Bally

Spy Hunter

Pinside Rating

This game received 57 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 6.012 _/10

6.012

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #288 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 5.848

Artwork: 6.924

Sounds/Music: 5.509

Other Aspects: 5.75

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.

5.813

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Found 33 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 33 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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7.409/10

3 months ago

CAD

cottonm4

Pinside+ Addict

Wichita, KS

11y 148K 16,628 10 23

My OP friend has had Spy Hunter on the floor with his other pins. I walked by it for 10 years because of the strange layout. Recently, the OP took the pin off the floor and to his his house. The other day he invited me over to play it.

He showed me the rules. And my eyes were opened. It has a cool rule set that you do not see if you just walk up and drop a coin. The rules are not complex but they do take a bit to understand.

As I watched him play, he showed how to open the inlane gate that sends the ball back to the play field. And the nhe showed how to light up the extra ball. Plus a few other tricks. And as I watched him play his bonus collection countdown took his score to beyond 1o million points and rolled over the score display.

I plan to go back over and get some more time on this pin. I'm not ready to chase one yet, but if one come up within a days drive I would be a buyer.

It is a respectable game.

7.019/10

5 months ago

CAR

Msmeap114

Pinside apprentice

Atlantic City, NJ

<1y 25,500 1 3 149

A fairly fun early 80s pin so long as the tilt is set very forgiving. Otherwise the pop bumper on the left side of the playfield quickly becomes infuriating. Also worth noting that while true to the original game, the music is atrocious.

Msmeap114 edited previous rating on January 14, 2024.

5.208/10

7 months ago

WPG

guymontag451

Wedgehead

Portland, OR

13y 92,800 1,006 25 170

Spyhunter tried a unique layout, but that layout was a failure. I like the art and sound package, but really dislike the rest of the game. It's just not a fun game to shoot, nor is there much to do. Playing it feels like a waste of time.

7.952/10

9 months ago

JSM

Georgiapinball

Balls Of Steel Pinball

Richmond Hill, GA

2y 58,550 102 10 26 1

Fun game that I feel people need to give a try. I just got one and im having a blast on it.

Georgiapinball currently owns this game.

3.292/10

2 years ago

KAB

Kurtpinba11

Pinside+ Frequent

Conway, AR

4y 35,400 8 7 56

I don’t even know where to start. Who thought a pinball machine with half an actual playfield was a good idea? It’s so claustrophobic, and if your ball gets on that left side, good luck. Gold Wings tried this layout, but at least it gave players a flipper on the left to fight off the instant drain when it heads to the left. I’m usually all about trying to find the good in any pinball machine, but Spy Hunter is so far the absolute worst table I’ve ever played.

6.343/10

2 years ago

BOB

Cudasales

Pinside member

Colorado Springs, CO

3y 25,400 80 8 11

Interesting design on the playfield with the 4 Flippers and everything moved to the right. It took a little time getting use to but ended up being a lot of fun.

I think this game doesn't get its due respect. Remember it was made back in 1984 and has some neat features to it for that era. Numerous rollovers in the top, left corner. 2 Flippers near the top of the game which is a game in itself.

I do understand that they tried to play off the success of the Video Game Spy Hunter which I dont see any relationship to that and the pinball machine. Other than that, it is a good game all on it's own.

Cudasales edited previous rating on June 17, 2022.
Cudasales has owned this game in the past.

3.977/10

3 years ago

PWH

CoolCatPinball

Pinside+ Frequent

Knoxville, TN

7y 148K 4,155 11 60 1

A friend of mine owned this game for a few months. What a boring machine. I gave it multiple chances, but walked away from it many times without even finishing my game.

8.328/10

3 years ago

JLC

RdRnr77

Inactive member

Tyrone, GA

3y 27,900 1 14 7

This game is unique in the way the play field flippers are off center. The rules take a little bit to get used to or even understand. But it actually becomes a fun game once you learn how it all comes together. Of course it’s hard to beat the classic spy hunter theme music while you play.

RdRnr77 has owned this game in the past.

