Dark Shadow

Dark Shadow, manufactured by Nuova Bell Games of Bologna, Italy in 1985, is a fascinating addition to any pinball collection. Produced in the first year of this Italian manufacturer's 1985-1988 run, Dark Shadow represents an early entry in Nuova Bell Games' output, at a time when European electronic pinball was already well established.

The game's fantasy theme was relatively distinctive for the period. Both the art and design are credited to Stefano Baronti -- his signature appears on the backglass ('Baronti '85') and the playfield is marked 'Designed by Baronti Stefano' near the right flipper. Key gameplay features include three flippers, two pop bumpers, four drop targets, a roll-under spinner, a roll-under, and a swinging target, plus a left-side kickback lane that redirects balls to the inlane, and a right outlane gate that also routes the ball back to the inlane.

Dark Shadow was also produced as a conversion kit version. Its blend of Baronti's distinctive art and design, its fantasy theme, and its Italian origins make it a notable addition to any pinball enthusiast's collection.