Chicago Gaming Co.
Cactus Canyon (Remake - Special Edition) Pinside Rating
This game received 246 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.670 /10
Cactus Canyon (Remake - Special Edition)
Top 100 ranking
This game ranks 2nd in the game group "Cactus Canyon". The group itself ranks #14 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 8.774
Artwork: 8.48
Sounds/Music: 8.256
Other Aspects: 8.866
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 2 of us have rated this game.
This title is part of group: "Cactus Canyon"
Found 90 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 90 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 4.
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Melbourne
8.640/10
3 months ago
Fairfax, VA
Fun game! Never played the original and these seems to be a true call back to it. For me theme is really important and I liked this one. Slower play compared to the other modern games coming out right now but still fun. Edit: not sure if my score reflects how I really feel, it’s a really good pin and one of like to own.
Lyon
9.364/10
6 months ago
played alot of CC by Williams, and liked it, even though it was an incomplete game. the CCR special is lightyears ahead of the Williams title, and I am a happy owner. great sound and animations, always perfect fan layout with some good depth and variation, and the kids love it. I love this game now. congrats to CGC
9.118/10
6 months ago
If there was one game I'd want to play over and over it would be Cactus Canyon. While it is relatively simple, the shots are satisfying and the callouts never get old.
9.480/10
6 months ago
It has proven to be slightly too easy for an experienced player. I completed High Noon and won the yhe game after only 1 week of play. But I still keep coming back again and again bc it's fun to play. It very approachable to for a beginner who can immediately have gun and feel successful. The theme is easily recognizable and has staying power across decades. It's a game I plan to keep for a long time.
9.019/10
9 months ago
Cactus Canyon Remake is the first of the CGC remakes that I have owned. I can say without a doubt it is the best value for the money of the NIB pins currently on the market. Its an incredibly fun game - the most important thing is that it is fun for everyone. I have it next to Star Wars Prem and Jurassic Park Prem and more often than not its the one people play repeatedly, because its just way more approachable in shots and speed than most modern Sterns. Yes it is not as deep as modern games.....but to be honest its sort of nice to have a game like that in the collection. It is on the easy side if you play a decent amount of pinball. I bought the game on Sunday and just today I actually completed it....and that is completing all of the modes to light the star, fully ranking up and finishing high noon. Im not a pro pinball player by any means - I would consider myself an ok player at best .... but I guess the modern games have just gotten so fast and so much more difficult that playing an older game does feel a bit like easy mode. That said.....It doesnt matter! Its still fun, Ill still play it again and when people come over they will likely still enjoy it the most because it does hit that sweet spot of being just right in difficulty for the average person. The mechs are great, the lights are awesome and the callouts are fun.....If it werent for the backglass I would say the game looks great....but I have the Brian Allen one ordered so...easy fix. :)
8.126/10
9 months ago
Love this remake, very fun like the original, great flow.nice ramps, bash Bart, gold rmine shaft, to me feels easy to play ,multi ball after multi ball...I've never had a multi ball so long on any game, it keep spitting the balls back out after gold mine hit or bad guy...too sweet love the jack pots...I would love to own it..found myself tired of playing the game so long, , replay after replay.... yet still satisfying!!!
7.956/10
10 months ago
A great game, I was concerned when it was announced that this was being remade that it wasn’t that great a game never having played one myself and that the demand was due to scarcity because of how limited the original run was. I was very happy when I got to play one because it is a great game.
10.000/10
10 months ago
Best all around game I have ever played, for experts and beginners. Setup properly this game goes from mild to wild. You can make all sorts of adjustments if you want to make the difficulty increase. I have not made it to high noon yet but I read it's not exciting enough. we shall see!
9.163/10
11 months ago
Its got everything you could want in an open field pinball game... from the pop-up bandits, to the lighting colors, it's a beautiful fun game. Dialogue is funny, the shots are a bit easier but punishing if you miss. With a few Mezel mods to fill in the theme, it really comes together. Going to be a sad day when/if i trade it in for something else. Turn off the lights and enjoy the beautiful colors!
