Pinball Lore: The "Worst" Pinball Tables (Episode 3)

In the almost 3rd episode of Pinball Lore, I take a look at several machines that the community perceives as "bad" or "sub-par".

[@jacobross6897]

I have never heard any hate for Champion Pub. When I was younger it was considered in the same tier as Attack from Mars, Medieval Madness and TotAN.

[@CyberSex]

Yeah Champions Pub is found at half the cost of any of those machines, but I agree, it’s a lot of bang for your buck.

[@psychoticmortacarn]

Wtf is Champion Pub doing on here? I mean I understand it's not for everyone but you could do *SO* much worse. I personally adore that table.

[@CorpseDriver01]

Champion's pub is cool !!! Great game, easy to understand and a lot to do.

[@zombie3833]

"Its a widebody so its twice as wide" Wide bodies are about 6 inches wider than standard bodies

[@CramStoker]

Haha I heard that and I was like twice? no way!

[@CyberSex]

Believe it or not, it’s not even that much extra. Last time I checked I think it was only like 3 inches.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@jonnorris4204]

Shaq Attaq is a strategy game where stacking modes, playing for Achievements and accumulating Game Balls keeps the game going both pre-wizard mode and post-wizard mode. It's like two games "Pre-Wizard Mode" and "Post-Wizard Mode". Pre-Wizard Mode, play to stack all four modes and Multiball at the same time for maximum scoring. Also, the best Multiball strategy is to lock all balls in the ramp to win a jackpot and have the game feed you flipper shots for Super Jackpots. After playing the four regular modes, accumulate at least 5 game balls before playing Wizard Mode and choose “Risk”. Now you are playing for 300M. Post Wizard Mode, play to accumulate 13 game balls, then the 1-2-3-4-5 feature for Double Score (Trade 14 game balls for Double Entire Score), while at the same time, play to complete all five achievements for 1B in Bonus.

[@christianlarsen1234]

Easy for you to say. No joke. That's the game in a nutshell but the journey there is full of boobytraps.

[@Jordan__Sloan]

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@EvanDaWhite]

I love Bone Busters.

[@ambassador8524]

During the golden age of fighting games, I put my quarters up on the glass waiting to play M.K, *The Black Knight 2000* would randomly do a cool light/sound show. I think it had a motion sensor because The Knight would taunt passerby *”GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!”* It actually scared younger kids & took my money.

[@Lofote]

there is no motion sensor however 😉

[@alaeriia01]

No, it just does that randomly.

[@TylerMcNamer]

Champion Pub is experimental! I love that machine!

[@win33adam]

Former owner of Street Fighter II here. That game is great fun and is far from being one the worst pinball tables out there. It really gets a hard time.

[@zaphod77]

You have to admit the voice acting is utter crap, though. :)

[@bubbythebear6891]

The only bad thing about it is the Ehonda target that shoots the balls directly into the drain. It seems no matter what, I always lose the first ball that way. Other than that, it's a very fun table.

[@besbravo]

I m a owner too 😅

[@sadboi7537]

@@besbravo SF 2 is almost unplayable and the scoring system is absolutely atrocious. Most 90’s Gottlieb’s are some of the worst pins of all time, with Shaq Attack being high on the list.

[@antonvlasjuk3079]

@@sadboi7537 They did an excellent job on Stargate though

[@getreal3336]

South Park is a great machine and tons of fun. Of all my machines, South Park and Transformers LE Combo get the most played.

[@charliesmash]

Well if you like bad games this is great.

[@getreal3336]

@charliesmash Too each their own. That's why it's great to have so many machines. I am loving my GNR LE and my Godzilla Premium. Awesome machines. Still love SP though. 😜👍 🙂

[@cannibal666]

I agree south park is fun every time I play it I score outragist points 👍

[@v1rtu050]

LOL. The first machine that came to mind when you said "worst machine" was Hercules. Having said that, I did enjoy playing it a few times for the novelty value.

[@eternalemperorvalkorion750]

I personally love the Rolling Stones machine and funnily enough mick is my fave part and the music

[@otaking3582]

From what I heard, people also hate Popeye Saves the Earth for its piss-poor environmental message AND the fact that the price to play it was higher compared to other pinball machines.

