location!
WCS'94 is on some people's top 10 list, but overall it is usually nowhere near it. I think it has a lot going for it, and the shots on it are really satisfying. I sometimes think about getting this one again, especially considering the price I sometimes see it sell for.
I always thought Congo was pretty good and overlooked. Considering what they sell for ($1000-1500) it's a pretty neat game. The underplayfield ape is a waste, but I like the shots, music, and art. The theme/movie is probably what makes this one not sought after.
Roller Coaster Tycoon and Ripley's are pretty neat newer Sterns that aren't well liked, so they sell surprisingly cheap. I enjoy both of them!
Notice how the theme of most of the top-10 games is in line with typical older pinball guys' taste. TZ, MM, AFM, MB, SS, etc... These fit great with 50-something dudes in particular, but also with just about any dude. A theme that falls outside of that will not be as desirable or valuable, but if you like the theme or can live with it, you can get a great game that is underappreciated and undervalued. The fact that Whitewater sometimes makes it on top-10 or A-lists is a testament to how great the game is, since the theme is not attractive to most people. Whitewater rafting? I live in WV whitewater country and even I don't care for the theme. But the game is just awesome.
Wade
Johnny Mnemonic is a great one that doesn't get much love. Fastest game I've ever played, even the couple I played on location!
WCS'94 is on some people's top 10 list, but overall it is usually nowhere near it. I think it has a lot going for it, and the shots on it are really satisfying. I sometimes think about getting this one again, especially considering the price I sometimes see it sell for.
I always thought Congo was pretty good and overlooked. Considering what they sell for ($1000-1500) it's a pretty neat game. The underplayfield ape is a waste, but I like the shots, music, and art. The theme/movie is probably what makes this one not sought after.
Roller Coaster Tycoon and Ripley's are pretty neat newer Sterns that aren't well liked, so they sell surprisingly cheap. I enjoy both of them!
Notice how the theme of most of the top-10 games is in line with typical older pinball guys' taste. TZ, MM, AFM, MB, SS, etc... These fit great with 50-something dudes in particular, but also with just about any dude. A theme that falls outside of that will not be as desirable or valuable, but if you like the theme or can live with it, you can get a great game that is underappreciated and undervalued. The fact that Whitewater sometimes makes it on top-10 or A-lists is a testament to how great the game is, since the theme is not attractive to most people. Whitewater rafting? I live in WV whitewater country and even I don't care for the theme. But the game is just awesome.
Wade
pudluther
Active member
solid post, wade. whitewater is on my short list........but it's on everybody else's short list too, so that doesn't give me much hope for owning one.
i really think who dunnit is a GREAT title for the price...and not just because i (finally) own one.
even people who are not pin-heads or video game players in general seem to congregate towards this pin.....the sounds/light show/theme draw them in and the gameplay seems to hook them. my best pin purchase by far.really want to add a BSD next....but it's not exactly an "underrated" pin.
interesting comments about RCT/ripley's........i like both of them, and wouldn't mind either in my collection, but it seems they're rather rare in the "for sale" bin.....especially ripley's.
as for congo, i REALLY want to play it for real someday....only played the virtual, but it seems like a really fun/underrated pin.......i've never even seen one though. is it THAT rare? or am i just getting unlucky?
OP
OP
mrgone
Well-known member
local route guy has rct and ripleys for $3,000 each and congo for $1,800
they are all currently on location. i played congo last week. im thinking about picking it up after xmas.my grail is whirlwind.if i can find 1 for under 2,000.
they are all currently on location. i played congo last week. im thinking about picking it up after xmas.my grail is whirlwind.if i can find 1 for under 2,000.
Rich in FL
New member
Judge Dredd and Rollergames. Neither one of these games gets any respect, but they are a lot of fun to play.
SealClubber
New member
Corvette. Yeah the ruleset isn't very deep but it is fast, flows awesome and is a blast to play with the combos. It also has great artwork.
I like Dr. Who too.
Never played Who Dunnit or Congo. Never even seen one. Would like to try them though.
I like Dr. Who too.
