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THEME vs GAMEPLAY

GZ - best Theme tired with best flow and gameplay for me as im a fan of all that crazy Toho weird and crazy stupidness.
I was in day one due to theme and I knew Elwin would at least have put some effort into it and he didn’t disappoint. SThings, DP and BM66 just pipped to the post.

GB - Best Theme spoilt by Gameplay due to the obvious annoying flipper issue. I was not prepared to put long flippers or that overhead center post mod to compensate as it changes the game into something it was not intended to have. Roll on a vault with new geometry and im in. SW has to come close 2nd for me it as it just hasn’t been given justice but Mando did come close.

FT - Worst Theme and what the hell were they thinking a Fish Themed pinball! But dam it just works so well. So does RS which was so wrong but again proved itself.
 
Luckily there's enough pins out there that'll be both good shooters and good themes for most people. I bought walking dead being a fan of the show and got completely engrossed in it and it would probably be the last one to leave now, turtles I was ok with the theme but game didn't grab me, traded it for maiden which I love the theme and the game so it'll stay longer, fish tales hated the theme but loved the game, bsd ugly cab and decent game, but was too frustrating for me so passed it on, tftc great theme and great fun shooter and easy enough for mates to accidently get a multiball on when there over so they always gravitate towards it but also has deeper modes for experienced players. Yet to try DESW but the theme is great and would like to have one at some stage. I think unless your going to have a huge collection you can find the sweetspot between both..
 
Growing up as a lad in 80's arcades I found that the theme of a pinball table very much influenced what I wanted to play, basically being anything sci-fi, racing car or jet fighter etc. Due to that I did miss out on a lot of classic pins and in later life I've come to appreciate a lot more of the gameplay elements and look beyond what the theme is about.

I think the first table I noticed this with was Who Dunnit, which certainly wasn't a theme I would ever think I'de be keen on but the game played really well. Next would have been Cirqus Voltaire, where I stood looking at the table thinking "What the hell?", yet immediately got into it. Another would be Scared Stiff, wasn't particularly bothered by it at the time but really glad I get to own one now, theme and easy playability being both winners for me.

Even now some tables catch me out, largely the music themed pins for metal bands who I've never been a fan of such as Metallica and the AC/DC Luci tables which I've taken an instant liking to.

Of course it can go the other way as well, having initially liked the looks of the Ghostbusters and TMNT tables and yet getting let down a bit when eventually playing them. Would I own them for the themes? I guess at a push yes but I'de always lean towards good gameplay.
 
licksweets said:
Growing up as a lad in 80's arcades I found that the theme of a pinball table very much influenced what I wanted to play, basically being anything sci-fi, racing car or jet fighter etc. Due to that I did miss out on a lot of classic pins and in later life I've come to appreciate a lot more of the gameplay elements and look beyond what the theme is about.

I think the first table I noticed this with was Who Dunnit, which certainly wasn't a theme I would ever think I'de be keen on but the game played really well. Next would have been Cirqus Voltaire, where I stood looking at the table thinking "What the hell?", yet immediately got into it. Another would be Scared Stiff, wasn't particularly bothered by it at the time but really glad I get to own one now, theme and easy playability being both winners for me.

Even now some tables catch me out, largely the music themed pins for metal bands who I've never been a fan of such as Metallica and the AC/DC Luci tables which I've taken an instant liking to.

Of course it can go the other way as well, having initially liked the looks of the Ghostbusters and TMNT tables and yet getting let down a bit when eventually playing them. Would I own them for the themes? I guess at a push yes but I'de always lean towards good gameplay.
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Don’t think there’s a better theme for pinball than JP, best theme with top 10-20 gameplay Is a winning combo
 
Family Guy is a brilliant theme, but poorly executed.

CFTBL was a theme I didn't quite understand as a child, I understand now of course. The theme is integrated well, my only criticism is that the bowl ramp is underused.
 
It’s theme that initially grabs your interest.
You still need to have good gameplay.
I think you need both.
 
It's a mix for me...

Buying for Tilt I buy for the theme and what will make money... The exception to the rules is any Elwin game...

Personally I only really have machines I love so doesn't matter about the theme!
 
Still a theme queen.

TWD is the only game that has come close to me reconsidering my stance on that, but the artwork is just too fugly I'm not having that at home.
 
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