[@davidhall7648]

Any game with a "mini playfield" is a BAAAAD sign

[@sushivoid6295]

My dad owns a Popeye and he defends it with his heart and soul, but I personally think it's subpar especially when compared to medieval madness, which is also in his collection

[@momcilolukovic6451]

You take care of that machine, that it is a timeless classic imho.

[@frankvonfrauner]

I don't understand why Bugs Bunny's birthday was such an important event in the 90s

[@scottthatcher9086]

Raven gets played a bunch at the local pinball bar. Set up playfield angle is key to the machine being fun or a turd.

[@Pinball4Sale]

Everybody that hates Raven just doesn't have the skill to hit shots on it.

[@DubsBrown]

Yah, Gold Wings has a lot going for including the vertical loop shot and a unique flipper/outlanes arrangement. It just needs another ramp shot (to feed a lower flipper with flow) and the Top Gun license and it would be drastically better reviewed. Also, Motordome has an “easy, normal, hard” feature that sounds good, except if you don’t know to set it to Hard your scores will be 100x lower.

[@DrTotz]

I knew goldwings was gonna be on the list. I bought one from a guy who's wife said that the game wasn't "Good enough"" for his collection. $400. This game is good. No worries.

[@og-ygpinball9384]

gold wings is great. there is nothing wrong with it. everyone gets so bad with it.

[@coten]

i've played gold wings at the arcade few times - it's definitely unusual but I think it's a fun time. the lower-left danger area is real intense, and the ball does actually have a chance to hop back onto the main flippers from the "outlane" by bouncing off a rubber post near the drain! can't stand that airhorn tho

[@DrTotz]

@@coten Oh the airhorn is awesome. I love it when newbies come over and I have them try the pin. They hit that shot and the look on their faces is priceless. ^_^ It's not much louder than the replay knocker on some of my pins. My Breakshot has one that sounds like a God Damn gunshot!

[@creamyjeremy8949]

Gold wings support/owner here: It's a great game, back glass is freaking awesome. Unique layout and different shots than any other game I've seen. Mine has hardware issues, but I'll keep fixing it as long as it wants to live

[@joustwave6541]

I really like the offset bottom on Gold Wings. They managed to make something original without it feeling unfair (looking at you Spy Hunter). Plus, like nearly all Gottliebs of the era, the music is really good. But the rest of the layout just looks awkward and cramped, most of the shots never feel like you've accomplished anything, and the vertical loop (a cool idea in itself) is basically ruined by being crammed into the upper left corner seemingly an inch away from the flipper.

[@Bearcade]

I work at an arcade with a pinball hall, Orbiter 1 has a lot appeal for being so different. I can see why it’s a hate it or love it machine. I love it’s originality that you just don’t see in the Sterns of today.

[@13teenthfloor]

The Rolling Stones - Mick does *not* just move when he feels like it, his movement relates directly to which 'notes' shots you have hit. He will also move to protect targets in certain modes. you can hit him to make him move. A good Stones player can work the Mick target to their advantage. Controlling to an extent where he will move and anicipating when. Thats part of the game. As often the case people criticising a game without knowing the rules or how it works.

[@CramStoker]

People really don’t like Champions Pub? I mean I’ve only ever played it virtually but it seems awesome to me. A boxing match in a pinball game…HELL YEAH!

[@jasonhepler9925]

High speed pinball was my favorite to play at Camelot bowl in portage indiana when it was in business back in the day

[@theodorehsu5023]

I remember playing Street Fighter II pinball as well as TMNT 1991 pinball. The first I liked because I got to combine pinball with a budding interest in "Street Fighter II." TMNT was mostly novelty at the time. OF course, they also had "Back to the Future the Pinball" and "The Simpsons Pinball game too." from Data East.

[@MarkFaust]

Hahahaha, My first thought immediately was Hercules. I remember the very early days at an arcade in downtown Omaha they only had one pinball, you guessed it. That monstrosity of crap.

[@josephwalker5577]

You could have done this entire video with all the later Gottlieb games and called it day. Wipeout, Rescue 911, Lights,Camera Action and Warriors all STINK!!!

[@arno8928]

What? Data East Turtles (TMNT) is in here? Is has limited shots to make? I own this thing and it still entertains me after years. Double skill shot looping from you opener, setting up your sewer shot for multibal. Amazing captive ball bonus shots and making those “Save April” shotes. Not to mention activating twin looping/million ramps. Im not just blindly defending my machine but i just dont get the reasoning.