6.739/10

3 years ago

DLL

Corntaters2

Pinside member

4y 26,900 4 8

Seems like a love it or hate it title. I grew up with peter gunn on tv, so the theme sound is endearing, albeit lamely reproduced. As a neophyte pinball hobbyist, this was my first pinball acquisition b/c it was relatively cheap, and the asymmetrical play field design caught my attention. This was also my diy practice/experiment machine, and I went crazy with the 1/2 inch spade bit to add more lighting. Good beginner experience with flipper rebuild as it has four. It has sentimental value and I still enjoy playing it even though it's not my go to machine.

1.000/10

5 years ago

TRG

TomGWI

Pinside member

12y 143K 10,945 156

Games a turd. Only game worse is Monte Carlo. Turrible!

9.284/10

6 years ago

TRU

SpaceTimeGuy

Pinside+ Frequent

Cleveland, OH

6y 77,550 377 6

This a very strategic pinball machine !!! Playfield design is very unique, fun and challenging !! A lot of skill shots ! This is definitely a thinking person's pinball (not the kind people can just hit the ball around and love it). Learning the rules really helps with the enjoyment of the game. Art work is very good (although cheesy 1980's). Artwork on back glass, playfield and cabinet work well together. Sound is very good also ... maybe a little repetitive but not enough to bother me. Lights are excellent. GREAT GAME !! Challenging but fun !! Can play it for years to come !!!

9.200/10

6 years ago

???

jimpin1967

Inactive member

Unknown

6y 12,750 2 7

this is a great game! very cool and challenging.

jimpin1967 edited previous rating on February 05, 2018.
jimpin1967 currently owns this game.

6.941/10

6 years ago

DRL

QuietEarp

Pinside member

Stroudsburg, PA

11y 87,300 708 9 26

I think that Spy Hunter is an OK game. Not too deep and it is a little weird with the flippers over to the right. It is not bad at all though, but it makes way more sense in a larger collection. I had one and really enjoyed it for a few months. Then when it was time to let it go nobody really wanted it. Not a bad game, but not a great game either.

QuietEarp has owned this game in the past.

5.151/10

7 years ago

MG

mogigrumbles

Pinside member

7y 17,300 1 9

Probably the worst music in all of pinball. The left bumper and shifted play field layout is just awful.

7.308/10

7 years ago

RIV

SteveRivet

Pinside member

Ashburn, VA

10y 35,650 29 2 22

Very atypical playfield layout with most of the action on the right 60% of the game. I enjoyed the machine a lot - pretty straightforward once you understood the ruleset, decent set of shots, and the left hand bagatelle was kind of interesting. Left side isn't as much of a drain monster as you'd think. It's a better machine for a multi-game collection or for more casual players. Usually can find them very reasonably priced and pretty reliable.

SteveRivet has this game on the wishlist.

4.722/10

8 years ago

AGB

Ramtuathal

Pinside member

Louisville, KY

8y 63,650 123 1 148

Spy Hunter has plenty of unique elements. The game features 2" flippers on the upper playfield trap, off-center 3" flippers to guard the drain, and tricky outlanes (or inlanes?) on the left of the lower PF make this table interesting to try to play on. However, of all the times I've played Spy Hunter, I've never been hooked to the machine - it lacks that "one more game" appeal because all of those interesting elements never really come together to make the game fun. Worth playing to see something a little different, but not worth a second shot.

5.791/10

8 years ago

DEL

SealClubber

Pinside Moderator

14y 127K 11,060 246

I do not like this game. The bagatelle on the left takes up too much space and really slows the game down. I groaned every time it went in there. I did not think this was a drain monster at any position. I found myself wishing it would drain faster. Artwork is ok. music is expected Peter Gunn ever and over. Gameplay was just blah.

7.937/10

8 years ago

LEE

Gamer1

Inactive member

Unknown

11y 19,000 13 13

Spy hunter..this is a classic pin that needs some recognition! Yes, the ball does drain down the left side quickly but it is still fun! Definitely LED this pin and you will love it even more. It is challenging and the theme is awesome! The upper left bagatelle is fun to try and complete, especially on an increased angle with different colored LED's. This is nostalgic pinball at it's best and I appreciate that. In my opinion this is a sleeper in the bang for your buck category..limited production, awesome music and sounds, great artwork! I definitely enjoy playing this machine and if you can find one add it to your collection!

