Pinball Machines That Are Easier Than They Look

Some pinball machines look absolutely terrifying.

The playfield is packed, the shots are flying everywhere and the whole thing seems designed to punish you. But appearances can be misleading. Some machines are surprisingly forgiving once you understand their geometry, and several can produce much longer games than you would expect.

Here are some of the best examples.

Attack from Mars Remake — An Open Playfield Helps

Attack from Mars looks busy enough, but the lower playfield is actually very open.

There aren't many dangerous objects sitting directly above the flippers, which means the ball has fewer ways to disappear unexpectedly. If you play carefully and concentrate on controlling the ball, games can become surprisingly long.

The clean layout also makes it easier to understand where the ball is going, which is a big advantage for intermediate players.

Elvira's House of Horrors — Scary but Manageable

Elvira's House of Horrors looks like chaos.

The right side of the playfield is packed with mechanisms, the rules are deep and there are plenty of ways to get into trouble. Yet once you learn the major shots and understand the dangerous areas, the machine becomes much more approachable.

It is a good example of a game that looks harder than it actually plays.

King Kong — Don't Let Keith Elwin Fool You

This might be the best example on the entire list.

You see Keith Elwin credited on King Kong: Myth of Terror Island and immediately expect another machine that is going to destroy you.

But King Kong is surprisingly forgiving.

The game can produce extremely long playing sessions, and once you understand the flow and learn where the safer opportunities are, the machine becomes much more manageable than its appearance suggests. The combination of ambitious geometry and relatively generous ball control is one of the reasons owners often describe it as such a long player.

We also wrote about the machine in Best King Kong Pinball Mods, where we look at some of the ways its already impressive artwork can be extended.

Elton John — Speed Can Be Deceptive

Elton John looks extremely fast, and it is.

But speed doesn't automatically mean short games. Once you understand the shot patterns, the layout becomes much more readable and you can start controlling the pace rather than simply reacting to it.

That's what makes the machine deceptive.

It looks like a game that wants to throw the ball straight back at you, but there are plenty of opportunities to settle into a rhythm.

Foo Fighters — More Safe Than It Looks

Foo Fighters has a lot happening.

There are crossing shots, unusual geometry, the upper playfield and plenty of toys, so the first impression can be that you're looking at a very difficult game.

In reality, several important shots are surprisingly accessible. The centre spinner is particularly useful, while the upper playfield gives you another opportunity to keep control of the ball.

That can turn what initially looks like a chaotic game into a surprisingly long one.

And there is certainly no shortage of ways to customise it. The Foo Fighters Pinball Mods collection includes WizBlades, WizPanels, WizBats, WizEmblems, WizShooters, WizWings, WizAprons and WizDoors.

Star Trek — Fast, But Well Behaved

Steve Ritchie's Star Trek is fast.

Very fast.

But it is also extremely well tuned. Once you understand how the major shots return the ball to the flippers, you can keep control for much longer than you'd expect from such a quick machine.

This is a great reminder that speed and difficulty aren't the same thing.

A fast machine can actually be quite forgiving when its geometry gives a skilled player good opportunities to regain control.

Batman '66 — The Crane Looks Worse Than It Is

The crane moving through the middle of Batman '66 makes the game look considerably more dangerous than it actually is.

There's a lot happening visually, but the underlying layout is surprisingly approachable. Once you understand the shots and stop reacting to the movement of the toys, the game becomes much easier to control.

For an intermediate player, it is entirely possible to have very long games on this machine.

Cactus Canyon Remake — Surprisingly Friendly

Cactus Canyon Remake is another machine that has developed a reputation for being very approachable.

The shots are readable, the layout doesn't constantly attack the player with dangerous returns, and the game has plenty of opportunities to extend a run.

That makes it a particularly good example of a machine that looks like classic pinball chaos but can actually be quite forgiving.

And, for owners who want to customise it, the Cactus Canyon Remake Pinball Mods collection includes WizPanels, WizBats and several WizDoors.

Guns N' Roses — More Hardware, Less Chaos

Jersey Jack Pinball's Guns N' Roses looks like it should be completely overwhelming.

There is an enormous amount happening on the playfield, with lights, toys, mechanisms and multiple multiball opportunities. Yet once you understand the main objectives, the machine becomes much easier to read.

The sheer amount of hardware makes it look intimidating from the outside, but it doesn't necessarily translate into short games.

That's the interesting thing about all these machines: the number of things on a playfield doesn't tell you how difficult the game actually is.

Don't Judge the Game by the First Ball

Some pinball machines are genuinely brutal.

Others simply look brutal.

A crowded playfield, fast shots or complicated toys can make a machine seem impossible before you've even played it properly. But good geometry can make a huge difference, giving players clear shots, useful returns and plenty of chances to regain control.

That's why machines such as King Kong, Foo Fighters, Batman '66 and Cactus Canyon Remake can surprise people so much.

And if you want to go in the opposite direction, our Hardest Modern Pinball Machines Ever Made guide looks at the machines that really do want to punish you.

The lesson is simple:

Never judge a pinball machine by how scary its playfield looks.