Williams Black Knight Pinball Review - 1980 Steve Ritchie Pinball Machine Gameplay

[@ZiggyTheAdventurer]

I was a teenager when this came out and our arcade got it. it blew our minds, I dream of owning one for my home

[@fredhurst2528]

This game was godly when it came out, the sound put me in total nostalgia mode. I believe this was the first (edit: pinball) game I paid two quarters per game for the first year it was out.

[@jamesdubeck4920]

I'm 30 yrs old, me and my cousin used to play this down the jersey Shore at the royal Hawaiian in wildwood crest..... We mastered this game....one of my fave pinball machines EVER.... Nice info on the back story and thanks for the upload

[@sussexdel4310]

My favorite pinball game of all time - and your review is incredible! I thought I knew this game very well, but I hadn’t really thought about he the gameplay has a flow, and it’s simple - yet adding a new level and introducing Magna-Save made it very complex and innovative. Appreciate the history and backstory, too...thank you.

[@QuantumRift]

Man, I dropped a LOT of quarters in that machine back then. A LOT.

[@CeeJaiVee]

Me too!

[@Jimjaycee]

I've had my Black Knight for 20 years. It still gets played often...

[@sputxx]

On my first year of high school I had to take city bus home. Where I transferred there was a bowling alley and they had Black Knight. It's the first pinball machine I ever played and looked forward to playing it ever day of the week which I did. Played many different models over the years but Black Knight was and has always remained my favorite.

[@fearthelamb8084]

Best classic PBG. I played it in 1980, I remember being mesmerized by it.

[@CreesNostalgiaHut]

I used to ROCK this table at my local arcade! Your arcade makes me so jealous!

[@HigzyTeflon]

Best pinball game, EVER!

[@Andronicus87]

WOuld be much better with rubber on the side drains... the ball CONSTANTLY drains down the left.

[@VulpisFoxfire]

Enh...personally, BK2000 edges it out, if only for the audio. :-)

[@systemshocker2875]

No,that honor goes to Medieval Madness

[@tzpinball]

Nope, twilight zone

[@alanburgess2203]

I'm with you Higzy, grew up with this when it came out, spent so much in the arcades, I'm 57 now and would love to own one 😉

[@nirtlocj]

Truly the greatest pinball machine ever created. An absolute classic.

[@gynandroidhead]

Yes

[@wryker]

I played it back then when we took our annual 4th of July family trip and that's the only time I was able to play pinball: on the Boardwalk at Weir's Beach in NH...sooo many years ago. I can still remember "Will thee challenge thee Black Knight again?"...

[@muzboz]

Awesome video man. Great explanation of the way all the mechanics and elements work. Legendary.

[@DJThinK707]

I have a Black Knight now. Love it. Classic classic pin!!!!!

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

My favorite pinball ever. Spent tons of quarters on it back in the day.

[@edriant1916]

Yes, I have long declared it the best game I have ever seen. Got some good news a few days ago! Here in Ohio there will be a pinball show in a few days. The owner of a local arcade (actually a bar with LOTS of machines) said he will be bringing his restored Black Knight! I discovered it at the Silver Ball arcade in Athens Ohio in 1981. One of the few machines where skill outweighs luck

[@JBEEUD]

Not sure if it's been mentioned "way back" in the comments, but the displays are not LED. They are neon and those are referred to as numeric or 7-segment displays.

[@kennyembry8969]

Have the ps2 game with it in the arcade. It was a great one. At 10:38 you go into one of the best features that's almost creepy about it. They had this in a game "room" in Sears and an Aladin's Castle at a mall I visited and it was the game I played and pretty much mastered. Weird thing is that it would taunt you from afar when you heard the words "You will not challenge the Black Knight". The arcade was near the doors to the mall and when I was leaving sometimes I heard it and made a Uturn straight to the machine for a challenge. It also happened when I was in Sears and in both instances I often heard it over other noise in the mall and other machines in the arcade. I played a game where if I was shopping and heard it then I had to play. Reminded me of that episode of Twilight Zone where the one armed bandit kept taunting the gambler with "Franklin" to get him to gamble. One of the neat features that was one of the best advertising draws I've ever seen or experienced.

