Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang!, produced by Recel S. A. of Madrid, Spain in 1974, is an intriguing example of electro-mechanical (EM) pinball design from one of Spain's notable pinball manufacturers. It offers a glimpse into how European makers of the era approached gameplay and mechanics, and a 4-player version of the game was released as Recel's 1974 'The Fiery 30's'.

Gameplay on Bang! Bang! is marked by its unique inlane gate system, which allows for dynamic control over ball flow. A gate above each flipper inlane routes the ball to either the inlane or the outlane: both gates start open, blocking the inlanes, and hitting the corresponding rollovers closes a gate so the ball feeds the inlane instead of draining. The game's two flippers are complemented by pop bumpers, slingshots, standup targets, spinning targets, and vari-targets, and an end-of-ball bonus rewards players for their persistence.

The Cops and Robbers theme gives the machine its character, and Recel S. A.'s Bang! Bang! may not be as well-known as some of its American counterparts, but it remains an interesting piece of pinball history, showcasing inventive gate-based gameplay mechanics.