Ranked #105 of all time · ranking score 77.0 · See the list
The Medusa pinball machine, released by Bally in 1981, is a solid-state game designed by Wally Welch with artwork by Kevin O'Connor. This machine is known for its Greek mythology theme, featuring the legendary Gorgon Medusa, and incorporates a range of unique gameplay elements.
UTAD to shoot top targets and the saucer when lit to collect.
Balanced
Medium-High, orbit shots being safe if made
Soft plunge to match the moving light sequence on the star rollovers; the value of the spinner between the small upper flippers goes up 500 per light hit up to 2500 max. Soft plunges also usually stay in the upper playfield; a full plunge will whip down the left orbit to the lower playfield.
We’ll do the upper playfield first. The top target bank presents you with a steadily increasing number of targets. The sequence, counting the seven from left to right, goes #4 (center); #3 & #5; 1-4-7; 1-3-5-7; 1-3-4-5-7; 1-2-3-5-6-7; 1 through 7. The upper flippers zip closed for about 10 seconds when you finish a set of targets; hit more targets to extend that time. There’s some messy math involved in how much you need to do to light the saucer to collect Olympus Bonus; for simplicity, just keep shooting drops. About every two sets, the saucer will light for collect. If you hit the two outer stand-up targets behind the drop targets (will light yellow arrows), your progress speed doubles. Progress is reduced one step each time you hit the center stand-up target, so don’t! Collect values are in 50K increments up to 200K. The more targets you hit, the higher your collect value gets, but shoot it as soon as you light it. The collect value does not reset, but you will need to continue to hit targets to relight it to collect again. If you advance the top bonus past the lit LED above three times and then shoot the saucer, you earn extended play at the end of your game. During extended play, shoot the main playfield 3-bank and 4-bank for both points and more time; time is displayed on the left side of the playfield digital display. Once your time is at zero, you can still play until the ball drains. Besides timing out, the upper zipped flippers will open whenever the ball comes down either orbit to the main playfield. This is so you can shoot the ball back up top through the spinner between the now-open upper flippers. The main playfield is primarily concerned with a normal “Medusa” bonus and a Colossus Bonus. Medusa bonus base is built by lower playfield drop targets and stand-up targets, star rollovers in the plunger lane and near the outlanes, and the outlanes. Base bonus goes up to 99K; threshold values of 20K, 40K, 60K and 80K are preserved, residual bonus resets. Bonus multiplier is advanced to 2X, 3X and 5X by shooting the left orbit. At 5X, the orbit becomes worth 50K. Bonus multiplier resets. Hit the left 1-2-3 standup targets in sequence or the right four drop targets in any order to advance and collect “Colossus” bonus. The value goes from 30K to 150K in 30K increments. The lower flippers are standard size but are transparent and tinted red. They’re lit when not flipping. You’ll find they don’t “feel” like normal flippers. The right orbit scores successively 10K, 20K, 30K, 40K and 50K. There’s a “Shield of the Gods” post between the flippers, operated by a separate button above the right flipper button. It will kick the ball upward when triggered. You get 5 kicks to start and can earn more via orbit shots. Any unused ones score 10K each after every ball. The right digital counter in the playfield shows how many you have left. The outlanes are irregularly configured, with posts next to curved return lanes instead of a vertical wire divider. You’ll need some practice to get the hang of nudging to keep the ball alive in there. While I list this game as UTAD, all three types of bonus can be lucrative, as can the right orbit and, if lit for high value, the center spinner. Doing a bit of everything is fine, but of course the ball is always safest when up top.
via Bob's Guide
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