9.456/10
11 months ago
Game is a classic and absolute fun. of the 4 this would ranks 4th ... I want it because I own the other 3 but it's not as exciting as I'd hoped it would be... would rank it 4th of the CGC four:
MMr =10/10
AFM =10/10
MB =9.8/10
CCr =9.5/10
MMr =10/10
AFM =10/10
MB =9.8/10
CCr =9.5/10
8.522/10
1 year ago
Really solid game to remake. With complete code and CGC hardware this one becomes sort of like a resto-mod car. It has the 90s difficulty so desperately lacking in most new Sterns, where bad shots are punished and good shots get clean returns (for the most part). It also is not a make-or-break multiball in competition, which is really refreshing as the scoop can be fussy and it encourages multiple approaches.
Pros: Difficulty level, rule set, fun modes and mini-modes, low and generally balanced scoring, it's a really solid game overall. If it's at a barcade, I'll probably play it. The pop-up drops are polar opposite of the Scolari Bros. on GB- they add to the play and are functional! For a two-flipper game, you have to change your eye level a decent amount due to excellent placement of things.
Cons: Why the aggressive strobes on returns??? I've drained due to being unable to see the ball countless times. Also with such low scoring, the bonus multiplier and pops can swing a game without the player doing anything. It can be safer and more lucrative to hit up the left side rather than go for any of the more central shots if the rubbers are bouncy or slings are aggressive.
Pros: Difficulty level, rule set, fun modes and mini-modes, low and generally balanced scoring, it's a really solid game overall. If it's at a barcade, I'll probably play it. The pop-up drops are polar opposite of the Scolari Bros. on GB- they add to the play and are functional! For a two-flipper game, you have to change your eye level a decent amount due to excellent placement of things.
Cons: Why the aggressive strobes on returns??? I've drained due to being unable to see the ball countless times. Also with such low scoring, the bonus multiplier and pops can swing a game without the player doing anything. It can be safer and more lucrative to hit up the left side rather than go for any of the more central shots if the rubbers are bouncy or slings are aggressive.
8.360/10
1 year ago
Updated review after 500 games on bottom of review
This pinball gets the pure fun achievement award. If a new person were to step up to any pin I’d recommend this one. this will challenge about 80% of people but a good player will have long games on this pin. The theme is fun, the music feels like you’re in a western, lights are awesome and it has just enough toys in the mineshaft, beer mug, train and Bart to enjoy every shot. This made my 4 pin lineup and maybe is the most liked pinball machine. Godzilla, Deadpool, Cactus Canyon and Whirlwind. This and Godzilla will never leave it’s to good. The gun fight lights need to be taken off the flash as it’s very annoying. Does anyone else love Bionic Bart Mode? I flipping love that mode!!! Top ten favorite in Pinball!
Had to do an update. 6-28-2023
First here’s some adjustments
Pinball adjustments I recommend:
Low setting on shaker motor as it’s way too shakey
-1 flipper strength I noticed my shots went over the ramps too much.
-1 pop up target some didn’t go down when hit.
Low lights for the flashers in gun fight.