Gamer1 currently owns this game.

5.581/10

8 years ago

M

Wahnsinniger

Pinside member

10y 42,900 277 20 9

At first, the three separate playfield sections (lower playfield with non-centered full-size flippers, upper playfield with small flippers, and top-left bagatelle) are part of the allure of this machine. But long-term those separate sections mean at any given time, you have very little to shoot for and thus the game gets old too fast.

Overall, a fine machine to have in a large collection, due to its theme and unique layout, but in a small collection (it was one of two machines we had for a year; the other, Eight Ball, never got old) that unique playfield is its undoing.

Wahnsinniger currently owns this game.

7.456/10

9 years ago

RAN

Rando

Pinside member

Lutz, FL

11y 50,550 821 5 6

I've owned this game for a few years and wanted to have it for a while before rating it. This was actually my first pin purchased after I built a MAME machine and my wife then asked me "Hey, can you buy Pinball machines?"

This game gets a lot of flak, people don't like the offset flippers a little to the right, and the 2 outlanes to the left. I guess it's not the norm, and maybe it's because I've spent a lot of time with this machine, but it doesn't bother me at all. The plunger shot is actually a skill shot that if timed correctly will close one of those 2 outlanes. There are 2 flippers up top to rattle the ball around, but what you really want to do is get the ball into the upper left area and light the roll overs. Once you get enough of those you get an extra ball.

There is just 1 bumper, but it's right above the outlanes so whenever it's popping you're nervous. There's a spinning target that leads to a kick-out hole, a captive ball to bash, and Peter Gunn theme music. Difficulty can be upped so the kick-out hole only rewards you when there's a match. Each match also ups the scoring multiplier. What more could you want?

Biggest negative is that it doesn't feel like the video game of the same name, and in the end that probably annoys people. The Spy Hunter video game is great, and difficult to replicate in MAME. This pin is very different from the feel of that game other than the music, so it can feel a little like a bait and switch.

But standing alone, this is a fun game that can be tough but rewarding, and feels different from most other pins. I'm happy to have it in my collection!

Rando has owned this game in the past.

4.216/10

9 years ago

ALX

achtungboyy

Pinside member

El Paso, TX

11y 75,150 252 98 131

Not a fan. Do not like the offset flippers. Great arcade, bad pin.

4.296/10

10 years ago

TGB

Thunder424

Inactive member

Angola, IN

10y 24,150 294 1 67

Quite possibly one of the worst layouts in pinball. The entire table is shifted to the right, leaving the left third open for drains.

7.297/10

10 years ago

BTC

BadBrad97

Pinside member

Simpsonville, SC

12y 61,650 842 6 13

This is actually a pretty good game for the money. Although there is not a lot of incline to the playfield the flippers are strong enough to really get the ball moving. The only bad thing about the playfield and play in general is the way that the flippers are all the way to the right and the left side of the playfield is 2 outlanes below a pop. With a little practice you can keep the ball out of this area for the most part but there are times when you need to go there and it is always a crap shoot as to whether the ball with come out or drain. Surprisingly, it normally comes back out without draining as much as you would think. Great first game.

BadBrad97 has owned this game in the past.

8.964/10

10 years ago

WAD

wadwerks

Pinside member

Hanford, CA

11y 27,250 18 11 15

this is a fun game and it goes great in any collection. Love the theme on this game. The game play is good I really like the spinner giving you big scoring opportunities and multiplier advancement and I like the fact the higher the spinner bonus goes the less the odds are that you will get it. The upper section with the two flippers is pretty fast and and takes a bit of skill to advance the agent gk lights. The upper left section is nothing special but it is fun and rewarding trying to get all the weapons lit. The skill shot it really hard to get but I like the fact it closes the gate to one of the drains.

wadwerks currently owns this game.

2.503/10

10 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

11y 80,150 289 7 282

Backglass is great, captures the game perfectly...so does the side art...that's where the good comments stop. Completely wasted left side of the playfield...one bumper and two drain holes.

Upper playfield is ok with the mini area but u can't do much...no real shots on this one at all. Can't imagine playing more than once...boring with little rewards.

EDIT: PLayed again recently, worse than I remember.

BeaverBrewing edited previous rating on April 02, 2014.

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