[@travisguide4516]

Preach on brother

[@MaskHysteria]

Not much of a Pin Bot fan myself as the game is, basically, shoot it up the center until you get multiball, lather, rinse, repeat.

[@qwertyman506]

Can't wait for episode 4

[@qwertyman506]

I still can't wait for episode 4

[@bradwilliams1691]

As far as I'm concerned Rock band pinballs are nothing but a over engineered jukebox.

[@lozzamanuk]

DE's Guns N Roses isn't bad.

[@LaserSharkPhotoablations]

Popeyes obvious goal of jabbing Bluto and locking the ball overshadows the rest of the rules which are not deep but are wide and have plenty of objectives. 4 different sets of goals have to be achieved for wizard. best part of this game is the diabolicaly hard upper playfield and finding Swee'pee .

[@lander77477]

8:55 WHOA the volume just went from a 2 to a 15! Geez

[@nolandia100]

Funny I have two of those listed in my personal collection, bugs bunny and hurricane. I agree that the lower play field of bugs bunny is useless and the design of that lower flipper makes the ball get stuck a lot . But it gets a lot of play from friends when I have parties . Hurricane is a fun machine although it does tend to be centered mainly on one ramp and the bonus wheel. The Farris wheel toy slows the game play down a lot . However I like it over my Cyclone tbh

[@Dim4323]

90s and beyond are the best ones

[@cessnaace]

I've been wanting to try Thunderbirds, but I can never get on it. Oh, and it's NOT before my time. lol.

[@impoorproductions]

South park is amazing. What other game has a piece of shit in it?

[@davedixon2167]

I'm really sad that Thunderbirds didn't get a better game. It's before my time too - I was born in the 70s - but I LOVED that show when I finally got around to seeing it in reruns. That said, since newsgroups like RGVAC and RGP are dead and gone in this day and age, where does one go for pin collecting anymore? I used to have some and had to get out for awhile but always wanting to look in on the possibilities again...

[@nitroftw1855]

Pinside, Facebook Marketplace, and craigslist all seem to be your best bets, coming from someone who has bought from all three places, Pinside is the most trustworthy cause there's a good chance you'll find someone with more of a passion for collecting that lists the machines at better prices. Facebook and Craigslist machines are wildcards, so be weary if you find machines in your area from those two sites.

[@stinkypinkeee5085]

The "Hercules" machine was actually a pretty fun table when it was new...we had one in my Hometown...

[@dankjeenyus]

I agree with you on pretty much all of these worst game in that whole list is Thunderbirds, especially for how new it is.

[@QuietStorm3007]

Sorry to take away from the topic, but what was that theme playing in the background? Sounds like it was apart of Mario Kart.

[@a_noo8ish_gamer612]

I love The Champion Pub.

[@deathstrike]

I'm more a purist when it comes to machines (prefer EM and early SS games). But out of all the hobbies out there, pinball truly takes a chance, and while there are a lot of stinkers, you won't find a more interesting and dedicated group of people who even the stinkers hold sentimental value with. I have two cocktail pinball tables (let the pitchforks rise) Gottlieb Night Moves, and Allied Leisure Take Five, one standard EM (Gottlieb Super Soccer) and two virtual pinball machines ,both from @Tgames (Legends Micro and Legends 3/4 size pinball). So for me ,anyone who collects even the stinkers gets a hats off because despite their poor gameplay or poor replay value, someone has at least kept it from the scrap yard. And one more working example is one more preserved for posterity.

[@RyanDepauloDegenerateGambler]

I really like championship pub

[@aflhabalafhabab]

I think you forgot everything Mylstar-related. Trust me, THESE Tables can all be considered the worst, especially for the time they came out.

[@benlogan4038]

Hurricane?! It’s sweet! (Enjoyed the video though). ;)

[@alejandroramirez4470]

Champion pub is addictive and I see no reason it shouldn't be liked at least. Hardest shot is probably getting in corner to start fight. I like when in fight mode the middle has a stopper and launch button uses smart punch if you have it. Probably gotten 3 replays at most one time.

