Grand Lizard

The Grand Lizard, designed by Barry Oursler and Python Anghelo, is a significant entry in Williams' 1986 lineup: it was one of the first three Williams games to go into production on the System 11 platform, the hardware that would carry the company through the late 1980s. Its production backglass was redesigned late in development to incorporate new alphanumeric displays, with final backglass art by Python Anghelo replacing initial artwork by Paul Faris. Around 2,750 units were produced.

One of the standout aspects of Grand Lizard is its multiball mode, which puts two or three balls on the playfield at once, adding a thrilling layer of complexity. Four flippers and a player-controlled Magna-Save allow for greater control and strategy, alongside timed drop targets and mystery bonus ramp scoring. The complete absence of pop bumpers is notable, a deliberate deviation from traditional pinball design. Crowning the playfield is a plastic lizard/dragon head perched atop the ramps: the creature roars and its eyes flash when the ball enters, and the ball returns to the playfield from the lizard's tongue.

The game also holds a small place in audio history: Bill Parod's background drum music was the first time a Williams game used digitized audio samples for music, a technique he refined on the later 'High Speed'. With its fantasy theme brought to life through vibrant artwork and its inventive feature set, Grand Lizard is a worthy addition to any serious pinball collection.