I have never met a DE game that I enjoyed playing. Bally/Williams was the Ferrari of pins and Data East was the YUGO.

Guns & Roses

Probably the best. But still overated imho.

from my experience, Back to the Future and Tales from the Crypt, in that order. never played gnr much.

DE's have really bad sound imo, and also tend to be very clunky games (hook is extremely clunky). I could never really get into Jurassic park either, too bad because I love the theme.

i really liked my BTTF and would definitely get another one someday. fun game

Tales From The Crypt, easily. Tommy would actually be as good (and has great audio) if it wasn't for the slingshots of death which fire the ball into the outlanes regularly.

+1

I like LAH, LW3 in addition to G&R and TFTC in terms of playing but know that you are into the art so I would have to say Torpedo Alley. It makes me smile and is good to play.

These are all the Sega/DE games I've ever actually played, in order of preference.

GnR
Baywatch (sega/DE)
LW3
Back to the Future
TFTC (the one I played didn't work so well so...)
South Park (hate the theme.. can't get past it)
Jurassic Park
Hook
Monday Night Football

I don't even need to play this one but I cant tell you it's probably the worst DE ever.. even with only 2 units made.

http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4339

Supposedly features a target with a picture of Tori Spelling on it, that when hit, says "I love you daddy."

It usually goes:
GNR
Tommy
TFTC/JP

I would also consider MSF and BF to be in there since they were in design when Sega was DE. After BF they switched to whitestar hardware and really started the bom cutdown that sega would become known for.

I think DE games- are better than several B/W. I have 8 games -3 are DE.

Top 5 imo
TFTC
GNR
JP
TOMMY
SW

I personally would say:

1 Tommy
2 GNR
3 TFTC

TFTC and LW3 are the only two I've played. TFTC is excellent.

Tommy then GnR

No mention of Batman. I have it and have been pleased with the game play (minus the missing parts talked about in another thread). It's not deep or real difficult but it's a really fun relaxing pin. If you are looking for a skill pin then look somewhere else but if you are looking for a good pin for the family I think it's a good one.

Sorry 85vett but batman is an early de and like all the small dmd de's it is incredibly shallow. It is a very nice looking machine, but the ruleset is very simple and it just doesn't have long term replay value compared to the others listed.

TFTC and SW for sure, great games for all skill levels.

Data East made some great pins despite what the B/W fanboys will tell you. Tommy happens to be my favorite but I am a big fan of The Who. Time Machine is a fun older DE.

All good. That's why I only recommended it for a family style pin. It's great for kids and visitors as you just hit play and go to town. Not much of a challenge for enthusiast though. I bought it for my wife and BOP for me. She almost never touches the BOP as it ticks her off but will spend hours on Batman.

I agree, I sold mine to my friend Jay so I still get to play it. Great changing music, million ramp shot, chimes, love it!

OMG that is the worst pinball idea ever. Was it done as some sort of vanity project?

Here it is by Pinside ratings. I would put Tommy at #1.

+1

GNR for me

Ditto.

GnR is pretty good if you like the theme and music.

I've played Tommy a few times and liked it.

I own JP and really enjoy it. I don't know what would have to come along to knock it out of my collection, but I intend on keeping at least one DE machine so it is probably going to be staying for a while.

WWF RR isn't a bad game from a layout, rules, and shots perspective. The upper playfield is pretty well done. The theme and audio totally kills it for me. If I had space for 20-30 games, I'd probably have kept the one I had.

Never played TFTC. I'd like to get the chance some day.

bang for buck - TFTC

Yours was the first TFTC that I've played and was sold on it.
My first John Borg machine and one of my fav Borg games.

1. TFTC,
2. JP
3. GNR

Besides GNR prices, most Data East pins can be bought for a nice price.

JP or GNR but they're not a particular favourites of mine , I just think they're better than the others.

I really have to find a Baywatch to play. I've heard nothing but good things about that pin.

I actually spent the most time on Star Trek!
It has amazing flow and it looks really nice with LED's installed.
I agree GNR and TOMMY has the most pinhead accolades but TFTC and SW cannot be counted out when it comes to home ownership. WWF is actually the sleeper in this group... It is really fun to play!
POTO and Hook probably has the best art IMO from this groups category- and even though it feels "clunky" Hook by far has to have the coolest spiral ramp. Baywatch gets a ramp kudos as well!
Also, as I stated in previous threads,
Time Machine's theme is just is SOO bad, that it is GOOD!
Definitely one of my guilty pleasures!

Oh,
And for pinballslave...
You can disable that post on TRON if you want to!

I've owned both GnR and JP. GnR wins hands down for me, with TFTC a close second. Didn't care much for JP.

Jurassic Park

Well for me even though I do own a LAH and like the unique 6 M-ball, I did favor TFTC theme but I am also partial to the SW as well.... "Great Shot kid! That was one in a million!" Thanks Han!

...Ah someday (sigh)

TOMMY

TFTC if pretty fun but you need to play it a while. I have several people that get crepped out by the artwork. LW3 is a hit with all new players I have over. Both pins are reliable in my collection. I do not have my Batman running yet.

GNR and Tommy.

+2

My first DE game was Batman. I played it for hours and hours and then sold it in 2002. Three weeks ago, on the Dutch Pinball Open, I got to play it again and still loved it!

But there are many Data East games that I like. Rocky and Bullwinkle stands out because it's just so much fun to play. But I also love my Gn'R, great ruleset and obviously great music. The nicest theme is Tommy, in my opinion. What a great total package and I like how they didn't over-use the blinders - keeps them special. and what about Apollo 13. The rocket, the moon, the 13 ball multi-ball. The only thing that sucks about that game is the backglass. TFTC is also a nice game with a crazy theme and even crazier artwork. Jurassic Park - fantastic license and a ball-eating Dino! And what about Last Action Hero. Definately a fun game if you can find one that functions well.

I'm by no means a DE fanboy, but do think that many of their games are equally good as Bally/Williams games from the early nineties. Okay, maybe the gameplay is not as good, but they did have some creative designs and nice artwork on some of their games. Any collection should have at least one or two Data East games, if you ask me.

I own SW and really enjoy it. The rule set is not deep, but the play is fun and I love the theme. Folks are draw to the Star Wars theme and hopefully it hooks them on pinball. And it can be found at a decent price.

TFTC then GnR and then Tommy.

GnR. Nothing else is close.

Guy in Knoxville had 3 of these at 3 warehouses full of arcade games I had the pleasure of browsing through this weekend. Along with a Shaq, TZ, T2, Waterworld, couple EMs, a few others I cant remember. Not sure why 3 Baywatchs though..guess he really liked Pam at some point in his life. Too bad he wanted high retail prices for them. Would have loved to snatch up the T2 or even the Waterworld.

There's a 13 ball multiball?! I need to play this!