Most Iconic Bally’s

[Retropin]

Ach... you lot are dreaming!!
Group 3 by a mile... unfortunately just not enough of them about to pick up... but stunning games none the less

[ddstoys]

I own one from each Group.  Chimes are classic Early electronic sound is great but for some reason elektras sound shits me everytime i turn it on i cringe

[Retropin]

I own one from each Group.  Chimes are classic Early electronic sound is great but for some reason elektras sound shits me everytime i turn it on i cringe

No bumpers too

[ddstoys]

Yep no bumpers ad tw only drop target work with a captive ball.  But it does look good

[Pop Bumper Pete]

I had to think for a few days to get my answer

I have owned my Star Trek and Playboy for 20+ years, so I suppose I am a bit meh over that group

Admittedly, during my visit to Daniels earlier this year, the only game I HAD to play was Strikes and Spares

But I would choose group 3, when pinballs started to talk.
Not only was sound improved beyond bips and bops, game features leapt forward from the EM days
Timed drop targets (Black Knight)(Williams, I know)
Self dropping drop targets (Xenon)
Awareness of where the ball was, (the saucer in Flash Gordon)
And general lighting effects

(I am sure there is more, but my knowledge of these games is limited)

I think that pinball machines from this era showed what pinball machines were to be in the coming years

[ajlaird]

Group 3 for me, because that was when I met pinball.

"Get the 8-ball"
"Go for Deluxe"

[Crashramp]

Bump!

I'm a little late to the party here but liked the topic.
Group 3 for me, though I really love the Bally's right through all three groups. Not that I've played them all but the ones I have played are some of my favourite games and the ones I haven't played, I look forward to the opportunity to play. There really is something about this era of games, unique themes, great art work. It's all very compelling, I wish I could own them all!

[Strangeways]

Viking and Embryon were missing from the lists. Both great games, especially Embryon. The artwork on Viking is stunning and is right alongside Paragon, Fathom and Medusa.

This definitely was the "glory days" for artwork in pinball and arguably for gameplay.

[Freiherr]

Group 2 with the addition of Lost World, Harlem GT and Supersonic. Group 2 Ballys took a lot of my coins before Firepower and Black Knight arrived.

[pinball god]

Group 3.

 I really cannot remember Kiss being that challenging or interesting. If you like kiss then you'll want the game, but then you'd probably buy a kiss tea towel too  . I haven't played a medusa but t looks interesting.

[Freiherr]

Hard to explain the arcade feeling of the late 70s and the love of the Ballys. Their rules were simplistic like earlier EMs but where they won me was with the new electronics. Every point earned was in memory and fairly awarded. Many a time a ball was drained after a super fast game and points were still clocking up for a few more seconds. Not so on EMs. You could hear the Ballys all over the place.

[riverinapinball]

Always loved Bally's Kiss, was one of the first games you could play old day on 20 or 40 cents with a mate. Lots of free games. Valve and Fun.

[Strangeways]

Always loved Bally's Kiss, was one of the first games you could play old day on 20 or 40 cents with a mate. Lots of free games. Valve and Fun.

KISS is a bit of a snorefest, but when you build up bonus and 2X, 3X, 4X and "Colossal Bonus" and then end the ball and wait 5 minutes for the bonus countdown.. It was always amusing to see people look at who was playing the game with THAT score. As far as the time KISS was operated, it was a massive earner. It would have been one of the biggest Bally earners of all time. Paragon was a good earner as well. Mata Hari was also a game that next stopped being a good Earner. Rolling Stones was a complete lemon (not as bad as the Stern junker).

[Freiherr]

Always loved Bally's Kiss, was one of the first games you could play old day on 20 or 40 cents with a mate. Lots of free games. Valve and Fun.

Yes I agree. Kiss was the first Bally where you could quickly accumulate your points. A well weighed plunger shot to top centre lane would come down to pop bumper, back up and down again and you are well on your way towards Collosal bonus as well as closed right gate for safer play. Good flippers and new rubber are mandatory on these Ballys.

[Crashramp]

Group 3.

 I haven't played a medusa but t looks interesting.

Medusa does look interesting, It's on my list along with many others. At some stage I must have a Fathom, Nitro Ground Shaker and the list goes on.