# The Empire Strikes Back

*The Empire Strikes Back* pinball machine, released by A. Hankin & Co. in 1980, is a rare widebody game themed around the popular *Star Wars* film. This machine stands out as the first *Star Wars* pinball ever produced, with only 350 units made. Its design, by David Hankin, incorporates an innovative "infinity backglass" feature, which uses mirrored film to create a visually striking depth effect on the backboard. The playfield design combines elements from other popular pinball games of the era, resembling *Firepower* in its upper half and *Space Invaders* in the lower half, while employing a unique mix of targets, bumpers, and kick-out holes.

## Manufacturer
[A. Hankin & Co.](/manufacturers/a-hankin--co)

## Production
1980

## Design team
- design: [David Hankin](/people/david-hankin)

## Ratings
Fun score: 79 (3 ratings)

## Related
- [Shark](/games/pinball/shark)
- [Orbit 1](/games/pinball/orbit-1)
- [Dennis Lillee's Howzat!](/games/pinball/dennis-lillees-howzat)
- [FJ](/games/pinball/fj)

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