Never played Who Dunnit or Congo. Never even seen one. Would like to try them though.
Congo is real fun machine-especially keen on the artwork but the middle *toy* is useless...
I have come across 2 in my journeys which is kinda rare since I live in the Chicagoland area....
Ipdb has a production run of 2129 which is higher than I thought... I remember Clay interviewed the designer of this and to me it sounded like a job no one wanted to take so needless to say I don't think it was popular cause of the theme/bad movie.... Too bad.....
WadeLanham
Well-known member
I don't see Congo's for sale much any more, but I used to see them for sale a LOT. I can't help but wonder if some got parted out for the boards and cabinets? It also came as a conversion kit which hurt the value if it was in the wrong cabinet, had decals applied poorly, etc. and made it more likely to be parted out later.
Mrgone, all those prices seem high, it might be your local market. I have seen many RCT and Ripleys for $2k or less, and Whirlwind is usually closer to $1000 than $2000.
Some of the underrated games in this thread I haven't personally played before. I've never played Judge Dredd or Dr. Who. I don't care for the theme of JD, but the playfield looks interesting.
Wade
Mrgone, all those prices seem high, it might be your local market. I have seen many RCT and Ripleys for $2k or less, and Whirlwind is usually closer to $1000 than $2000.
Some of the underrated games in this thread I haven't personally played before. I've never played Judge Dredd or Dr. Who. I don't care for the theme of JD, but the playfield looks interesting.
Wade
Gambeno
Member
Fish Tales is really fun, I love Mark Ritchie's pins. Also like Firepower 2 which I almost bought a at an auction recently for $400. Regret not getting it. sadface.
Kane
Kane
beerorkid
New member
Visited Bronco's burgers while in Omaha a few weeks back. I had other pinball stuff to squeeze into our mini vacation day, so I only got to play one game. I played Congo. Left flipper was fluttery, but it was still fun. First time I had ever played it.
OP
OP
mrgone
Well-known member
i look for pins on mr.pinball and c/l as well as local route venders.
where are you finding such great deals?
where are you finding such great deals?
pudluther
Active member
i'd like to know that as well. i think it has something to do with the area of the country you're in and the availability/demand for pins in that area.
i'm in south carolina. i know if i look for a pin on craigslist anywhere in south carolina, georgia, north carolina, or even northern florida that i'm gonna be paying the going rate for pins.......i guess maybe we don't have as many outlets down here. hell, most of the time even with average/slightly above average priced pins on craigslist, there's a virtual race to snatch them up. it makes finding "golden deals" something of an oddity.
but again, that could be because of the area i live in. i've gotten used to saving up for upper level pin prices......i really have no other choice. to be perfectly honest, i'm cool with it now.....especially if i'm going after a shopped pin or even a good condition unshopped pin. it is what it is, i guess.
ceckitti
New member
One of my all time favorites. I made a few LED changes to mine
.Also have to agree with Congo. I used to own one and wish i still did. Very cool shots (around the volcano is nice), good multiballs, and nice sounds and art.
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dc2010
Active member
i had about 75 pins to choose to play tonight (including the new ironman)
and i found myself glued to apollo 13!
that 13 multiball is awesome! , i concluded nascar sucks!
i love diner!,funhouse,etc...
and i found myself glued to apollo 13!
that 13 multiball is awesome! , i concluded nascar sucks!
i love diner!,funhouse,etc...
pudluther
Active member
i LOVE apollo 13.....very underrated pin, IMO. it's not deep on rules, but the fun factor is, IMO, through the roof. the 13 ball multiball is great (though it basically turns into a "hit the flippers as fast as you can until it gets down to a manageable 4 or 5 balls" thing).
lots of ways to score on that pin...lots of ways to hit multiball. and, IIRC, quite a few modes.
very, very fun pin. i want to add it to the collection one day, but so far i haven't had any luck......the only one i saw for sale was way out of range for that pin. but i'm still looking.
OP
OP
mrgone
Well-known member
what is a fair price for apollo 13? c/l has a prototype listed at 2,100.
that seems steep to me.
that seems steep to me.
