The Raid

The Raid is a fascinating example of Playmatic's solid-state pinball output, produced in 1984 by the Barcelona-based manufacturer that operated from 1968 to 1987. The game blends a combat/aviation theme with science-fiction flourishes, its artwork spanning aircraft generations from World War-era biplanes to futuristic alien spaceships.

The gameplay experience on The Raid is marked by a mix of combat-themed action and futuristic spaceship imagery. Players navigate a series of challenging targets, including a four-bank and a three-bank of drop targets plus three standup targets, while the machine's offset lower flippers and a wireform diverter (which prevents the ball from re-entering the shooter lane) shape the playfield's flow. Three pop bumpers, a slingshot, a kick-out hole, a ball kicker, and a horseshoe lane round out the shot menu.

Notable for its striking, era-spanning artwork, The Raid also lets operators choose between two pieces of attract-mode music, "The River Kwai March" and "Lili Marleen." While little is documented about the machine's specific designer, its electronics were engineered by E.F.O. (Electrónica Funcional Operativa), the firm behind most of Playmatic's electronic designs, making The Raid a solid representative of the company's 1980s work.