[@elvisburgerking8675]

what you actually did is show games that others refer to as "turds" and then say you actually like each of them.

[@wentle1985]

That audio mix at minute 9 is speaker busting. Nice video, but the audio went from struggling to hear you speak to waking up my kid upstairs.

[@Ledman301]

You cuss just to cuss. Not needed.

[@Jordan__Sloan]

It’s a KZbin video watdya expect?

[@jacksonteller3973]

I think X-Files is a great table personally. I'd nominate Spring Break for my worst list.

[@DarrinsDen2023]

X-Files is FAR from a "one shot" game. If that's how you play it you're not playing it properly. I own the machine. Lots of fun when you know what you're supposed to do.

[@Angel-wn2mu]

And the Hot Shots (Gottlieb 1989)????

[@WhatTruthIs]

In my livingroom I have a nice Muhammad Ali pinball machine, and it is a lot of fun.

[@Isurvivedheftonworld]

The zen pinball version of south park is actually amazing though

[@saskia6750]

Im glad you put Hurricane in there...loved the backbox.loved the ferris wheel,but the rest sucks....Mine was perfect,but broke it up as it was just the worst machine i ever played..From the minute you launched the ball !! Artwork is way too busy !! Like scattered ants on a table cloth !!

[@probablynotmyname8521]

Hercules looks perfect for me, a slow game would fit my dull reaction time.

[@S.J.C._Entertainment]

Anyone know the song at 3:15?

[@retroarcadefan]

Orbitor One is a good machine and you need to understand how the physics are really working to get the most out of it. Also, it isn't ugly at all.

[@barcodebattler2587]

As soon as you said casuals, i was suspicions of your choice, then the widebody double size quote and i just turned off.

[@ivanyiattila3547]

I don't agree with Hurricane and Champion Pub. These are great pinball machines from Williams.

[@harryl6175]

i acctully kinda like the atari pins

[@Urko2005]

Hurricane is one of the best tables ever.

[@markanderson6787]

I have owned pinball for 35 years and never heard them referred to as pinball tables.

[@haitolawrence5986]

Never listened to the song 'Pinball Wizard' by the who??? 😲

[@ianzleig7679]

@@haitolawrence5986 A song is not a pinball machine.

[@juni674]

My favourite widebody is Scorpion. I loved that machine and always been my fav. I remember the day it came out. I spent a lot of dimes and quarters on it. My friends always laughed at that machine and made fun of me playing that game. lol They said it is garbage. lol

[@dangermartin69]

I have one.

[@IanJacobyandcompany]

Orbitor 1 rules. Have you actually played one?

[@Pow3rus]

the audio mix is this video is so terrible, that's unbelievable. I had to turn the volume up extremely high to hear you talking and at 8:56 it almost blew my speakers

[@mitzo4526]

Man I don’t even play pinball that much

[@JohnnyAce415]

I love the theme for Champion Pub, a lot ...the game-play is so-so. But you know what machine really sucks balls?? WHEEL of FORTUNE😐 I tried to enjoy playing it a few times and l just can't get into it.

[@BenjaminFrock]

really do not love referring to pinball machines as “tables”

[@alejandroramirez4470]

Maybe it's because it stands on legs that people call it table

[@BenjaminFrock]

@@alejandroramirez4470 I mean… it is definitely table like. I just personally don’t love the usage in this case.

[@alpha9526]

For me and pinball with more than two flippers is a no go.

[@catzblu999]

Street fighter is very fun I absolutely agree. What I basically got from this video is that Gottlieb mostly made crap lol

[@davidleonard4925]

Call me old school but I liked machines with spinners.

[@lawrencefeldman7744]

I played the Rolling Stones machine the other day. It was old,rickety,and the balls were missing.(That's what the screen read.) Brian Jones,Mick Taylor,Bill Wyman, and Daryl Jones were nowhere to be found. Song selection poor. And not a ton of activity in the game. OK folks it's 2022? Imagine a King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard machine? Volumes of songs,themes and motifs abound for a tribute in pinball to this fine Australian 7 piece outfit. If it hasn't happened already. They've pretty much done everything else.

[@lawrencefeldman7744]

Been a rough few months gutted over Charlie!

