Gremlins

The Gremlins pinball machine, manufactured by Pinball Shop of Bologna, Italy in April 1988, is a solid state electronic (SS) title from the late 1980s. Although its theme is not formally documented, the playfield artwork depicts creatures resembling the gremlins from the Pac-Man video games, and the word "WOW" printed on the playfield uses the same font found on those video games, suggesting a playful, arcade-inspired visual influence. Interestingly, the side of the backbox - and reportedly the CPU board - bears the word "Mirage," hinting at a possible alternate or working title. The artwork is credited to Michele "Mike" Martinelli.

Gameplay features two flippers, two slingshots, and a variety of targets including a 4-bank and a 3-bank drop target, plus three standup targets. Five drop holes are strategically placed throughout the playfield to challenge players as they navigate through the game. This combination of elements creates a challenging and engaging experience for pinball enthusiasts.

As one of the many lesser-known machines of the late 1980s, the Gremlins pinball machine offers a glimpse into a niche, lightly-documented corner of Italian pinball manufacturing.