[@xjamie85x]

This truly is an amazing review, im currently researching pinball & this is very well put together review with details of designers & so on. Keep up the great work John

[@JohnWolgamot]

I kept waiting for you to go up the steep ramp. That was the most satisfying sound to make it up that steep ramp and get that thunder with flashing. That alone kept the quarters flowing into the machine when I was in my 20's. I'd drive clear out to White Oaks Mall in Springfield, IL to stand there and play this game. And you're right. The flippers were underpowered. You had to hit it just right to make it up that steep ramp. Years later I found another black night game in a bar somewhere. The flippers were so worn out there was no way to make it up the steep ramp. I was very disappointed and didn't keep playing. If I ever get the extra money, I would buy a restored Black Night machine.

[@bneyens]

i had this pinball machine in my house when I was a kid. I played it infinite hours. Thanks for the memories.

[@420FlowerPower]

I’m a chick. I was 23 in ‘93 in Houston. It was hotter than hell. We started going to the dollar movie theater because it was icy cold A/C. They had this one machine in the lobby. ⚡️ROCK AND ROLL⚡️ I always remembered it because it was so cool and so fun to play. It’s a full body experience. Someday, I’m gonna land somewhere and find this machine for myself. Take care of it! PS pretty cool pinball jam song. 😎

[@CeeJaiVee]

This was my favourite pinball from the 80's, hands down!

[@curiousottman]

I recently converted my BK to led bulbs. Much more vibrant gameplay and so beautiful in attract mode in a darkened room. Uses about 60 watts less power too.

[@richardjanice4924]

You are correct with the slower play and under powered flippers…I have a few older machines with the same problem. The easiest solution I use is getting 1” balls instead of the regulation 1 1/16 ones. the difference is unbelievable. It’s not unlike putting the transformer on hi tap on the EM machines.

[@Titanic4]

As a mere fact, Bally's Truck Stop actually uses 1 inch balls, since when the game was firstly designed, the design team had an issue with balls getting stuck on the transition between the plastic ramp and the corresponding wireform when the game had 1 1/16 inch balls installed. The wire ramps' inside radius was misread by the vendor, who made them before game's samples were ready for the trade show. Since creating corrected wire ramps would take too long, the design team changed standard sized balls into 1 inch ones and the issue was solved.

[@smoodles6000]

Thanks for doing this video. I've never seen this machine for real, but I play it a LOT on the Pinball Arcade simulation. I love the game, one of my favourite pinballs. Great to see it being played for real. Nice use of the music in your song and that camera view from just by the lower playfield flippers is great. Loved it!

[@johanlaurasia]

Black Knight was an attempt by the pinball industry to "stay in the game" because at the time, digital arcade games were beginning to push out pinball from the arcades, so Williams, who was big in pinball, but also having success with digital games like Defender, Joust, Robotron, etc... was using the same digital technology that was killing pinball to "save" it. I was never personally a big pinball fan, but I did play Black Knight back in the day. The only other Pinball game I ever really studied / got into was Star Trek: The Next Generation.

[@hey_buddy_waz_up]

Dude has the best mancave. Ever.

[@estebanguillermobaliari8802]

Thanks you for play again, I love this pinball, my favorite to, i never see back again... i missed!

[@b.o.353]

Keep it stock. First pinball I played back in Vegas in ‘80. Love it. Great trade!

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

I remember being fascinated by this game when I was little. My first time touching this game, however, was when I was 5 when we went out of state for Christmas and saw relatives, and after visiting my late paternal grandparents (grandmother died in 2000 and grandfather died in 2009) following spending our Christmas with my maternal grandparents. We stopped by my father's friend's place, where he has collected pinball games. As I wasn't that great with pinball (and I'm still not that great with pinball today), I kept hitting the flipper buttons. My father caught it all on a home video from 1990. When I saw my dad's buddy in 1996, he had the Earthshaker arcade game. It was a fun game.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

The first time I saw this machine in 1980 (when i was about 11), it blew my mind. "TWO levels???"

[@eddieortega101]

Nice review John. On a side note that song is badass! I love it. Has an 80's kind of feel. IMO. Great job!

[@mrdoofa9357]

I love playing this on The pinball arcade on my PS4, would love to play the real table one day. Love the way you sampled the black knight music into your own song at the end!!!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

I played this with my dad when it first came out. It blew my mind then and it still delivers fun for me today.

[@yeksun]

Man I just love your energy and the way you explain things. Nice and quick . Are you still doing arcade stuff ? I noticed you dont really do the videos anymore. I just assume life has you busy.

[@Dynasystem]

You guys really dont know how lucky you are to have the access you do to these gems. To my knowledge there is two black knights in Ireland both privately owned.Great video John, love watching your videos just to chill out on my days off. Your tutorials are very easy to understand compared to most. Cheers man

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks! Black Knight is pretty common here I think. They made a lot of them! Thanks for watching!

