“These are works of art. From the theming to the sound design to the playfields,” says Nick Lane, founder of Buffalo Pinball. “There are other physical games like foosball, pool and darts. But nothing like this.”
Lane is gesturing to a row of pinball machines at Misuta Chow’s. There are seven located in the bar’s upstairs arcade.
For games that are usually flashing and playing music, the pinball machines do somehow manage to blend into their surroundings. You may not initially notice them on second floors, in the back of the bar or beyond the pool tables.
But these games deserve a closer look. Mostly because there is so much to look at. You’ll find a snake, electric chair and a row of gravestones in the Metallica machine. Plus, the artwork itself is by Donny Gillies, who has designed many guitars for the band. “Master of Puppets,” “One,” “Fade to Black” and other classic hits can be heard during play too. If you like a given theme on a machine, there are Easter eggs galore.
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While the artwork draws you in, an appreciation for the game gets you to stay.
“99% of people think it’s just about keeping the ball up and randomly hitting the flippers,” says Lane. “But really, it’s a game about controlling the ball. There are techniques to it. Every machine has goals, objectives and modes.”
There are cues to look for on any machine. For starters, there are usually rules listed on the left side of the glass—you can skim those. They will inform you of a general objective, which will help you aim the ball towards a specific element in the game. If that feels too formal, you can simply look for the biggest “toy” in the machine. The tall building in the Godzilla machine, for example. More often than not, hitting that will trigger other things in the game.
Martha Donovan, author of “Pinball Secrets: A Beginner and Intermediate Guide to Pinball,” says the machine is there to help.
“The game will tell you with the lights. If there are flashing arrows on the play field, that’s a shot you want to try and hit. The game will also talk to you and say things like, ‘Shoot the left ramp,’” adds Donovan. “Because it has so many ways of prompting you, just focus on what works for you and tune out the rest.”
But whatever you do, don’t flip both flippers at once. This creates chaos. When you use one at a time, you have more control. You can even try to “trap” the ball and have it completely stopped to properly aim your next shot.
“Think about the flipper as a lever. The distance that the ball travels down the flipper determines when you should release it,” notes Donovan. “The greater the distance that the ball travels down the flipper, it’s going to go further towards the opposite side of the play field.”
Just don’t overthink it. If you notice a pinball machine glowing in the background of the restaurant you’re in, go towards the light. You can find them all over Western New York including at these hot spots:
Pocketeer Billiards and Bar
Cheektowaga / pocketeerbilliardsandbar.com
The pool hall offers 80+ pinball machines. There’s a theme for everyone! Stranger Things, Willy Wonka, Elvira’s House of Horrors and The Munsters are just some of the extremely dynamic machines with LCD screens and plenty of bells and whistles.
Play with a side of: Disco Fries. These are crinkle-cut fries smothered with gravy and mozzarella cheese.
Misuta Chow’s
Buffalo / misutachows.com
You can take their iconic pink staircase up to the second-floor arcade, which features seven pinball machines with a heavy music lean. There’s Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, KISS, Metallica, AC/DC and Aerosmith. Rock on!
Play with a side of: Gua Bao Buns. Offered in kung pao chicken, beef on weck and more. These steamed buns are easily held in hand—just like the bar’s Joto One Cup, a sake-based drink.
Caputi’s Sheridan Pub/Candyman Pizza
Tonawanda / candymanpizza.com
A true two-for-one special: these two bars are connected to each other. The pinball machines reside on the Caputi’s side. You’ll find Game of Thrones and The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot.
Play with a side of: The Candyman. A wood-fired pepperoni pizza with hot Calabrian chiles and a honey drizzle. Quench your thirst with a handcrafted Loganberry Lemonade cocktail. The honey sriracha wings from Caputi’s are sure to be a favorite too.
Other Half Brewing
Buffalo / otherhalfbrewing.com/location/buffalo
With an entire wall dedicated to arcade games, you have the opportunity to play on World Cup Soccer, Monopoly and Star Wars Trilogy during your visit. Plus, there are classic Pac-Man and Skee-Ball machines as well.
Play with a side of: Its staple beer, Double Dry Hopped Green City brewed with Citra, Centennial and Simcoe hops.
Community Beer Works
Buffalo / communitybeerworks.com
The upper level features a cast of well-known characters in Star Wars: The Mandalorian, The Munsters and Jurassic Park machines.
Play with a side of: Its year-round Good Neighbor, a wonderfully juicy and hazy IPA. The food menu actively rotates, but try and snag Money Bags Dumplings. You can easily pop your choice of sesame, Buffalo style or vegetarian dumplings in your mouth between rounds.
Buffalo Riverworks
Buffalo / buffaloriverworks.com
The waterfront bar offers a robust arcade area with Stranger Things, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Jurassic Park, Iron Maiden and James Bond 007 machines.
Play with a side of: Buffalo Cauliflower. This deep-fried cauliflower is tossed in medium sauce with a side of celery, carrots and blue cheese. Follow it up with one of the house brews, the easy-drinking Silo Light Ale.