[@BAKU2K2]

Another obvious clunker is MarsaPlay's "New Canasta." It's a very cheaply made "remake" of Inder's classic "Canasta 86" with ugly art, slow gameplay, cheap magnets rollovers instead of switches, an uncomfortable lockdown bar, and flippers that can only be held up for 10-15 seconds before going dead. It makes a Zizzle toy pinball look like a Bally/Williams in comparison.

[@ertznay3142]

I came hoping for some Hercules hate, I leave content.

[@acidgougewaltz]

Bugs Bunny I agree with. Orbitor 1 is just too quirky not to love. Yes, it's weird novelty that may wear off after a game or two. But keep playing for a while and it's insanity becomes an acquired taste. as for motordome, it's not a great game.... but the one shot it has (the crossover ramp shot) is easily one of the most satisfying shots in any game i've played. missing from your list Road Kings by Williams. I've never played a game of it that hasn't ended straight down the middle upon launch in at least 2 out of 3 balls. I've played it in four locations... always the same result. Road Kings is awful. Rollergames is another terrible one.

[@corkyjoe]

the ROCKY pinball sucked , i know why paulie threw a beer bottle at it.

[@firstnationsindian8062]

Anything stern.

[@timmyaucoin]

Good video but please fix your Audio mixing

[@bengosselin8005]

You can do much worse than Popeye, Street Fighter or South Park (none of those are great - but there's much worse).

[@Smilephile]

I have no idea why people like Cyclone more than Hurricane.

[@MisterVercetti]

One modern-day pin that's more disappointing than outright bad is Rick & Morty. The use of the license is phenomenal, and the rules are deep, yet still simple enough to understand at a glance. However, all this is completely ruined by one of the worst playfield designs I've ever seen. The lower right flipper is borderline useless, and if the flippers aren't tuned perfectly, the portal shots are virtually impossible to make (the right shot has to be made when the ball is practically falling off the left flipper - otherwise, it just bangs off the side of the ramp - and unless you flip the upper flipper with millisecond precision, the ball simply bounces off the side of the left shot and dribbles back out, usually STDM).

[@paraptorkeetcreations434]

Superman by Atari is the worst Pin.

[@besbravo]

Ahahahah i ve the street fighter and x files and i love popeye 😅

[@b.o.353]

I disagree. Data East and Zaccarria tables just feel cheap. Give me an old EM Gottlieb or Solid State Williams Pinball anyday.

[@robgreene3913]

I owned popeye and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. game sucked big time

[@jemy4091]

mad

[@Petes0281]

Jive Time is the worst on my list.

[@MindGem]

The new Led Zepplin looks very very boring and it is ugly as hell. It's a disaster. Not an artwork as it should have been.

[@KoolKman]

Popeye is definitely the worst for me..it just has no redeeming qualities and is boring as hell.

[@rollergoalie16]

It was shown but not mentioned. Atari's Middle Earth is absolute trash from the word go. Terrible art, terrible layout, terrible sounds. I wouldn't take that pin if it was given to me.

[@blackvulcan3]

Dude, you sound like my uncle swearing to try and be cool. The content was good, but swearing is lazy, there are other words out there.

[@jameswright549]

Only ever owned the Hurricane as far as shit titles and YES it is a HUGE POS!! South Park was decent but not anywhere near a shitty as Hurricane.

[@antonvlasjuk3079]

Gilligan´s Island ( worst modern pin)

[@memeplaycorp505]

It’s not even the worst Pinball Machine!!!

[@antonvlasjuk3079]

@@memeplaycorp505 I have a soft spot for many unpopular pinballs! I even like Independence Day, but Gilligan i do not like at all. This is my opinion

[@memeplaycorp505]

@@antonvlasjuk3079 Well if it’s your opinion, I guess sometimes we have our own opinions, sometimes agree or disagree.

[@marcoohcanada4168]

I guess we need to use fowl language to review pinball machines

[@Holy-Rowlo88]

I thought so too. Repent

[@mrwhippy101]

lol

[@kevineddis6681]

I don’t think you watched the video. I didn’t hear a single tweet, cacaw, or cockle-doodle-doo during the entire thing. I did hear a lotta cussin though.

[@alkohallick2901]

The original KISS is horribly boring.

[@Mechulus]

Didn't need the unnecessary language TBH.

[@Holy-Rowlo88]

Dang zooperlenials