Play Meter

'It 's
a game a player can get comfortable with, allowing any number
of play strategies to take advanta ge of the entire board ... '
many balls are in play, which is a
great touch and makes multi-ball
play t hat much more rewarding.
Th e right side, minus the flipper,
with its in-lines is really a flip-flop
from Viking but somehow it's more
attainable on the right side than it was
with that previous machine and the
additional flipper helps for some
short reverses or sweeps up to the
top arch and the upper in-lines o r
kick-out hole.
In fact, there's pretty decent
access throughout the board from
either of the two bottom flippers.
The really nice thing about Fathom is
that on extra ball play, the board
remains the way it was when the ball
drained, so it is truly a continuation
of play and adds to the flow of the
game: a true bonus that undoubtedly
the programmer must be thanked
for. But then there are subtle
touches such as that, esp ecially with
the introduction of tha t long "gate"
on top.
The bonus can be hefty and is
carried over fr om ball to ball
although the multipl i e r isn't.
H owever, we're talking about 55,000
points on either side (Blue and
Green) and the chance for a special
when a player reaches up to what I
think is 75,000 points on both sides.
Another is that the area between
the cen ter bank and the right side
target leads directly to the thumper
bumpers and can sometimes result
in a ball being sent back down after a
"missed" shot, right through the
flippers, or not have enough velocity
to compensate for its return flight.
On the whole, though, Fathom is a
game a player can get comfortable
with, allowing any number of play
strategies to take advantage of the
entire board.
RATING: ### 1_4
With th e Chicago show signalling
once again the annual rush to bring
out attention-grabbing mac hines,
the games on tap tend to confirm the
commitment. Next issue you'll have
a chance to get a close look at
Stern's Split Second, a multi-ball,
double-level machine that's big-
game size and continues this
company's presence in the
marketplace. A lso on the horizon is
the newest from Gottlieb which
should turn some heads if there were
any doubters about this company's
viability. With this model, Black Hole
they'll have three in a row and a
firming up of the direction they're
taking in trying to appeal to the
pinball audience. Bally's Medusa is
an exciting machine with some novel
twists and Williams, too, is readying
some surprises.
So, the race is on and everyone
seems prepared to last the distance
for what has been a period of growth
and an expanding use of available
technology for pinball machines that
have been different, unique in the
history of the industry and a portent
of things to come.
As for me, it's time to get back to
the contemplation of impending
fatherhood the second time around.
So until next time, be well and
prosper.
TOKENSeTOKENSeTOKENS
PRIZE REDEMPTION & TRADE CHECKS
CASINO SLOT & GAMING COINS
Phone o r write for catolog & IJOmple•
VAN BROOK OF LEXINGTON, INC.
P.O. BOX 5044, LEXINGTON, KY. 40555
606/231-7100
so
PLAY METER, November 1, 1981
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