Pachinko Pachinko Potential: Any Recommended Pachinko Machines?

[DarcyT]

In games media, particularly in the West, pachinko machines are treated like a corporate monster; they're coming for every dollar you saved up, and they're ruining every game franchise you care about just to get you.

Now, I have no love for franchises being turned in to gaming machines (that aren't arcade cabinets), but I've honestly never played a single pachinko machine in my life so am curious, for those who have, are there any machines that you played and felt like it wasn't a money-grubbing scheme? Are there any that you would genuinely recommend?

 

[Gorse]

Last year, I was in Vegas a few times and scoured the strip up and down to find a genuine, legitimate pachinko machine like the ones I’ve seen so oft in media from the orient. My search came up completely dry, and I went home with not a single metal ball bearing to my name.

I’d love the opportunity to play a pachinko machine in real life. I’ve actually emulated quite a few of the 90s arcade-y ones, my favourite being Pachinko Sexy Reaction, but it isn’t the same when you’re launching balls with just a USB controller. (And the game isn’t the same, either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ) I’m the kind of person who has a lot of fun with slot machines, so I really think I’d enjoy playing a pachinko or pachislot kiosk if I ever had the chance.

 

[Max]

There's a Sunsoft series that I liked but can't remember the name, I'll be back with the name

There's a Sunsoft series that I liked but can't remember the name, I'll be back with the name

It's Hissatsu Pachinko

 

[DarcyT]

It's Hissatsu Pachinko

Can't say it'd be my sort of thing, but I like the look of the physics in the Saturn version.

 

[kitestar]

im not by any means a "ultra fan" of pachinko (konami really poisoned the well for me on that front) but last one i remember playing a digital replication of a pachinko game might've been one of the hokuto no ken simulations on either DS or psp. i find it quite weird i became a fan of FotNS through pachinko/pachislot

 

[burnout2]

There are many PS1 pachinko games. Most are garbage, but I do like Victory Zone which is a fully interactive and faithful simulation of over 20 machines. You also have many pachi-slot games out there, but likewise they're not really worth checking out unless you care to see how Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku 7 different from Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku 2. These are cute novelties but much like Pinball Arcade it's more for enthusiasts and would never replace the intended experience.

777TOWN is a pachinko simulator from Sammy which can be played in your browser, but you need to pay with a Japanese card or something to that effect. If you actually have a Japanese carrier there's an app but of course that's not gonna be an easy thing to do. Nonetheless, if you can access it it's the most effective way to get into pachinko properly.

However, after reading 5chan for a bit (they are very opinionated about pachinko) it becomes apparent that the industry is in a bit of a slump. Smaller parlors are closing frequently, machines are being cycled out faster than people can keep up and more people are looking to slots because it's just not worth the time or effort to acclimate to pachinko anymore.

"Up until now, it was possible because there was a group of people who would just play any new machine that came out, but if they did that with the current models, that group would definitely not have the wallet to support them, so that's why stores are gradually dropping out and are starting to talk about changing their relationships with manufacturers."

In this sense it reminds me of the current rhythm game scene, where there are so many releases that it's hard to even keep up with them anymore.