Quick draw: increase the difficulty as it’s up to long
For good players open up side lanes
Max: 2 extra balls
This game is still fun but I did make some adjustments. I’ve played over 500 games. I think some people think this game is easy and I agree as games sometimes get long but after opening up the side lanes and adjusting settings this pin got more challenging! What a great addition! The color lights are very nice, plastic ramps are a nice change from metal which I normally like more but plastic works in this game. I like this pin a lot but the high noon needs to be adjusted as it’s too easy and we need a few more modes and a code update. When you hit the targets and it goes straight down the middle the ball should be saved. Sometimes I avoid hitting the one up the middle because it’s super dangerous. There should be less extra balls maybe 2 max and added protection for shooting the targets and less time to do so like the gunfight about 5 seconds. The hit Bart mode should be more hits only to the front end not around the back. They need the doors or something. If you look on the side of Bart there’s a weird opening I wonder it they’re doing something with that. Bionic Bart mode is one of my favorite modes but it would be cooler if you had to hit all 5 lanes just a thought maybe even while bad guys popped up to block it. I prefer it over the high noon mode which is a timed mode which I’m 5 of 5 for completing and too much money is given and it’s way to easy. Please add a better mode for high noon maybe a minute mode where you sim for one target then one ramp. Then one target one ramp, one target then one more ramp, add a ball save for the drop targets, and get a new add on soon and it could be a top 20 game. If they change high noon, add doors this will be in my collection forever! ALSO PLEASE TURN OFF THE BLINKING LIGHT IN FOR GUN FIGHT!
Final thoughts: great game, Fun Factor is top Notch, Build Quality is amazing, Sounds are Great. Depth is lacking, CGC took too long to release the update, I don’t like the shooter rod, needs a better wizard mode the end is too easy. This game has so much potential but it’s not there yet. After the update maybe it could be there as a top 10.
This pinball gets the pure fun achievement award. If a new person were to step up to any pin I’d recommend this one. this will challenge about 80% of people but a good player will have long games on this pin. The theme is fun, the music feels like you’re in a western, lights are awesome and it has just enough toys in the mineshaft, beer mug, train and Bart to enjoy every shot. This made my 4 pin lineup and maybe is the most liked pinball machine. Godzilla, Deadpool, Cactus Canyon and Whirlwind. This and Godzilla will never leave it’s to good. The gun fight lights need to be taken off the flash as it’s very annoying. Does anyone else love Bionic Bart Mode? I flipping love that mode!!! Top ten favorite in Pinball!
Had to do an update. 6-28-2023
First here’s some adjustments
Pinball adjustments I recommend:
Low setting on shaker motor as it’s way too shakey
-1 flipper strength I noticed my shots went over the ramps too much.
-1 pop up target some didn’t go down when hit.
Low lights for the flashers in gun fight.
Quick draw: increase the difficulty as it’s up to long
For good players open up side lanes
Max: 2 extra balls
This game is still fun but I did make some adjustments. I’ve played over 500 games. I think some people think this game is easy and I agree as games sometimes get long but after opening up the side lanes and adjusting settings this pin got more challenging! What a great addition! The color lights are very nice, plastic ramps are a nice change from metal which I normally like more but plastic works in this game. I like this pin a lot but the high noon needs to be adjusted as it’s too easy and we need a few more modes and a code update. When you hit the targets and it goes straight down the middle the ball should be saved. Sometimes I avoid hitting the one up the middle because it’s super dangerous. There should be less extra balls maybe 2 max and added protection for shooting the targets and less time to do so like the gunfight about 5 seconds. The hit Bart mode should be more hits only to the front end not around the back. They need the doors or something. If you look on the side of Bart there’s a weird opening I wonder it they’re doing something with that. Bionic Bart mode is one of my favorite modes but it would be cooler if you had to hit all 5 lanes just a thought maybe even while bad guys popped up to block it. I prefer it over the high noon mode which is a timed mode which I’m 5 of 5 for completing and too much money is given and it’s way to easy. Please add a better mode for high noon maybe a minute mode where you sim for one target then one ramp. Then one target one ramp, one target then one more ramp, add a ball save for the drop targets, and get a new add on soon and it could be a top 20 game. If they change high noon, add doors this will be in my collection forever! ALSO PLEASE TURN OFF THE BLINKING LIGHT IN FOR GUN FIGHT!
Final thoughts: great game, Fun Factor is top Notch, Build Quality is amazing, Sounds are Great. Depth is lacking, CGC took too long to release the update, I don’t like the shooter rod, needs a better wizard mode the end is too easy. This game has so much potential but it’s not there yet. After the update maybe it could be there as a top 10.
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