In fact, it's more common to find a machine that has a few parts that aren't working correctly, or at all, than to find one in perfect condition. Probably the only reason it was less successful in machines sold to The Addams Family is that the toys gave it a greater cost, and they also made the machine more prone to breaking down. Twilight Zone has been called the best pinball ever by some sources, and even when it loses, it's usually second to The Addams Family. This gives players of all skill levels the opportunity to enjoy the game, and the incredible ruleset makes sure every player has additional rewards to look forward to. There is a huge variety of shots, from simple ramp shots, to slightly tougher shots to the slot machine and player piano, to the highly difficult camera shot. Twilight Zone benefits from an extremely well-designed playfield and rule set.
The song Twilight Zone, by Golden Earring, is used as the theme song. The game is as much a treat for your ears as it is for your eyes. They fould a person could do the voice of Rod Serling dead on - you'll forget that it couldn't have been him, as he announces when starying a new game, "You unlock this door with the key of imagination." There are also, for the attentive listener, sound bites from a number of other pinballs tossed in here and there, from Funhouse, The Addams Family, Whirlwind, and Banzai Run for example. There was also an incredible choice of people to do the voice for the machine. When you buy in, you hear the "GREED" quote from The Addams Family. A high score achieved with a buy-in is compared against a list of scores specifically for buy-in games - you can't get on the regular high score list through a buy-in. You only get the one ball, but depending on what was lit and waiting on the playfield, it may be worth it.
When your last ball drains, the machine offers you the choice of buying an extra ball for one credit (unless the feature is disabled). Of course, all of this is housed in a " widebody" machine - a good few inches wider than most other pinballs.Ī new feature that Twilight Zone introduced was the idea of a "buy-in" extra ball. And the unusual looking white pinball - made of a ceramic material, making it non-magnetic, lighter, and much faster and more difficult to control - called the powerball. A little mini-playfield on the left side that uses magnets to manipulate the ball instead of flippers. A clock with working hands, that times various modes. There's a working gumball machine, that dispenses pinballs instead of gumballs. One of the first things a player will notice when looking at the machine is the number of "toys" on the playfield - odd devices that are not just there to look at, but are fully functional and important to the game. It is based on the show of the same name, and really brings across the feel of dealing with another dimension. (Yes, it is officially known as Twilight Zone, not The Twilight Zone). Unfortunately, due to its complexity, it is growing increasingly difficult to find one in good shape.ĭesigned by one of Bally's most famous designers, Pat Lawlor, who has in his credits other highly popular games such as The Addams Family, Funhouse, Whirlwind, and Earthshaker, Twilight Zone is easily one of the most popular and collectable pinballs of all time. This is my favorite pinball machine of all time, bar none, and I hope to someday own one. All of them going at once makes for one seriously hectic multiball. One lighter, ceramic ball (which is naturally not affected by the magnets), along with 6 standard steel balls.Magnetic " flippers" on a small, elevated mini-playfield.Hard magnetic stops near the top of the playfield (Nearly all magnetic stops used before and since are located over one of the return lanes).Twilight Zone had many unique elements in its design. It used the song, Twilight Zone, by Golden Earring, as the background music. It is unquestionably one of the most complex pinball machines ever created, and arguably one of the best ever made.Ĭreated in 1993 by Bally with the theme of the Twilight Zone television show, the game managed to squeeze references to most of the epsiodes on its playfield and bonus rounds. Twilight Zone is one of the last great pinball games.