[@Dynasystem]

We dumped most of our old cabinets from arcades.Ireland being the size it is, youll mainly come across pacman, galaga etc and ridiculous amounts of time crisis flyin about.

[@Deploracle]

I remember those magnets could pull a ball that was already draining back out again.

[@Eric4bz]

My aunt and uncle actually had one of these for their own. Modified so that it didn't need coins to be played. I can't even remember how many hours i sunk playing that thing when I visited them... hope they still have it because it is a TREASURE.

[@georgehampton25]

Black Knight and Defender were my two favorites!

[@CeeJaiVee]

Black Knight was my favourite pinball from the 80's 😊

[@jamessweeney6428]

This game is so perfect. Not overwhelming. Easy to figure out the objectives but isn’t confusing. I have so many good memories from Black Knight. I can actually hear the theme in my head now. Lol

[@mustardlicious4382]

I know I'm very late, but I love the unfinished song at the end. Keep up the great work! :)

[@wessagussett1]

John, you should check out "pop bumpers pinball" in North Weymouth, MA. It just opened an is a pinball only arcade.

[@johndunbar5565]

Me and a few of my pals are driving up to the Bean from Newark to check this place out! Heard the ownwers on a podcast you pay a covercharge and play on free play. They got some old machines that are rare. Do they still plan to have turneys?

[@elmerowen177]

pinball only! :( how they think they stay in business????? people still play pinball LOLZ!!!

[@MikeGervasi]

I've done a few upgrades since picking this up from you but it's awesome that my pin is in one of your vids :)

[@Johnsarcade]

Ha! Yeah, that Black Knight is SWEET. :)

[@pinballdan]

Mike Gervasi I hope you KEEP IT!!!!

[@MikeGervasi]

Dan Keller I did a CPR PF swap and new Mayfair backglass. Sold it about 7 months ago

[@pinballdan]

Mike Gervasi Well at least you gave it some love before you sold it.What did you do with the original backglass?I would buy it if it was priced right :-)

[@MikeGervasi]

Dan Keller Gave it to a local pinhead who had one that was far worse :)

[@jodini5]

Good stuff! Always love the vids! Thanks John!

[@dward99ar]

Black Knight can be set to free play. Set function 18 (maximum credits) in the game adjustments menu to 0.

[@Johnsarcade]

Yes, I know that now. I added a note on the video earlier today. Didn't you see it? Either way, my mistake! Whoops!

[@greg55666]

Ah, that's so cool! I never would have noticed it, but as soon as you said it, of course those are the same sounds as Robotron and Defender!

[@MissVeronikaBlack]

Spent many a quarter on this back in the 80's at Godfathers pizza in Federal Way, WA..

[@Doggo_Norse]

Every video that had this intro I hit the like button

[@HaroldsStuff]

I'd rather have a black knight over a fast break or whirlwind.

[@Johnsarcade]

I wouldn't ;)

[@HaroldsStuff]

+John's Arcade Game Reviews & Tech I still think you should get a Atari Hercules pinball machine :)

[@Arcadehollywood]

+Harolds Stuff I recently acquired a Black Knight, love it...but I love my Baywatch, Fishtales, and Star Wars Episode I a bit more. But those awesome Williams sound effects on the Black Knight!! Killer!!!

[@DkViking1]

I just sold my NBA Fast Break, Star Wars Episode 1 and JackBot - to keep my Black Knight! 🤠 I ran out of room, unfortunately.

[@RBMRYU1]

Awesome game and song. Congratulations from Brazil.

[@Meachumz]

"Designed to drain your balls..." Sounds like my Ex.

[@Topesio66]

LOL!!!!!!

[@pryingeyes1551]

How many quarters did you frustratingly jam into her slot, with the hopes of winning?

[@GrimChaos2]

Pretty cool ending. I like this machine. The simplicity is nice.

[@Johnsarcade]

Yeah, I agree! That's charm of it for me.

[@Take2VideosMI]

Favorite machine growing up in the early 80's

[@frazie46]

Awesome video, thanks for all of your hard work

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks!!! :)

[@OregonPepper]

Great review thanks!!

[@rdhorsey9081]

Georgian Grill, Balm Beach, Ontario, Canada - the only game I would play there throughout the '80s.

[@rosalynrussell3959]

This was my absolute favorite pinball game at the arcade! I believe it was the 1st one they charged 50 cents to play which was later reduced.

