Jungle Life

Jungle Life, designed by Ed Krynski and manufactured by Gottlieb in December 1972, is a notable example of electro-mechanical pinball's golden era. As one of the many Gottlieb machines to emerge during this period, Jungle Life showcases the company's signature blend of creativity and innovation. Its jungle/wildlife theme, featuring colorful artwork by Gordon Morison, is shared with several related Gottlieb titles from the same year.

The gameplay experience is enhanced by several distinctive features. The machine boasts two flippers, which allow players to manipulate the ball with greater precision, as well as a single pop bumper that rewards skillful shots. Two slingshots and 10 star rollover targets add an extra layer of challenge and reward. Notably, Jungle Life also features a spinning target and an action ring, providing opportunities for high-scoring combos.

The machine's design is characterized by its wedge-shaped headbox, typical of Gottlieb's early 1970s output. This add-a-ball machine was made for export to Italy, and shares its playfield with the 2-player replay version "Wild Life" (1972) and the 4-player replay version "Jungle" (1972), with 2,731 confirmed units produced. As with many EM pinballs from this era, the artwork on Jungle Life is relatively simple compared to later solid-state machines, but its bold colors and playful illustrations still captivate players today.