[@iankellogg]

awesome, i have been looking forward to this review!

[@georgeshelton6281]

I'll always remember when I looked at the classic Soquel High School knights mural. Since I've mentioned going over to Soquel High School; I best remembered when I used to go over to this place, for swimming school lessons; that was back then, during the entire 1970s. 🏫 😌 😪 🤧 ✨️ 😴 🏫

[@RRL110]

I spent hours playing this after the bell rang at high school in 1981. Grand Illusion Arcade, Bowie MD.

[@brianblessing2445]

just wondering who or how was the black knight's speech recorded or generated and what phrases does he say,especially if you defeat him

[@JohnBurrows48]

Phrases are located in this manual: www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-pinball/B/Black_Knight_OPS.pdf

[@davidmedeiros2856]

Lol! I remember playing this game back in the day! Bowling alley in Fairhaven, Ma.

[@usdescartes]

Black Knight 2000 is literally the best machine I've ever played. If I ever get a machine for our basement, it'll be BK2k.

[@Eyedunno]

Man, didn't know the same guy did Black Knight 2000 AND The Getaway. Those are my two favorite tables.

[@malkneil]

Nice vid John. Got a couple questions for you if you have the time to answer. I'm at the tail end of fixing one of these up and wondering about a couple things. First I seem to get a lot of ball bounce when a shot on the middle ramp misses and hits those white rubbers on the side -- to the point that it sometimes jumps a rail and drains out the right outlane. Ever see this? Second the infamous left ramp. I jacked up the rear levelers quite a bit (could use more even). That shot seems to be only makeable if you hit it REAL clean. Did you do any kind of adjustment to the right flipper specifically that aids in making that shot? Thanks!

[@TheSev-]

Dammit, I'm going to have that song stuck in my head at work tomorrow.. "I don't know... why you wont touch me.. won't touch meeeee.." My co workers will think I'm insane.. Thanks!

[@Johnsarcade]

LOL! Sorry. :)

[@maxhemenway]

21:36

[@occultpyromancer]

john, could you put up a download for the little music loop from the game itself?

[@UnwoundS3GA]

Great Video, As Always John! I had a chance to play one of these at the Ohio Pin Show! These are awesome! I don't usually like the earlier pins either, but this is definitely an exception! :)

[@badreality2]

There was one at the 10th Annual Ohio Pinball Show? I must have missed it. I went on Friday. Was it there that day? I did get a chance to play Black Knight's sequel, Black Knight 2000. It features the best pinball music ever created. :) Though the machine featured had a couple of minor issues. There was a significant time lag, whenever the machine needed to sense a drained ball, and the dispensing of a new ball. Also, the plunger spring was worn. Only a deep plunge would deliver the ball.

[@UnwoundS3GA]

badreality2 Yeah, I was there on Saturday. When I first got there on Sat. It was off. Later on, someone turned it on. So, I got to give it a try. Must of been new on Sat because It was just a few pins down from Black Night 2000.

[@rockmasterdjriz7776]

god i lovethis pinball game..when all the balls came shootin down......thanks john...awesome arcade dude!!!!!!

[@jschlarb]

Enjoyed the video John!

[@matthewgrice98]

Best Pinball game I ever played.

[@cyrusoverland4121]

Nice review. My nearest arcade has a beater Black Night. Nice to see what one looks like cleaned up. P.S. You need a bigger basement.

[@sseltrek1a2b]

one of the coolest and toughest machines out there...

[@bath4741]

You don't suck... Thank you for the video. I'm getting mine fixed in a couple of weeks. All good.

[@nicholastosoni707]

"three lights" "THERE! ARE! FOUR! LIGHTS!"

[@KevBoneT]

You tell 'em, Jean-Luc Picard.

[@rifkijohngm]

One of my favs!

[@jamesdubeck4920]

loved this machine! !!

[@afrose71]

Xenon and Black Knight -- my favs. :)

[@vintageclubjunkie]

John, I have a Williams Barracora from that same era as Black Knight. It has always and will forever be propped up in the back. A piece of 3/4" plywood, or some pinfooties on the back legs will get you the extra pitch you need. I think you already use wax on your playfields, so that'll speed things up nicely, too.

[@Johnsarcade]

Yeah, I think some 3/4" plywood would do it. I gotta do that, it needs to be faster! Yes, I have already waxed the playfield.

[@vintageclubjunkie]

If you have a large spade/paddle bit, you can chip out the exact spots where your leg levelers land. This will prevent slipping in case of a big shove or cluttered gamenight where people skooch behind eachother and bang into games. Also, did Joe ever get his Taxi pinball problem figured out? He mentioned an error of some sort when he turned it on, and that error is most likely "ADJUST FAILURE." He might need to do the same thing with the battery holder as you have on Black Knight. Lord knows he doesn't need battery acid chewing up his MPU.

[@uhfnutbar1]

Black Knight is cool game i remeber it well was populor game :)

[@Johnsarcade]

Yeah, absolutely! It's one of the most produced pinballs ever.

[@jsenigaglia]

Looks good. Have fun with it.

[@jsenigaglia]

Atleast Tighe is giving you the thumbs up. You've officially made it!

[@uhfnutbar1]

You sarcastic pick

[@jsenigaglia]

Cant a guy be supportive anymore these days? Geez.

[@petervachon6989]

Great vid and a classic pinball machine. I noticed in your arcade that you had Major Havoc beside your pinball games. I personally prefer the barrel roller controller instead of the rotary knob controller that you have. I've gotten better control using the barrel controller than using the knob both when on the space battles/mazes and moving the character in the ship to get to the reactor, especially through the hard areas. Quite the collection you have. :) Cheers.

[@Johnsarcade]

I have the roller now. It rocks.

[@Psiberzerker]

This is my favorite, and the theme music is probably the best part. Worth way more than a Donkey Kong. You can get another one of those, but a Black Knight isn't on the market nearly as often.

[@Psiberzerker]

When I was a kid, Pinball was a "Big kid" game. Meaning teenagers, because "It takes skill, and concentration..." Gamers haven't changed that much, but at the Bowling Alley, or Putt Putt, video games were considered "Kid's games." The first video game I played was Tennis for 2 (Basically the sequel to Pong) on the oscilloscope in the garage. My dad was an electrical engineer, so we got the schematic out of the back of one of his Electronics magazines, and wired it up with Radio Shack parts as a family project. I played that before Pong came out in arcades, but my best game was Joust.

[@mathewgrinnell7392]

Hey john i love the opening music on that game could you upload a video with the music or just record it and put the link to download it please??

[@theorgandude]

very cool game and sounds, i like the numeric and alpha-nums the best!

[@Master_Nightstone]

That song need to be the title song to some king of sitcom.

[@lvbgboan]

Awesome! I have a Black Knight!😊

[@Phantomthecat]

Best machine ever - have one in my lounge room. 😁

[@larrydavid255]

There is a free play option on this machine. In the settings, option 18, max # credits-00. puts it in free play.

[@Fortuna1]

If not can get this pinball, can buy too, in Steam, the tables Black knight and Black knight 2000 from Pinball Arcade PS: this pinball has a incredible music (Black knight 2000)

[@Deploracle]

Nothing like being a microsecond late on the Magna-Save and being laughed at. Still more quarters would flow ..

[@danielwysocki4135]

Drop targets? Flipper placement? I am not here to throw shade at Steve Ritchie (he is fantastic), but any discussion of Ritchies Black Knight innovations (though substantial) is irrelevant and perhaps even nonexistant without the groundbreaking design genius of the legendary godfather of pinball innovation; STEVE KORDEC KORDEK. Appearently, a basement full of machines gives one the authority to declare the top #1 and #2 pinball designer's of all time. Kordek .

[@humblegamer1125]

As a kid I went to plenty of arcades and I avoided pinball machines (not good - didn't get them) EXCEPT when it came to Black Knight. I still wasn't good at it, but I really enjoyed the game.

[@mrkattm]

You can't beat a good EM pinball machine, I recommend caption fantastic or maybe full house.

[@game_whisperer1606]

Great video as always, you know I'm not a pin guy, so for me these machines are taking up valuable basement space that classic games like Mappy, Cheeky Mouse and Clutch Hitter could occupy. You know it makes sense, put them on CL ;-)

[@Johnsarcade]

LOL! I'll give you Mappy and MAYBE Cheeky Mouse. But, Clutch Hitter?!?!

[@grimisti14]

Great song John -)

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks, buddy! :)

[@danure]

Really enjoy your vids John! Wish I had even a fraction of your collection :). Do you have a blog or story online on how you got started?

[@Johnsarcade]

I've talked about it before. I think that if you watch my year end review I released in December I go into it. No? And... thanks!

[@danure]

I'll have to go check it out :). Thanks again!

[@TheBoatPirate]

i loved this game.